“I know. When do you need me?”
“Next week is the beginning of the baking section for my newest class.”
“I’ll have to make sure Eddy can handle everything, but I don’t think it’ll be too big of a problem. Also, I get to choose what I teach these punk students of yours.”
Barry quickly swallowed his mouthful of bacon. “You can have free rein, just nothing too complicated. Don’t forget that most of these kids don’t know the difference between crème brûlée and tres leches.”
I sighed. “That’s just so freaking sad.”
Barry scoffed. “Tell me about it.”
* * *
“Kelly?”a deep voice asked as I turned to see a man who looked nothing like the pictures on his dating profile.
“Rich?” I tried to force my face to turn the disgusted look I was sure I was giving him into a smile.
“Sorry I’m ridiculously late,” my date for the evening apologized as he took a seat next to me. “My work meeting took longer than I anticipated—stupid board members being overly concerned about a bottom line. I try to remind them that it’s my job to worry and theirs to just approve my projects and give me money.”
“It’s fine, I understand.”
From Rich’s pictures, I was expecting a relatively fit guy in his late thirties with a beard, green eyes, and full head of dark brown hair. What I was sitting next to was an overweight man in his late forties, nearly bald, with dark brown eyes and a straggly beard that was patchy and unkempt.
I shot a quick text to Eddy:911. Another catfish.
“So, like what you see?” The confidence he exuded was astounding. From his overly expensive suite and Rolex watch, it was apparent that he was compensating for something.
Before I had to figure out a bullshit answer, Eddy was calling.
“I am so sorry. My assistant never calls this late.”
“Take it. Business before pleasure is my policy.”
“Eddy?” I answered.
“Bad huh?”
“Oh no! The oven is on fire? I’ll be right there.”
“See you at your place in ten.”
I hung up, grabbed my bag, and threw a twenty down to cover the drinks I’d had while waiting. “I really have to go.”
“A fire? That sounds serious.”
“I just hope it isn’t as bad as last time. Take care.”
“Rain check?” he called out as I made my escape without answering him.
I was in an Uber within minutes, running away from yet another terrible date. Eddy’s car was already in my driveway when we pulled up in front of my place.
Walking in, I yelled for my best friend, “Please tell me you opened the Malbec that was on the counter.”
“Already poured and waiting in the living room,” he responded. “You really need a maid.”
“Why? It’s just me living here.”
Eddy pointed to the unfolded laundry in the basket on the couch, which had been there since the last time he was over.