“Hey, Annie.” Ellis’s voice was bubbly as she answered the phone.
“Hey, you! I have been dying to know—which sorority did you pick?” I asked while trying to get my eyeliner to work for me.
“Do you even have to ask?” She chortled.
“No way!” I jumped, consequently drawing a long black line down my cheek. “Dammit!”
“You okay?” Worry laced her tone.
“Just trying to put on liquid eyeliner and failing, but yay for the newest Delta Nu in the family!”
“I am so excited for you to come to parents’ weekend. It’s going to be amazing.”
“I love that you’re my sister now. I will help teach you all of the stuff, and Harper, Sawyer, and Caroline are going to be so proud of you. Expect tons of Delta Nu care packages coming soon.”
“Wait, why would you be putting on liquid eyeliner?”
Damn, that girl is sharp.
“I have a date…Mr. Handover’s nephew.” I didn’t hold back. She would have known if I skated around the truth.
“Oh, Annie,” she squealed. “That makes me so happy! Send me a picture of him. I want to see! And you have to let me know how it’s going. Play-by-play texts are welcome—unless things get to a steamy level. Leave that stuff out.”
“Ellis, I can promise things arenotgoing to steam up. I don’t even know if I like this guy yet.”
“Fine. Have the best time, and wear that strappy black dress I got you for your birthday last year. It makes your ass look amazing.”
“You’re too much, kid, but thank you for the advice. Love you.”
“Love you too.”
* * *
My heart beatout of my chest when the doorbell ringing echoed throughout the house.
Opening the door, I found Waylon standing in the entry in a charcoal gray suit with two grocery bags full of food and wine.
“Good evening,” I asked with one eyebrow raised. “What is going on?”
“Well, since you’re a very unique woman, I figured a unique date was in order.” Waylon followed me into the kitchen. “If you hate this idea, I have a backup plan, but if you’ll let me, I want to cook for you.”
Setting the bags down, Waylon looked around the state-of-the-art, customized kitchen that was double the size of our living room because I had begged for the biggest kitchen possible when we were building the house.
“Please let me cook in here. This kitchen is like a dream come true.”
“I don’t know…” It felt weird having another man in my space.
He put his hands on my shoulders. “I am a professionally trained chef with lamb chops and shiitake mushrooms in this bag.”
“How could I say no to something like that?” I pecked him on the cheek. “Cook for me, chef.”
Pulling out a cocktail shaker, rye whiskey, and all the other ingredients for the perfect Manhattan, Waylon started making us drinks.
“My lady.” He handed me a rocks glass full of my favorite drink, a cool smile on his face.
“What can I do to help?” I asked, taking a few steps closer to Waylon.
“Find me an apron?”