“Yay!” I say as I tuck my phone back in my pocket.
“What?”
“He’s bringing us dinner and cookies.”
“Of course he is.”
“Why are you saying it like that?” I look up at her.
“Because he’s not bringing us dinner. He’s bringingyoudinner.” She smiles.
“Not this again.” I drill the cleat into the mounting frame a little too enthusiastically.
“I noticed he was in your room last night.”
“To watch the show.”
She goes to switch off the hot tool for the foam and sets the knife down, giving me a dramatic look in between the motions.
“Don’t be dense, Violet. If I was you, I would have gotten him in bed already.”
“I told you; we’re just old family friends, and he’s a flirt. That’s all you’re seeing. He’s not interested in me.”
“Remind me of that when he finally makes a move you can’t explain away.”
“I will because it won’t happen. And besides I wouldn’t let it happen.”
“Because you’re so not attracted to a boy who looks like he does, and flirts with you and brings you dinner when you’re stuck late at work?”
“He’s like a brother.”
“Again, remind me… no, you know what? Remind yourself of that when you start fantasizing about him. If you haven’t already.” She raises an eyebrow in accusation.
I swallow hard then. Because honestly, I had thought about him in the shower. Maybe. Once. But was that really my fault? Especially when he came out of the bathroom with his hair still wet and a tight shirt on.
“And the hussy is thinking about it right now.”
“Only because you put the thought in my head!”
“Uh huh. Whatever you have to tell yourself, love.”
“Can we please talk about your dating life instead?”
“Nice diversion.”
“I’m serious. Did the bartender ever call? And what happened to the guy you were seeing before?” I change the subject, and we discuss the many red flags she ignored from the last guy she dated because he was cute and took her on a graffiti walk for their first date.
Before we know it, Ben is texting, and I run to the side door to let him in.
“What’s all this?” He has several bags in his hands, more than I would have expected for a couple of plastic containers of pasta.
“I ate the last cookie when I was cooking. So I stopped at the grocery to get some fresh ones and I also grabbed some fresh bread to go with the pasta, and some drinks.”
“You didn’t have to do all that.” I shake my head.
“Judging by how exhausted you look; I think you might need it.”
He wasn’t wrong. I felt like I was going to fall over any second, and I needed to rally because this had to be done whether I had the energy or not.
