PHOENIX: No
PHOENIX: Maybe
ASPEN: I hate that we can’t be friends
PHOENIX: We can’t
PHOENIX: But I can’t tell you why until after the event
ASPEN: But you’ll tell me?
PHOENIX: When we’re not locked in a small space where you have access to sharp objects? Yes.
ASPEN: You act like that’s something I would do
ASPEN: Do you know how hard it would be to clean up all the blood in a space like that?
PHOENIX: Not as well as you do apparently
ASPEN: (gif of woman doing a hair flip)
ASPEN: I know lots of things about lots of things
PHOENIX: Not scary at all
ASPEN: (eyeroll emoji) you’re not scared of me
PHOENIX: I might be
ASPEN: Are you flirting with me, Phoenix Banks?
His silence is more telling than if he’d had the guts to answer, and that leaves me equally frustrated and amused. But I can’t dwell on it because instead of getting ready to go meet my sister for breakfast, I’ve been lying in bed texting Phoenix.
ASPEN: What are the odds you’ll drive all the way to me?
VIENNA: You’re making eggs benedict and bloody marys
ASPEN: Sold!
Chuckling,I climb out of bed and throw leggings and a sweatshirt on before tying up my hair in a messy bun. We’re only about an hour apart with traffic, so I don’t have much time. Mybaby sister has seen me in worse, and honestly, I’m just thankful I don’t have to put makeup on and leave the house.
Grabbing a pitcher from the cabinet, I mix everything up for Bloody Marys and put it back in the fridge until we’re ready.
“Creek” by Alli Walker fills the kitchen as I dance around, making home fries, bacon, and the hollandaise sauce, deciding I’ll wait until Vienna gets here before starting the eggs. But I’ve barely cut the sourdough bread before my sister bangs open the door, the wind stronger than her hold on the knob.
“Good morning to you too,” I deadpan as she rolls her eyes and muscles the door shut. Her cheeks are pink and she dumps her purse on the ground, followed by her knit hat and gloves.
“Stop looking at me like that; it shouldn’t be this cold.”
I snort and fill a mug of coffee and slide it across the island to her followed by the flavored creamer and a spoon. She dumps in an unhealthy amount of the dark chocolate peppermint, and I cringe as the color continues to lighten.
“How can you drink it like that?”
“I’m working like a hundred hours a day, and even though I don’t like it, I can’t survive without like six cups of it.”
“Pretty sure that’s what you’re supposed to do,” I tease as I swirl the water in the pot before dropping in the eggs to poach them.
“Between trying to get the flower shop up and running for the new year, taking care of Haven, and dealing with Wells, I’m exhausted.”
