“Okay,” Nicole smiled. She was used to her friend’s occasional new quirks. “Did you get a subscription to the Acorn channel or something?”
“No, Mike has to go to London in December and I’m preparing for when he asks me to travel with him.”
“Oh! That would be cool.” Nicole pursed her lips and squinted her eyes. “Has he ever asked you to go with him on a business trip before?”
“No, but this time is going to be different. He has to be gone for the last two weeks of the year, and we always spend Christmas together so I’m sure he’s going to ask me to go.”
“Mm-hmm,” Nicole replied noncommittally. She had her doubts when it came to Mike, but as long as Zaina was happy, she wasn’t going to put down her boyfriend.
“Enough about me, tell me, how are you feeling about things with Sean? Are you keeping it casual or…” She gave Nicole a long look and leaned forward in her chair.
Nicole cheeks reddened. “He’s coming over after the meeting. Not that it matters, but we haven’t been shagging.”
“Not yet,” Zaina said in a sing-song voice.
“No, not yet,” Nicole whispered.
“I’m sorry I’m being a jerk. You can have or not have sex with Sean whenever is best for you. I’m happy if you’re happy. Really!”
“Thanks for that,” Nicole said and squirmed a little in her seat. “I think tonight is the night though.”
“I knew it! He’s the one for you! You’re the one for him! Soulmates.” Zaina squealed.
Nicole rolled her eyes. “I don’t believe in soulmates. It’s too mean.”
“How can it be too mean?”
“I don’t like the idea that there is only one true love for everyone, what if someone gets sick and dies? Then the person left behind is forever alone. It’s depressing.”
Zaina frowned, “I supposed if you think of it that way it’s less romantic. Maybe some people have their one and other people have more than one?”
“I don’t need a soulmate. I want a good person who’s honest and kind. That’s all I need.”
Zaina hugged herself. "I love that, and I think you are right. Honesty means that your person respects you and kindness again means they respect youandcare for you, above themselves even. From everything I’ve seen, Sean is that, plus he can cook and he’s hot. There I said it! Your man has those dimples and that thick hair, and let’s be honest, he has a great-looking ass. I mean the only bad thing I can say about him is that he isn’t broody."
Nicole laughed. “Thanks, I guess?”
“You’re the one who scowls in your relationship.”
Nicole scowled.
“That’s why I’m so happy you’re dating Sean! He’s good for you and I know you are good for him! I saw the way he looked at you on trivia night. His eyes got all moony, and the way hehad managed to give you a few light touches when you both were talking. And later when he was working, he’d look over at you and smile. It was adorable. He really likes you!”
Nicole eyes were misty, and she needed to change the subject. “So how have things been going with the business group, is everyone ready for the meeting?”
“As ready as we can ever be.” Zaina looked at her phone. “Speaking of, can you turn the sign to close and lock the door while I shut down the point of sale? We better get going!”
Chapter Fourteen
SEAN
Sean was sitting in front of his laptop at the desk he’d put in the corner of his kitchen. His neck was stiff from spending all day working on a spreadsheet to show the town council the economic impact of Oktoberfest on Marley Creek. Since Sean spent the majority of his waking hours at Jesse’s Pub, it hadn’t made sense to get a nice desk and chair for his apartment. In fact, it didn’t make sense to him to rent more than a studio apartment when he’d decided to open a restaurant in Marley Creek.
Even though he’d been here for years now, he’d never put anything on the walls, or even bothered to have a scented candle or a nice diffuser. His décor was devoid of personality and heavy on the beige; beige Berber carpet, beige couch and tan curtains. Even his comforter was a lighter shade of brown. The only spot of color in his apartment was his unenthused blue betta fish, Hermie.
He contrasted his apartment to the riot of color and textures that made Nicole’s home so inviting. He was thrilled to be heading there this evening instead of coming home to his cold sterile apartment. Now that he was in his third year at the restaurant, and they had steady revenues, maybe it was okay to start thinking about building a life beyond his business.
Sean checked his outfit in the mirror. He was a graphic T-shirt and jeans kind of guy when he wasn’t in his chef’s whites. Tonight however, he wanted to look like successful local businessman. He was fortunate to be running the restaurant at a profit, given that most restaurants didn’t break even in their first few years.
