“We’ve been spoiled for the last few years having her take care of us, but we’re all graduating this year, and she’ll have to look for a new job,” he said. “She’s always wanted to open a catering business. This might just be her chance to see that dream come true; we’re all more than happy to help her.”
“That’s sweet,” Rose said, then looked up at him, her cheeks a little pink. “You’re a good guy, Malcolm. I’m not used to people like you.”
He looked a little confused, and she realized that she’d said too much, but they’d reached her car, and she quickly got out her keys. “This is me,” she said, heading around the car. “Thanks again for dinner, I had a good time.”
“Rose, wait, I wanted to talk to you about something,” Malcolm said, following her. “Actually, I guess I wanted to ask you something.”
She paused, key in the lock, and turned to face him, heart pounding, a little thrill of anticipation racing through her. “The thing is, if Hattie is going to be doing the desserts for the dance, she’ll expect us all to go, you know, to support her and everything,” he said, then paused. “Well, anyway, I don’t usually go to these things, there’s so much expectation, you know what I mean, but I thought…well…maybe if we went together…you know, just as friends…then everyone would be happy.”
It wasn’t the invitation that she’d hoped for, then remembered why she was there and pushed the disappointment away. “I’d love to go with you if it would make Hattie happy,” she said, smiling at him. “I don’t exactly have a bunch of other social engagements on my calendar.”
Malcolm laughed. “I guess that’s a fancy way of saying you don’t have any plans,” he said, a look of relief on his face. “I hope two weeks will be enough time for you to find a dress. You don’t have to go all out. I know that kind of stuff is expensive.”
“I’m sure I have something I can wear,” she said, already mentally shuffling through her closet. “And I haven’t had a new dress in a long time, maybe now is the time to splurge.”
“Just don’t break the bank for me,” Malcolm said. “I’m sure you’ll look beautiful in anything you wear.”
As soon as the words died in the air between them, her cheeks turned pink, and a look of surprise appeared on Malcolm’s face. “I mean…you always do…friends notice these things…we’re just friends…” he stammered. “I just don’t want to give you the wrong idea, it just popped out of my mouth.”
“Relax, it’s fine, I appreciate the compliment,” she said, shaking her head. “Just relax, Malcolm, we’re just friends, you’ve made that more than clear, and I’m not looking for more than that, I promise.”
There was a brief look of disappointment on his face, but he covered it up quickly. “Right, so we’re good,” he said, then let out a long sigh. “This is why I don’t usually go to these things, it’s so hard to navigate the taking a date thing, they always think it’s going to turn into more, no matter how many times I tell them it won’t.”
“You’re safe with me,” she said, then finished unlocking her car. “It’s getting late, I’d better go, I’ll see you at work tomorrow.”
“Uhhh…training videos, don’t remind me,” he said. “I only have about a million to go.”
“I’ll trade you anytime, your movies for my invoices,” she said. “It’s going to take all week to sort it all out and that doesn’t include getting them all into the computer.”
“Fine, you win,” he said, holding his hands up. “Your job is way worse.”
“Thank you,” she said, grinning at him.
Driving home, she decided the night had been a success, she’d gotten close to Malcolm, even managed to get him to invite her to the dance. Her stepfather was going to be thrilled. If she felt a pang of guilt thinking about what she was doing, she pushed it away. She wasn’t hurting anyone, hadn’t really done anything wrong yet, and she had nothing to feel guilty about. Besides, her sister needed her, she couldn’t let her stepfatherpush her out into the street, and she couldn’t be completely sure that he wouldn’t follow through with his threats.
As if he knew that she was thinking about him, her phone sang out the ringtone she’d chosen for Chet, and she winced, wishing she could ignore the call, but connected on the last ring, knowing it would be a big mistake if she didn’t. Bracing herself for the barrage of insults and criticisms Chet would inevitably spew at her, she answered with a cherry greeting like life was perfect just because she knew that it would annoy him.
“You’d better have good news for me,” he spat into the phone. “I’m not paying your rent for you to mess around.”
“I just had dinner at the frat house,” she said, shutting him down. “And he invited me to the Winter Ball, so you can chill out, I’m doing exactly what you asked.”
There was a brief silence. “You’d better not be lying to me,” he said. “I find it hard to believe you moved that fast, you’re not exactly…the kind of girl to attract men.”
“Wow, thanks for that,” she said, then sighed. “I’m not lying. We had dinner, we’re going to the dance, so get off my case.”
“You could still screw this up, so don’t get all snappy with me, little lady,” Chet snarled at her. “I hope I don’t have to remind you what’s at stake. Chloe is going to be very shocked when she’s sleeping on the street. I would hate for it to come to that, though.”
“I don’t know what more you want from me,” she said. “I’m doing the best I can.”
“Do better,” Chet ordered, then the line went dead.
CHAPTER 6
***MALCOLM***
After signing the last line on the paperwork, Malcolm set the pen down with a snap on the dusty desk, then looked over at the title clerk with a big grin on his face. “It’s all yours now,” the man said, then looked around the room. “I’m not sure what it’s going to be good for, but congratulations, you own the entire building now, leaking roof and all.”
He got up and walked around what had once been the main dining room, then over to the big front windows and looked out on Main Street. “It just needs a little love, that’s all, " he said. " I knew when I saw it last week that it had tons of potential. We just need to give people a reason to come down to this end of the street, all it will take is one thriving business and you watch, this end of town will come back to life.”
