“Aquatic classes?” he asks. “Tell me more about that. Like, aerobics in the water?”
I nod. “Yeah. I’m easily the youngest in the class, but that doesn’t bother me. I just like working out in the water and the music they play is old-school love songs. So, it works for me.”
“Do you wear a one-piece?”
“Of course.”
He shakes his head. “Such a shame.”
“I’m not about to work out with a bunch of old ladies in a two-piece. I have a respectable one-piece.”
“Color?”
“Red.”
“Nice.” He takes another sip of his coffee. “What’s your plan for today?”
“I was going to finalize my ideas for the renovations. Maybe go for a walk. I have meetings lined up for tomorrow, but nothing today. What about you?”
He checks the expensive, matte-black watch wrapped around his thick wrist and says, “I have a meeting in about thirty minutes that I have to run to. Want to meet me for lunch?”
“Oh, uh, sure,” I answer, caught off guard. Meet him for lunch? As in... just the two of us? That doesn’t seem like him. Then again, I think last night might have broken the ice for him.For us.
He was brooding on the plane to San Francisco.
But I apologized for the gala.
He defended me to Regis.
And we broke the tension.
Maybe this is the next step.
He taps the table with his knuckle and rises from the chair. “I’ll text you the time and place. See you later, Kelsey.”
“Bye,” I say with an awkward wave, watching him walk away.
Huh...
Maybe this trip won’t be as bad as I first thought.
* * *
“Pickle-flavored chips?I don’t know about that,” I say as I stare at the bag of chips JP insisted on sharing.
He reaches for the bag, pops it open, and tilts it toward me. “Try one. I promise you’ll like it.”
“And what if I don’t?”
“Then you need new tastebuds.”
“You aren’t always right, you know,” I say while taking a chip.
“Most of the time, I am. And I’m right about these chips.” He takes one as well, and together, we place them in our mouths. The heavenly, seasoned chip introduces my tongue to a world of flavors. Like tasty fireworks blasting off in my mouth.
And damn it... he’s right. They’re good.
They’re really good.
