He held up both hands, the relief of not having to answer her unfiltered question visible. "Hey, I'm not actually a woman and I wouldn't presume to know what you want in a man."
"Fair," she said easily.
"Alright, well I'm his ride so I better take the manly man back. See ya guys," Taylor said tipping his head.
"We're grilling tonight at The Lost Souls. Why don't you come over at six?" Jenson invited in his deep voice.
Taylor smiled brightly. "I'll be there. I'll bring my famous mac and cheese," he offered as he walked off.
Ursula and Jenson were looking at Eloise. "What?" she asked, then rolled her eyes. "If you think I was being difficult and unfair to the manly man, I am happy to regale you with the one-sided conversation that was like being an audience in a play about Sparta," she said the last word with a low, baritone and Ursula laughed while Jenson chuckled and shook his head.
"No, I think we're good," Ursula said.
"Then why are you both looking at me?"
The couple shared a look and Jenson said something about going to grab the team snacks out of the truck before he kissed Ursula on the cheek.
"Spill," Eloise demanded kindly.
"While you were off being charmed by John McClane-"
"Nice," Eloise held her hand up for a high five at the reference.
"Taylor was on edge."
"What do you mean?" she saw Ursula's look and then held up a hand."No. He doesn't date. Also, he made it clear the other day when I tested out the waters that he didn't see me that way. Do you know what I like about a man that is upfront about that?" Ursula shook her head, a slightly bemused look on her face. "It immediately takes the pressure off and there are no mixed signals or confusion. And yeah, he's attractive and sometimes when he looks at me I feel like the only woman in a ten-mile radius," she took a breath as Ursula's eyes twinkled. "But I know where we stand. We can hang out and be friends and laugh about a massive hawk landing on my shoulder and giving me jewelry but know that it's just that, a moment shared between friends."
"Wait, what? A hawk gave you jewelry?"
She waved the words away. "Yeah, I'll tell you later. Oooh, over pie. I made an impressive speech to Ivan-ho over there and it had pie in it, and now I can't stop thinking about it."
"Apple butterscotch?"
She groaned. "Yes. I'm so glad you're my dessert-spirit-friend. Pie, and let's discuss the cursed men ratio in this odd town."
She laughed and leaned into Eloise while Casper leaned into her other side creating an Eloise sandwich. It was gentle and as the sun poked through the thick cotton clouds, the apricity landed on them giving them a comforting squeeze of warmth.
"El?"
"Hmm?"
"I love how well-adjusted and sensible you are, but don't brush off that zing you have with Taylor so easily."
Eloise smiled and kissed the top of Ursula's dark head. "And I love how you think I'm sensible when really, I'm just waiting for Aragorn to come sweep me away."
"Aren't we all?" Ursula replied wistfully and they smiled, leaning against each other and watching the game.
A girl on Bess's team scored a goal and the women jumped up and down with their arms around each other. The moms with the expensive cups cheered as they passed around high-fives and in that moment Eloise felt a connection to each one here on the field, so glad that she could be old enough to feel that connection that too easily felt like competition when she was younger and less wise.
"Love you," she whispered easily to a smiling Ursula who whispered it back.
15. Divorce Croissants
The Black Cat was thriving; better than thriving. Shellee called Eloise and gently asked her if she was selling "the cocaine" in such a kind and tentative way, that Eloise was sure if she had admitted to selling "the cocaine" that Shellee would have said, "Well, maybe it's not a good idea, dear, but you are doing such a great job and I appreciate you!".
People who typically made coffee at home came in daily now to get their fix (of coffee, not "the cocaine") and those who were only weekday regulars were now stopping in on weekends. It was so busy that Shellee approved Eloise hiring two more full-time baristas to Bess's and Tess's relief. The young women were more tense than usual; Bess was quieter and Tess had a harried edge to her that had not gone unnoticed. But the space issue was a problem Eloise could fix. She smiled at the problem every small business owner wanted to face.
"Hey, Crystal," Eloise smiled at the familiar face. She hadn't seen her in a couple of weeks and the sight of her brought immediate peace. She had on a copper-colored loose sweater with celestial stars and moons stitched along the tops of her shoulders and her silver hair was in loose waves.
