Shutting the lid on her computer, Finley tells me, “I don’t do that. In fact, if two different entrées sound good and I can’t decide between them, I’ve been known to order both.”
On my way to the costume rack to change, I ask, “Do you ever share bites with your friends?”
“It depends if they have something I want them to share with me.” Ah, she’s a tit for tat kind of lady. I can support that.
Stationing myself behind the screen of clothes, I tell her, “I’m always happy to share. And being that supper is on me, you can order as many entrees as you want.”
“That’s very noble of you.”
“It’s because I’m a duke,” I tell her. “You know, noble by definition.”
Finley laughs. “All right, Lord Culpepper, where are you taking me?”
“I don’t know,” I tell her. “I’ve only ever been to the diner. And while I’m happy to go back, I’m also game to venture out and try someplace new. Where doyouthink we should go?”
I can’t see Finley, but I hear her mumbling to herself like she’s weighing her options. After several moments, she says, “I love the beer battered fish and chips at the pub, but I also really love the patty melt at the diner. Then there’s the lodge. I hear their restaurant is first class, but it’s probably quite pricey. I’d feel bad making you buy me two entrees there.”
“I have a good job,” I tell her. “I’d be happy to buy you two expensive meals.”
When I walk out from behind the costumes wearing my own clothes, I discover Finley standing by the doorway leading to the front of her shop. Her purse is slung over her shoulder and she appears ready to go. “I’m not opposed to letting you spend money on me, but let’s go there another time. I’m starving and I don’t want to have to go home and change clothes before we eat.”
“So where are we headed?” I ask.
“My stomach is telling me patty melts at the diner,” she replies. After we walk through the front of her shop, she turns the lights off and we head outside. As she stops to lock up, I ask, “It’s nearby, right? I still don’t know my way around town yet.”
“Two blocks down,” she says. “It’s right across the street from my apartment building.”
“Good,” I tell her. “We’re going to have to walk. I don’t have a car yet.”
She side-eyes me with interest. “You don’t have a car?”
“I never needed one in New York City,” I tell her.
“Do you know how to drive?” Oddly, she doesn’t sound the least bit judgmental.
“I know how to drivein theory, but I don’t get a lot of practice so I’m not very good at it. My neighbor teaches drivers’education in town and I’m thinking about taking a refresher class.”
“No!” Now Finley sounds downright excited. “I’m going to start taking a driving class, too. I just signed up.”
A cool breeze blows past us, making me wish I was wearing a heavier jacket. Even though New York City can get very cold, it somehow feels warmer than Elk Lake. It’s probably the exhaust from all the traffic heating up the air.
“You don’t drive?” I ask while jamming my hands in my pockets in hopes of warming them up.
Finley shakes her head but doesn’t elaborate. Well, she didn’t judge me, so I’m not going to judge her. Instead, I tell her, “Maybe we’ll be in the same class. I just hope I can fit it around my schedule.”
My new friend smiles at me like all barriers between us have been lowered. Which is a relief. Not only will Finley and I be shooting pictures together, but we can polish up our driving skills. If I can’t convince her to like me as more than a friend spending that amount of time together, I don’t deserve to be anything more than her fake boyfriend.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
FINLEY
The fact that Thomas doesn’t drive very well makes me feel closer to him than anything else could. It’s nice to know I’m not the only one who doesn’t possess all the normal skills
It starts to pour down rain as we walk to the diner. Grabbing my new friend’s arm, I pull him away from the curb, so we have rain protection from the awnings hanging over the buildings. “What’s life like in New York?”
“Busy,” he replies. “I was always on the move.”
“But not here?”
