Dean: You done freaking out now? It’s gonna be a party. My dad plans to go whenever I do. Heck, he’ll probably pay for the jet. He just wants me to handle the details. Whoever else in the family wants to fly out then is welcome, too. Jessica’s younger brothers, for sure. Might as well fill this jet up.
Oh shoot. I’d jumped to conclusions and accused Dean of throwing money at me, and only now, because I couldn’t cut him off through text, was he getting to explain.
Jessica was Henry’s niece. Of course he’d be there. I’d avoided thinking about details like that because I hadn’t decided if I was going.
Grace: I’m sorry. I should have let you explain all that before cutting you off earlier today.
Dean: I’m not saying I wasn’t hoping to take you as my date. That was an accurate assumption on your part. Apology retracting in five…four…three…
Grace: You’re just trying to make me feel better. It won’t work. Apology stands.
Dean: I’ll take it.
I wrapped my arms around myself. Was it possible to feel his warmth through the phone? It was there, even when he attempted to be snarky with me. I’d missed this, and it made me wonder how I’d ever not figured out that Knead was Dean.
Dean: Goodnight, Grace. Let me know the second Flowers United gets back to you.
Grace: Will do. Goodnight.
Dean: Do I get a song?
Grace: Maybe someday.
I stared at my phone long after, thinking about things. And then I got out my old copy of Anne of Green Gables and took it with me to bed. I couldn’t remember what happened to Anne and Diana in the haunted wood, but I should probably find out.
Chapter 12 – Dean
Connie ducked her head into my office. “Blaire is a yes for next Friday’s gala. She’d like to be picked up promptly at seven.”
“Thank you, Connie.”
She narrowed her eyes at me. “Am I allowed to be both proud of you and irritated at the same time?”
“Not if it means I have to hear about it.”
She of course ignored my sarcasm and took a seat in the armchair across from my desk. “It was a smart move to have the invitation come through me. It keeps things very business-like. But you’re going on another date your mother planned for you.”
“This is true.” I didn’t look up from the email I was typing out. I had twelve more emails to respond to after this one. “How did Blaire sound?”
“Pretentious. Lovely. I have no idea how she actually feels about it, but she claims to be looking forward to meeting you. Do you even know what she looks like?”
“I do. I checked LinkedIn.”
Connie leaned in. “I heard LinkedIn is the new Tinder. Is that true?”
“Not according to LinkedIn, but yes. It’s super true.” I had the messages to prove it. They were not exactly professional. Inever responded to any of them. As far as I was concerned, LinkedIn was for checking up on people, and that was it.
Blaire’s cover photo on LinkedIn made her look like a supermodel, except one who had an MBA and worked eighty hours a week in a law firm. I had purposely waited exactly one week before the event to ask her out, following my mother’s edict, but without looking over-eager about it.
I didn’t need Connie’s lectures. I knew this game well, the one where I did what my mother asked, but only just. Checking out Blaire’s resume was part of that, getting enough information to be able to make pleasant conversation without going too deep.
I looked up to see Connie engrossed in her phone. She might have even forgotten she was still in my office.
“Are you on LinkedIn?” I asked. “Find anyone interesting?”
“No, you rascal. I’m not interested in dating again. Gilberto, rest his soul, was it for me.” She stood and tucked her phone into the front pocket of her blazer. “I was doing what I’m always doing. Rearranging your schedule. Lunch will be here at noon. Your phone consult’s been pushed back thirty minutes. I’ll let you know when they’re ready. Also, Luis has a cancellation this afternoon at four. Would you like it?”
“Yes, please.”
