“Yes!” I say definitively. “Whatever else you think might be cute for a date.”
“My pleasure.” It seems to take him an inordinately long amount of time to package up our pastries. “So, your brunches seem to be a big hit, Callie, huh?”
“You must come to the next one!” I insist.
“I would love to. Thank you for the invite. Not sure if you know, but I’ve only been in Wake for a little over eight months. Moved up here because I’d always wanted to open a place like this, but I couldn’t afford it in a bigger city. Plus, it’s so lovely and quiet here. I hated the constant noise of New York City.”
“I hear you on that. Los Angeles was way too loud and busy for me,” I agree.
“Hey, how is Matteo? I know he works for Paul and does a lot of construction, but I haven’t spoken to him much.” Jackson wipes down a counter and starts rinsing the bowl for his KitchenAid blender. With slightly too much energy. And there’s a decided lack of eye contact. “I’d love to have someone here to do minor repairs. Nothing huge, but do you think he’d be interested?”
Both of us play it cool, but Mary Ann and I can see there might be something to build on.
“You know, he’s over at my house right now. Why don’t you come back with us, and you two can talk?” I suggest.
“Oh. I guess I could close up shop for a bit,” Jackson says.
Mary Ann leans over the counter and makes sad eyes at him. “Besides, I could use the support if Slowski totally rejects me. You might have to haul me back here and push all the healing chocolate treats my way.”
“And it’s a picture-perfect day,” I point out. “Made for swimming and floating. Sounds as though we all might do well with some boy-gazing time.”
Jackson holds up a hand. “No, I didn’t say—”
“But you kinda did.”
He rolls his eyes and sighs. “Fine, I kinda did. I can’t complain about some boy-gazing.”
“And maybe a double date?”
“I don’t know about that!” he protests. “But Slowski, huh? Not an unattractive boy at all.”
“Back atcha. And please?” she begs. “It would make it so much easier if we weren’t alone. If Slow even says yes. Let’s both take a risk! Ask out Matteo!”
“I’ll think about this stupid idea. But I’ll at least swim and approach him about repairs.”
Right after he goes upstairs to his apartment to grab a swimsuit, Alex marches into the store. “I am here for tiramisu. Joan had a baby five months ago and is tired and wants a treat. Her preferred treat is tiramisu. The baby takes a nap in the afternoon, so I should go back after three p.m.” He glances around nervously. “Where is Jackson? He is supposed to be here.”
“It’s okay; he’ll be right back to help you,” Mary Ann says. “He’s getting a bathing suit because we’re all going back to Callie’s for a swim. Would you like to come?”
He thinks for a long time. “Itishot today. A swim would make sense. But I do not have a bathing suit. I cannot get wet as I am. And I have to bring tiramisu to Joan this afternoon.”
“I bet Jackson has a suit you could borrow, and we will have you delivering tiramisu on time. Sound okay?” I ask.
Alex looks around the room for a bit and eventually replies, “Nope. I do not like wearing other people’s clothing, and I need to bring Joan her treat on time.”
“Okay, but we’ll see you at Wakefest?” I ask. “You remember that we won’t have brunch this weekend.”
“I have that in my calendar. I will be helping Mary Ann sell vegetables and animal wool.”
“And I appreciate your help, Alex. Here, I’ll get you the tiramisu for Joan.” Mary Ann rounds the counter and packages up slices that she hands over. “See you Friday morning.”
“Yes, see you Friday morning.”
Jackson follows us back to my house and waits for us on the dock while Mary Ann and I change into bathing suits, and I’ve again given her one of my bikinis that shows off her figure.
When I put on mine, I blurt out, “What the fuck?”
My body has filled out so much that I’ve probably gone up a cup size. And an ass size, although that’s not likely a term.
