“Hey. I’m here. Put me to work. I have an hour, and I brought paninis from the café,” she said as she walked into the bookstore and saw Maisie and Lainey behind the counter.
“It’s lunchtime already?” Maisie asked.
“It is,” India replied and placed the brown bag on the counter, along with the travel container for the four teas she had brought. “I went with tea because that seemed lunch-appropriate. We’ve got iced peach, iced regular, iced passionfruit, and iced raspberry.”
“I’ll take the passionfruit,” Lainey said and pulled the cup from the holder.
“Thank you,” Maisie replied and took the regular.
“No problem,” India said and smiled at her. “So, I was wondering about something.”
“What?”
“What are you doing later? I know the campaign is keeping you busy, but do you think you can spare an evening to go out with me?”
“Like, on a date?” Maisie asked before she sipped the iced tea.
“Yes.”
“She can do that,” Lainey replied instead before she took the brown bag from the counter and added, “I’m putting this in the back.”
“I could maybe do that,” Maisie said. “I could possibly be interested in buying you a drink.”
“Possibly?” India lifted an eyebrow.
“Well, I wanted to thank you for all your help with the campaign anyway.”
“So, it’s a thank-you drink, and not a drink between two people who are on a date?”
“Can it be both?” Maisie asked.
“Yes, it can be both,” India said with a small laugh. “ButI’d like to go home and get ready this time instead of wearing my work clothes.”
“So, seven, maybe? I can pick you up.”
India liked the idea ofherpicking Maisie up better, but she nodded, deciding that she could flex in this small way tonight.
“Seven is good. Where are we going?”
“How about the piano bar in the Quarter?”
“Really?” India asked, surprised.
“Yes. It’s slightly upscale, but still approachable. I figured that would be a good compromise.”
India nodded again and said, “I agree. Maybe after the drink, we could grab dinner.”
“That sounds like a distinct possibility,” Maisie said.
“I like possibilities,” India replied.
“Well,I’mpossibly really hungry, so can we just eat and work?” Lainey yelled from the back.
India and Maisie both laughed before India picked up the raspberry iced tea and carried it back with her, leaving the holder and the peach one at the counter in case Sarah was coming in later. They made their way to the back of the shop, where Lainey had laid out the sandwiches and the cookies India had brought for each of them.
“I got peanut butter,” India said.
Maisie leaned into her, gave India a kiss on the cheek, and replied, “Thank you.”
