Derek: Hey. Are you busy?
Ella: Not unless you call going home to have dinner with my dog ‘busy.’
Derek: Good. I could really use your advice on something. It’s kind of important. Would you be available to have dinner tonight?
I was overcome with gratitude for the offer so I didn’t have to sit at home alone and wallow in my feelings. Plus, I wanted to do anything I could to help Derek.
Ella: Sounds good. Where should I meet you?
Derek: I’ll swing by and pick you up in half an hour.
Ella: Perfect. Where are we going?
Derek: You’ll see. :)
Ella: But I need to know what to wear!!!
I swear, boys didn’t understand how much thought went into things like that.
Derek: Something nice-ish? Not crazy fancy.
Boy directives were so weird.
Ella: You could just tell me where we’re going.
Derek: And ruin the surprise? It’s a really cool place. I promise you’ll love it.
Ella: A surprise? Fiiiiiiine. See you soon.
What kind of surprise was this anyway? I thought he needed advice?
I didn’t have much time to overthink it because I had to get home and hunt down something to wear. As I started toward home, doing a mental tour of my closet, I realized I was thankful for the distraction.
By the time I pulled into my driveway I noticed the clouds thickening in the air and heard the sound of thunder in the distance. When I stepped out of my car I smelled the scent of rain in the air, a silent warning that a storm was coming.
Thirty-Two
Cash
I rolledup the sleeves of my white button-down and ran my fingers through my hair. Taking a deep breath, I glanced at my reflection in the bathroom mirror at Carrie On Records one last time. I shook out my hands in a futile attempt to shake out my nervous energy.
Grace and I were meeting Ella for dinner, and I was going to get the chance to try and win Ella back. I walked out to the front of the office where Grace was waiting for me, holding the bouquet of white tulips I’d gotten for her mother.
“How do I look?” I asked timidly.
“You look great,” she answered. “There’s nothing to be nervous about. It’s just mom.”
“What time is she meeting us at Moto?” I took the flowers from her hand, and she smoothed the hem of her yellow sundress.
“They’ll be there at seven,” she replied as we made our way to the door. “But we should get there a few minutes early so we can get a table.”
“Wait.” I furrowed my brow. “They?”
Grace’s eyes went wide. “Shewill be there at seven. Sorry. I don’t know why I said that.”
I narrowed my eyes on her as she started toward my car. “Grace…”
“Yeah?”
