“All I know is when someone’s smiling at their phone that way, it’s usually a woman or a really cute cat video. And I don’t hear any cats.”
Rowyn laughed and shook her head.
“It’s my boss, sort of. The woman I nanny for. It’s my day off today, and the kids are gone to their dad’s. She was checking if I’d be back for dinner, that’s all. She’s making lasagne.”
Avery held up her hands as they got to Rowyn’s stop.
“If you say so. She must be an excellent cook if you’re that excited for herlasagne.”
“She’s not. A good cook, I mean, according to her. She doesn’t do it often,” Rowyn said.
“But she’s got a child-free evening and is cooking your dinner tonight. Sounds totally innocent for sure.”
Rowyn laughed, but the idea hadn’t occurred to her. Why was Eliza bothering to cook a meal when she had made it clear it wasn’t something she did often? Making the dinner was part of Rowyn’s duties when the kids were there, and Eliza had already joked about how much takeout or frozen meals she consumed when they weren’t there.
“She’s not cookingmedinner. She’s cooking dinner, and lasagne is easier to make for more than one person. Plus, how the hell did you get all of this from me smiling at my phone?”
Rowyn’s bus was coming around the corner as Avery replied.
“I’m perceptive. You talked about your boss quite a bit today,even if you didn’t call her that. Your face had the same look when you were smiling at your phone as it did each time. Smitten is the word that comes to mind. But hey, I could be wrong. It happens rarely, but not never.”
Avery waved goodbye as the bus pulled up, and Rowyn smiled. It was good to feel seen by someone so quickly, even if she wasn’t altogether sure she wanted her confusing feelings for Eliza to be so on display yet. She had a gut feeling Avery wasn’t the type to do anything harmful with the information, though, and her gut was rarely wrong.
Overall, it had been a good day. She had found a new fun place and new friends, and was on her way to enjoy hopefully good food with someone who made her smile. She pushed aside the nerves to focus on the good and hoped against hope it would continue.
Chapter Eleven
Eliza’s week had turned on its head from the moment she had stepped into the office Monday morning. She could hardly believe that had only been four days ago as she glanced at the calendar after finishing up her final scheduled call of the day. Her eyes were blurry from the amount of time she had spent staring at other people on a computer screen this week. Traveling for work could often be logistically difficult with two children, but she much preferred in-person meetings.
Her phone rang again, and she grumbled until the name that lit up her screen came into focus. She automatically smiled as she clicked accept and put the phone to her ear.
“Eliza speaking.”
“Rowyn speaking too.”
Eliza rolled her eyes, but her smile grew wider.
“You’re not as funny as you think,” Eliza replied.
“Then why are you smiling?” Rowyn shot back.
Eliza glanced up as if Rowyn would be magically standing there watching her.
“How do you know I’m smiling?”
“I can hear it. You’re not as cool and mysterious as you think you are, Elle.”
Eliza scoffed and settled back into her seat.
“Did you call to tell me your unsolicited opinion of me, or was there a greater purpose?” Eliza asked.
“Nice deflection so you don’t have to admit I make you smile. But yes, there was a greater purpose. I wondered if you had planstonight. Or more specifically, in like an hour?”
Eliza’s stomach flipped and she took a steadying breath. She still had a ton of work to do, and being around Rowyn without the children as a barrier was probably a terrible idea. She had had plans to speak to Rowyn last Sunday over dinner about their kiss, but Rowyn had begun telling her about her day and the people she met, and everything had been so nice. Eliza hadn’t wanted to spoil the evening by telling Rowyn that they could not do it again, as much as it pained her. Then work had been so intense all week she hadn’t gotten home until late every evening, and they had barely laid eyes on each other since. They had exchanged some random messages about groceries or dinner, but nothing beyond it.
“Elle?”
Eliza startled as she realized she had yet to reply.
