Page 75
Then she sighed and went back to the living room. Instead of flinging herself onto the couch, she sat at the kitchen island and pulled up her Seattle list. Despite getting distracted by Sam, she’d actually accomplished most of her list. With the frigid weather, she didn’t think the Fremont troll was going to happen, but that was okay. The only things left were to see The Nutcracker, which she would be doing tonight, and to eat at Dick’s Drive-In.
Perfect. She needed lunch, anyway.
The closest Dick’s to Phoebe’s apartment was a short bus ride away. The bus passed through the gorgeous neighborhood where Sam’s parents lived, close to Kerry Park, where Sam had taken her to see the view of the Space Needle.
The memory of that night warmed her like a cinnamon-scented candle. The festive holiday party. The way Sam had found her in the movie room and jumped into the seat next to her. The magical way he’d brought her to Kerry Park without knowing that it was one of the items on her checklist. The houses glowing with Christmas lights, happy families enjoying the spectacle together. The snow. The brush of Sam’s lips against hers, as soft as a snowflake.
Unexpectedly, a sense of peace settled over her as she gazed out the window of the bus. So it wasn’t some romantic story straight out of a Hallmark movie. But it was an adventure. And even if all she was taking home were memories, maybe the time she’d spent with Sam would, sort of, change her. Now she knew what was possible if she opened herself up. If she said hello to a stranger, if she said yes to a spontaneous party invitation. And now she knew that there were men in the world who found her attractive, interesting, adventurous.
Feeling a little lighter, she hopped off the bus and stepped into the long line outside the burger joint. Apparently, you just ordered from one of the outdoor windows. The menu consisted of fewer than a dozen items, all surprisingly affordable, as if the place were stuck in the ’90s. Arden decided to treat herself to a deluxe burger, fries, and a chocolate shake.
As she waited in line, she resisted the urge to whip out her phone, instead remembering her goal to make eye contact and smile. She idly looked around at the other people in line—a few families, some couples, and many individuals staring at their phones. She was startled to realize that in the line next to hers, an attractive man was looking back at her. Instead of looking away immediately, as she normally would, Arden smiled.
“Cold out here,” the man said.
“Freezing.”
“Still getting a shake, though.”
Arden laughed. “Me too.”
“You have to at Dick’s, right?”
“I wouldn’t know. It’s my first time.”
The man looked genuinely shocked. “How is that possible?”
“I’m a tourist.”
“Ah. Okay, that makes more sense. How are you enjoying Seattle?”
“It’s beautiful here.”
“And you got to see snow! We don’t usually get snow.”
Arden nodded, her mind flooding with the feeling of Sam’s lips on hers.
“When do you go home?”
“The day after tomorrow.”
There was a pause as both of their lines inched forward.
“Hey, well, my name is Kevin. I’d love to show you one of my favorite cocktail bars if you happen to be free tonight.”
Arden was so surprised, she was speechless for a moment. Of course she had to decline—she had only two days left, and she was not about to start another fling. But the fact was, the idea of going out with a guy who wasn’t Sam made her feel like she might cry.
But also, how had she never realized the power of a smile and eye contact until the age of thirty? It was so simple yet so powerful, she wanted to laugh. She imagined how Kevin would react if she started laughing and crying at the same time.
“That’s so sweet of you, but I’m leaving so soon, I’m not looking to date anyone.”
He tilted his head in acknowledgment and said, “Fair enough. Enjoy your shake.”
As Arden took her warm, greasy paper bag and small milkshake to a table, she replayed the interaction in her mind. Something about it made her uneasy. As she bit into a hot fry, she realized that if she continued to reject attractive men just because they weren’t Sam Keller… that might turn out to be a problem.
Chapter 25
Phoebe
