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“Okay.”
Makayla did indeed look sad. She’d moved to the corner of the couch to make room for Jenny’s aunts, who were talking to each other and not her. I remembered what Denver had said about her needing friends. I wasn’t sure why that needed to be me, but somehow it did.
Gina caught me on my way over to Makayla, and I stopped to give her a hug and say hi.
“I know you want to chat with your friends, but would you want to come over Monday night for dinner?” she asked. “We’re prepping for a pumpkin bake-off later this month, and we need a taste tester. Dan and Kim and their kids are still sick. They seem to be getting that darned stomach bug one by one, poor things.”
Dan had given me all the gory details. He was extremely bored and enjoyed grossing me out in general, so for him it was a win-win.
“Of course I’ll come.” It felt like a chance to do over our last dinner. I even considered asking if I could bring Denver along, but the moment passed and someone else came up to talk to Gina, so I excused myself and went to check on Makayla.
“Hey.” I sat in the vacant chair next to her end of the couch. “I heard your foot got in a fight with someone’s heel.”
“Yeah.” She held her foot up. She was wearing jeweled, barely-there sandals and there was indeed a tiny square-shaped indention, although it didn’t quite break the skin. “Maybe it’s a sign I shouldn’t be here. I barely know you and Jenny.”
“That’s not true. You’re our friend. And our neighbor. Besides, we’re about to have a mini club of women who have dated Denver. That tall, pregnant blonde heading towards us used to date him, too. They stayed friends.”
“Oh, wow.”
Lauren eased herself into the chair on my other side and held out her hand for Makayla to shake. “I’m Lauren. Lovely to meet you, Makayla. Jenny’s told me all about you both so I’ll even the playing field. Do you ladies want to hear how Denver broke up with me? It’s a great story. My husband, who I was not dating at the time, crashed my family luncheon…”
Chapter 40 – Denver
I should have been startled by the meaty hand that clamped down on my shoulder while I was standing with Sadie getting instructions in the homeless shelter kitchen, but Hank had done it way too many times. I also should have known he and Julian would show up on the same night as us. After all, I’d told them I’d be here with Sadie, and Julian especially wanted to see me following his advice in action.
Maybe I was heartless after all, because I’d given mine away. It belonged to Sadie now, and I wasn’t the least bit sorry about it. Scared spitless and trying to pace myself, yes. Sorry, no.
“Introduce us, man.” Hank smiled at Sadie and put out his hand for her to shake. “We have so many good stories on this guy.”
Sadie grinned. “I can’t wait to hear them.” Whatever else she was about to say was cut off as the four of us got a withering glare from the lady running the kitchen. We turned to pay attention and get our assignments for the night. It didn’t deter Hank for long.
He told so many embarrassing stories about me. To the point where Sadie was holding her sides and I was ready to disown my friends. Thankfully, once the dinner hour started, Julian and Hank were sent out to mingle with the people waiting in line. And it was a long line.
I couldn’t help watching Sadie as she worked behind the counter with me. She was so serious and focused, though she did smile at the teens and kids, coaxing hesitant smiles from them in return. I loved that she instinctively knew to ask them what they’d like to eat and how much. When you didn’t get a lot of options in life, it was nice to be asked about something as simple as which dessert you preferred.
We sat and ate a quick meal with one of the families afterwards, and then together, Sadie and I tackled the dishes, which consisted of endless rows of large silver serving trays and ladles until the plates and silverware started coming in. Hank scraped the plates and stacked them up next to us on the sink. Julian was out wiping down tables.
Decked out in long yellow gloves, black aprons, and hair nets, Sadie and I really did look like the stereotypical lunch ladies, except a lot less grouchy. Hank turned on the cheap radio they kept on a back shelf and found a classic rock station. Soon, I was doing a little air guitar while Sadie drummed against the sink. She had a soft spot for classic rock, which once I thought about it, did not surprise me at all. It was so… her.
More plates came in, and we got back to studiously scrubbing to keep up. Sadie used her arm below her glove to wipe her forehead. The kitchen was muggy, and her cheeks were rosy and overheated.
“You okay?” I asked.
She looked over at me. “Of course? Why?”
“I just appreciate you coming with me.”
“What can I say? I’m not sick of you yet.” Her smile turned serious, and I knew there was meaning there she couldn’t admit to yet. But that was okay. We’d get there on her time, so I kept what I wanted to say in return to myself. Mostly.
I leaned over and whispered, “Don’t take this the wrong way, but I’ve never been more attracted to you than I am right now.”
Sadie rolled her eyes. “Soapy Sadie really does it for you, huh? With the gloves and the sneakers and the hair net?”
“Oh yeah. Keep going. You’re speaking my language.”
Sadie scooped up a handful of water and splashed it at me. “Oops. I don’t know what happened there.”
I laughed and picked up another plate. “So, I forgot to ask. How was Jenny’s bridal shower?”
