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Have a great day, Tiger. xo
Noticing he left his baseball cap behind, I pick it up and lift it to my nose, inhaling his scent.
I find the group chat I’m in with Candy and Bree and hit the video icon on the screen.
Candy picks up first, then Bree. Their gorgeous faces fill the screen of my phone.
“Why are you calling at this time of the day? Is everything okay?” Candy frowns, looking at me down the camera, obviously worried because I never call during work hours. Running across my office, I close my door and take a seat on the cream leather sofa.
“Ash came to the office today.” I wait for their response.
“And?”
“Did you talk?”
They both ask at the same time.
“No,” I answer.
“No?” Candy asks.
“He brought a picnic and then sat and had lunch with me.”
Bree’s mouth drops open while Candy says, “Holy swoon.”
“It’s like he was trying to recreate our first date or something.” It dawns on me that it was exactly what he was trying to do.
“He says he’s coming back tomorrow.” I feel excited about seeing him again.
Today was amazing. I feel better than I have in days. Months even.
Bree leans into the camera, her eyes dancing with expectation and impatience. “Tell us everything.”
Never being one to overshare, as soon as I’m done, I can’t hold in how excited I am, and I call Gemma and Kourtney to tell them too.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Lily
I need a hot shower, a good meal, and several hours of uninterrupted sleep. This afternoon I made up for the lost time I spent staring at my computer all morning.
Ash’s surprise appearance gave me the zest I needed to get through the rest of the day, which was much needed as I had a to do list as big as the Eiffel Tower to work through.
I finalized the décor lists for two upcoming weddings as well as several large-scale events coming up. One event being the Christmas party for Candy and Brayden, something they host every year for the entire Eagles team. This year they’ve requested all guests wear a Christmas themed costume, which reminds me, I need to go back to the house to pick up mine.
I have sore eyes, not only from crying for most of the weekend but from staring at my computer screen all afternoon. Ordering ten-foot-high garden baubles, Christmas trees made entirely of fake candy, and thousands upon thousands of fairy lights is enough to give anyone a headache, but it’s all organized now.
Candy and Brayden’s eyes lit up like a neon sign when I suggested erecting a giant gingerbread house in the garden for the kids. They loved the idea of popcorn machines, chocolate fountains, a cotton candy maker, and a mocktail bar to keep the children entertained as well.
They can even enter the enchanted garden full of treats and festive goodies including a find the Santa maze, where they will win a prize if they find him. Candy and Brayden’s enormous backyard lends itself well to the plans I have, which is convenient as we are also erecting a party tent big enough to accommodate over two hundred guests. It’s going to be huge, and I’m beside myself with excitement to start setting it up next week.
Smiling, I push my key in the door of our city apartment, immediately stopping in my tracks, confusion getting the better of me. The strong smell of rich food being cooked invades my nostrils, making my stomach rumble again. Something I have been ignoring all afternoon; the food at lunch wasn’t enough to fill me up. It’s groaning at me for more.
Through the gap in the door, three things hit me at once.
The side lights. Which are switched on, making the apartment look cozy and welcoming.
The music. Which sounds like my old Dirty Dancing record playing, the crackles from the needle giving the vinyl its unique richness.
