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“We’ll see.” She tucks her phone in her bag before giving me a quick kiss on the cheek. “I had a lovely time today. See you Friday.”
“See you Friday,” I reply as I watch her get into her car.
I head back inside and scan the crowd. There’s still a lot of guests on the dance floor. I look at my watch, it’s only nine. I want more time with Marie, but she did agree to a date.
I find Liam and Victor at the bar. I order another scotch and chat with them before finding some friends. It feels good reminiscing and catching up with the guys from college.
Though not nearly as good as Marie felt in my arms.
I’ll be thinking about our upcoming date all week.
Guess I’ll have to write to distract myself. Maybe my publicist will be happy with me taking a break if I manage to write my book while I’m here.
THREE
MARIE
The first coupleof days after the wedding passed in a blur of work, meals, and endless cups of coffee. Wednesday nights are reserved for wine nights with the girls. We rotate between houses and who supplies the wine and snacks.
Tonight, it’s at my house and I’m relieved that the three of my closest friends will be coming. Violet and Jake don’t leave for another couple weeks for their honeymoon. She’s adamant to finish out the tourist season at the bakery and training a new hire before they head off to Europe for a few weeks.
I pace around my kitchen, glass of red in one hand and a piece of chocolate in the other. The kiss between Theo and me weighs heavy on my mind. It’s been a few days and I still feel as if it just happened. One moment I’m full of happiness and there’s the flutter of butterflies in my stomach. Then just as suddenly, the guilt comes crashing down on my joy and the uneasiness of something new starts twisting my insides. It’s like a badly mixed cocktail slushing inside of me.
Do I treat the date as the start of something new and let the relationship blossom?
Or do I succumb to guilt and go on the date with the expectation that it’s the last time I’ll see Theo?
Just as I finish my chocolate the doorbell rings. Sally and Bethany arrive with their arms full of baked goods.
“We’re bringing all the goodies deemed unacceptable for Sprinkles Bakery & Café.” Bethany laughs. Her vibrant red curls bouncing with her head movements. True to her colorful self, she’s dressed in a pink and red polka dot blouse and solid red skirt.
“I assume Violet is running late?” I ask, ushering them to the kitchen. “This is way too many sweets for just the four of us.” I set everything out. They brought cookies, cupcakes, and a few slightly smushed looking Danishes.
“Well, you never know, just take them to the roastery tomorrow. Give to whoever stops by for coffee pickups. Violet’s been training Anne for when she leaves on her honeymoon, so they’ve been making a bunch of sweets. She doesn’t want us to sell the misfits in the store,” Bethany shrugs and grabs a cookie before heading to the living room.
My living room is probably my favorite room in the house. Cozy with two grey velvet couches, a navy rug, and dark oak coffee and end tables. I have a fireplace that I love to use in the evenings, and my mantle has pictures and candles. Everything is well loved, being a family home. I’ve updated all the appliances and some minor things like paint and wallpaper.
Sally skims over the sweets, selecting two cookies, and heads to my living room. I grab three empty glasses and follow them.
“Wine?” I gesture to the selection I already have on the coffee table.
“Yes please, white,” Sally mumbles, mouth full of cookie, crumbs falling as she speaks.
The three of us burst into laughter. This is exactly what I needed. Laughing feels good right now. I start pouring wine and the doorbell rings again. Bethany goes to get it and Violet joinsus. She’s empty handed and plops on the couch, sinking into the cushions.
After a lot of gushing about her wedding, Violet asks me what I thought about Theodore.
“We weren’t quite sure where to sit him since all of Jake’s other friends are married.” She sips her wine.
I set my glass down, anxiously folding and unfolding my hands, “He was quite the gentleman.” I can feel my cheeks warm, a flush coming over me as I think about our goodnight kiss once again.
It was one heck of a kiss that I desperately want to repeat.
“Somehow I suspect there’s a little bit more to that,” Bethany quips. All three sets of eyes are me and while I feel nervous, I also need help.
“We kissed, and now we’re going on a date Friday night and everything just feels like a mess already,” my words spill out.
“Are you worried about the date itself? Or something else?” Bethany pours some more wine. “First date jitters are normal for anyone. Whether you just want to have fun or you’re looking for something exclusive.”
