Page 47 of When Fate Breaks
Me: Working late? Lori Beth is here and dying to see you.
Or more so,I’llbe dying if she doesn’t see him.
I wait for his conversation bubble to pop up showing that he’s replying, but it doesn’t.
“You better be ordering that pizza,” Leah says when she rounds the truck and sees me on my phone.
“I will, I promise,” I reply. “Let’s just get inside first.”
“Do we have to?”
“Unfortunately, yes.”
Leah huffs dramatically and then we both jump, Lori Beth appearing out of nowhere.
“Where’s my little Remy Timmy?” she asks, referring to Remy as if he’s a five year old boy rather than a thirty year old man.
Leah’s eyes widen at me in disbelief, hidden from Lori Beth’s view, and it takes everything in me to keep my face neutral. “He should be home any minute,” I say, heading up the pathway to the front door and motioning for both of them to follow. “Just come in and get comfortable for now.” I turn the key in the lock, pushing the door open. “I’ll get some pizza ordered–”
My voice breaks off and my feet skid to a stop as I enter the foyer, my dress bag nearly slipping out my grasp as the most incredible smell hits my nose. In fact, it almost smells…just like…pizza? The best pizza I’ve ever smelled in my life. I hear a faucet turn on and the light clattering of pans and am suddenly brought back to my senses.
What the hell?
I take one very slow step at a time towards the kitchen. As I round the corner to face the doorway, the first thing that comes into view is a Dr. Pepper can on the corner of the kitchen counter. My mouth falls open as my eyes flick from the can to the entire spread of Italian food laid out across the kitchen counter to the large flannel clad back standing at the kitchen sink.
“Holy shit.” Leah appears at my side, reading my mind.
Blake barely startles at her words. “Oh, hey,” he says, shutting off the faucet and turning to face us.
“Holy shit,” a Southern drawl echoes behind me, causing both Leah and me to turn and face a dumbfounded Lori Beth, fully and shamelessly staring at Blake likehe’sthe five course meal.
I tear my gaze from the most color-filled version of Lori Beth’s face I’ve ever seen back to Blake. “Um, hey. What’s all this?” I ask, motioning towards the steaming hot meal fit for twenty people.
“You’ve been hosting me for over a week now,” Blake shrugs. “I thought it was time I return the favor.”
I take a few steps towards Blake as he pushes away from the counter, my brows pinched in confusion. “Blake, you’re already doing so much for us by fixing the greenhouse. It’s not like you’ve been here squatting. Also, I’ve been the worst host in the history of hosts. I’m pretty sure you’ve been living solely off of turkey sandwiches and Cinnamon Toast Crunch.”
He shrugs again, running a hand over his backwards baseball cap. “It’s not a big deal.”
I glance at the pan of lasagna, two different types of pasta dishes I probably can't pronounce, the massive bowl of salad, and tray of seemingly homemade bread spread across the counter and back to Blake.
“But it really is,” I insist. “You didn’t have to, but thank you.”
Blake crosses his arms, his head tilting. “You make it seem like you’ve never been made a meal before.”
I straighten, my lips parting as Blake’s eyes search mine. When I don’t respond right away, Blake swallows hard, his gaze flicking down to my arms. “You found a dress?” he questions.
“Oh. Um, yeah–”
The loud sound of a throat clearing cuts me off, making me realize for the first time that Blake and I had been whispering to each other.
“Ahem,” Lori Beth makes her presence known again. When I turn to look at her, I see her bright pink lips pulled into a tight smile. “Well, Annie, aren’t you going to introduce me to your guest? That would be the polite thing to do.”
Leah snorts, shaking her head and looking away. “Right,” I say. “Sorry. Blake, this is Lori Beth, Remy’s aunt. Miss Lori Beth, this is Blake, my…old friend,” I say motioning to him, feeling his eyes still glued to me but ignoring it. “He’s remodeling the greenhouse.”
“Oh my,” Lori Beth exclaims, clutching her chest. “Grandma Mary Lou’s old greenhouse? Well, just bless your little heart then,” she says, holding her hand out to him. “I’ve always adored that little greenhouse.” I grind my teeth, holding in the retort that she had previously called it a crooked pile of sticks and dirt and had encouraged Remy to tear it down. “It’s a downright pleasure to meet you, Blake…?” she trails off, looking at him expectantly.
“Di Fazio,” Blake finishes. “And the pleasure is all mine.” He grips Lori Beth’s frail hand in his giant one, shaking it firmly. I think she nearly squeals. So apparently there aretwopeople Lori Beth is capable of showing true human emotion towards.
