Page 47 of You Found Me
And I have to give it to her, I respect a bold gesture. Her voice shook a little as she spoke, but she looked proud of herself for asking. It honestly made me feel a little bad telling her no. But she took it in stride, walking away with her head held high.
Not even five minutes later, a different woman, Ginger, came over and came on strong. She had asked me out before, right after I moved to town and I politely declined. She still left somethingsat the front desk of the Wildflower Inn for me, including her number. I never reached out, hoping she’d get the hint.
Clearly, she hadn’t.
Ginger tried giving me her number again, and when I politely declined, stating I have a girlfriend, she laughed.
She actually laughed before stating, “I haven’t seen you with anyone recently and I heard through the grapevine that you’vetold everyone you weren’t in the market to date. Until I see someone on your arm, I’m going to keep trying to get you.”
She stood up to leave, coming to my side, and ran her fingers through my hair before giving a tug.
Edie chose right then to bring out my food. She laughed and said, “Watch out for that one.”
With a smile, I shook my head. “I’m sure I can handle her if she becomes a problem.”
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” is all she said before walking to the back, laughing her ass off.
Needless to say, I’ve been trying to steer clear of Edie’s. Which as luck would have it worked out this week, seeing as it’s only Wednesday and work here, and in Willow Beach, has been absolutely insane. Not that I don’t mind it.
I’m just so exhausted by the end of the day that other than playing twenty questions with Emmaline, I haven’t talked much to anyone else.
This morning was no different.
“What are your favorite drinks?” she asks me once we’re in the truck. “Like if you could have an endless fountain filled with a beverage, or beverages, what would those be?”
I laugh because her questions range from what people would consider slightly too deep to adorably silly. However, I like doing this with her.
“It would have three nozzles: one for black coffee, one for iced tea, and one for old-fashioneds. A drink for every occasion. What about you?”
Emmaline smiles. “Those feel very fitting for you. Even though black coffee is so bitter and you’re not. For me, white chocolate mochas—hot or iced, and flavored sparkling water that changes flavors weekly. While I occasionally drink wine, it’s just not my go to, so seltzers would be my third choice.”
“I feel like that’s cheating a little, but I’ll give it to you. Do you have any pet peeves?”
“Absolutely,” she says with speed. “It drives me insane when someone clicks their pens over and over, when someone takes a phone call in public on speaker, not closing lids completely, and someone repeatedly clearing their throat.”
“I raise your pet peeves and give you mine: silverware scraping against teeth, people standing upas soon asthe plane lands, touching cotton balls, dirty dishes being left in the sink overnight, and meetings that should have been an email.”
Emmaline chuckles. “We’re quite a pair.”
“That we are, Shortstack.”
She smiles, slightly shaking her head. “Is there anything you regret not doing in life?”
“Not coming to work with Theo sooner.”
“Really? I didn’t know he’d tried to get you here before this year.”
“I’m a hot commodity,” I waggle my brows at her. “Seriously though, he’d been asking since before graduation to meet with his dad for an interview. I knew I’d love to work with his company, but I didn’t want to get a job based on who I knew. I wanted a job where I was picked because of my skill and passion. Not saying that Mr. Callahan didn’t look at those factors when he offered me this job. However, I doubt they were the only reason.”
“Mr. Callahan wouldn’t hire you simply because you’re a friend of Theo’s. I promise. I’m sure he looked at your portfolio and carefully considered you.”
“I’d like to think so,” I tell her with a shrug. “What about you? Any regrets?”
“Letting Chance talk me out of getting my master’s. By now, I could’ve been done and already working as a Family Nurse Practitioner.”
“There’s no time like the present, Emmaline. You’d ace the program.”
I watch as she fidgets with her fingers, pulling on each of them. “Actually, as soon as I moved back to Meadow Springs, I researched and applied to a master’s program.”
