Page 23 of Right Where You Left Me
“Would you want to hang out? Maybe grab a drink or something?”
“Oh, um…” Her brow creases, her mouth twisting to the side and my stomach drops. She’s going to say no.
“Just, two friends hanging out!” I spit out before she can turn me down. “Or even, with your friends? I just want to get to know you again, Sage. Learn who you are outside of this building. If that’s… if that’s okay with you.” I murmur the last part. My stomach is churning with anxiety now. This was a bad idea. I shouldn’t have asked. Things were going so well, and here I am pushing like I said I wouldn’t. Of course she’s going to say no. Just because we can finally get along at work doesn’t mean that we’re actually friends. I’m so stupid.
She lets out a breath. “Um.” She shifts her weight on her feet before the tension in her shoulders relaxes. “There’s actually an art walk out in the city tonight that River was going to drag Peyton and me to. You could come. If you want.” She says, shrugging her shoulders.
“I’d love that!” I say, and even I know I’m being too loud. I can’t help it though, I’m way too excited. This is going to be so great, and the slight blush on Sage’s cheeks tells me that she thinks so too. “What time should I meet you guys there?”
“Everything kicks off at six tonight, but we’re going to get there around seven.” She rubs the back of her neck, her cheeks getting even darker. “Give me your phone and I’ll put my number in there.”
I grin, handing it over. Her thumbs move quickly as she texts herself from my phone. Her fingers graze mine as she hands it back to me and I muffle a gasp because I swear it’s like she shocked me.
“Alright, now you have my number. I’ll text you all the details and we’ll see you there.”
“Yes. Great, I’ll see you there.” I say, a little breathlessly.
The rest of my shift flows quickly. Sage left pretty soon after we exchanged numbers, and now I’m just finishing up the last bit of clean up in the kitchen before I’m done for the day.
“Anything else you need me to do before I leave, Piper?” I ask, throwing my flour covered apron in the ‘dirty’ bin.
“No, thanks though! Enjoy the rest of your day, Emma.”
“Oh, Piper?”
She looks up at me with a quirked brow that makes me smile because it’s such a Sage expression. The two look so much alike. “I was wondering if it would be possible to set a time to discuss maybe expanding the menu? I have a few ideas that I think would do really well.”
“Oh.” She says, her eyes widening. “Of course. I’ll check the calendar and we can set up a meeting. Thanks for all the hard work, Emma. Really, you’re doing amazing.”
“Thank you.” I say with a grin. “I really like it here. I feel like it’s a good fit.”
“I agree.” She smiles back and shoos me with her hands. “Now, go home. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I nod and do one more check to make sure I’m leaving her a clean space before I go.
The drive back home is short, no where in this town is very far from each other, but it’s long enough to have me obsessing over tonight. What if she only invited me to be nice? What if it ends up being a disaster?
I park my car in the driveway and lean my head against the steering wheel, trying to compose myself before I go inside. Sage wouldn’t have invited me if she didn’t want me to come. It’ll be fine… I hope. I take a deep breath and meander into the house, trying to avoid my mom. I am not that lucky and when she sees me, she immediately senses that I’m stressed out and in only the way that she can, hovers.
“What’s got you so tense, hun?” She asks, quirking a brow. “Was work stressful? Bad day?”
“What? Oh, no. I’m fine, Mom.”
“You sure? You seem off. Your energy is,” She waves her hands around my head, “discombobulated.”
“Is that a technical term for it?”
“Emma Gale.” She says sternly.
I can’t help but laugh at her. “Sorry. Nothing is wrong, I promise.”
She huffs. “Do you need me to make you lunch?”
I sigh. She’s not going to let this go. “Lunch sounds great. I’m going to shower real quick and I’ll be down soon.”
She nods, a pleased smile on her face. She’s always been an over the top caretaker. Even with my dad before he got sick. My mother is the kind of person that would give the shirt off her back to someone, and if I can make her feel better by letting her take care of me, then I’ll let her. Energy reading and all.
I shower quickly, towel drying my hair and finger brushing out my waves before I throw on some comfy clothes to lounge in until it’s time to get ready for tonight.
