Page 37 of Raise The Bar
Callum
“Two words: Subscription boxes.” Maggie does jazz hands in front of me to emphasize what she’s just said.
We’re wandering around the city eating ice cream from paper cups. She texted me this morning saying she wanted to run a couple of ideas by me, and not having heard from her in almost a week, I jumped at the chance. Seven days since our “non-date”. Six days of not hearing from her. Wondering if she was okay. Asking myself if I’d done something wrong. Maybe I came on too strong at dinner and she felt like I wasn’t respecting her boundaries. But then she met me at the ice cream parlor by her building with a gorgeous smile on her gorgeous face and it feels like we’re just as in sync as we were on our date. Maybe she’d just had a really hectic week, like she’d said.
“Smart,” I admit through a mouthful of ice cream, after I think it over for a moment. The cool treat was my idea, even though we have to eat it quickly before it melts in the late July heat. “Monthly box subscriptions are really popular lately. You find one that will use your product and then all you have to do is get it to them.”
“Exactly!” She bounces on the tips of her toes excitedly. She’s in running shorts and a light tank top, her curls pulled back in a ponytail. There is a light sheen of sweat on her graceful neck as the sun beats down on us. “They handle all the orders and the shipping.”
“I love it. Have you reached out to any local ones yet?”
“Not yet. I wanted to hear your thoughts first.” The fact that she values my opinion makes me feel like a God.
“I think it’s brilliant. Definitely start contacting ones you feel are a good fit. Trust your gut. You’ve got good instincts, Lois. ” Her smile threatens to make my heart explode. “Not with ice cream, though. Mint chocolate chip was the wrong choice.”
“What’s wrong with mint chocolate chip?”
“What’s right with it? Mint and chocolate do not go together.”
“I beg your pardon?” She’s looking at me like I just told her I don’t believe in gravity. “What about Junior Mints? Or York Peppermint Patties?”
“Not a fan,” I say disgustedly, as if the topic alone is leaving a bad taste in my mouth. “The flavors are complete opposites. I don’t know if I’m eating dessert or brushing my teeth.”
“Wow…I just…wow,” she shakes her head in disbelief. “It’s fine. Keep your terrible opinion. It doesn’t mean much coming from the guy who had thirty-six flavors to choose from and went with Butter Pecan.”
“Butter Pecan is a time-honored favorite.”
“Yeah, among those seventy-five and older.”
“Try some,” I grab a spoonful and offer it to her. The ice cream starts to melt immediately as I hold it in front of her face.
“I can’t eat that. I’m too young. I have all of my teeth.” She bats my hand away laughing.
“Magpie?”
We look up, startled, and turn toward the speaker. A young woman I’ve never seen before stands in front of us. She’s around the same age as Maggie, I guess. Several inches shorter, but trying to make up for it by wearing ridiculously high stilettos. She looks between Maggie and I like she’s trying to assess the situation.
“Hi, April,” Maggie says with a strained smile. “What are you doing in this part of town?”
“Just running errands,” she answers, distractedly. April’s eyes settle on me and she lets them drink their fill of me. I know when a woman is checking me out, and this one is practically choking on her own saliva. “Aren’t you going to introduce me to your…?”
“Sorry,” Maggie blushes as she pushes a few stray curls away from her face. “April, this is Callum. Callum, this is April, my cousin.”
“It’s very nice to meet you, April.”
“Likewise,” she practically purrs at me and it’s hard to imagine that she and Maggie are related. She’s nice looking to be sure, in a high-maintenance sort of way. But underneath that pretty face there is something about her that sets my teeth on edge. Still looking at me, she addresses Maggie again. “Manage to find a date for the wedding yet, Magpie?” Her tone is dripping with mock pity.
Maggie blanches a bit beside me. “Well, I haven’t really–”
“You’re looking at him.” The words come out of my mouth before I can stop them. Maggie’s head snaps towards me, her mouth slightly agape.
“Seriously?” April squeaks in disbelief. She looks between Maggie and I as if realizing her initial assessment of the situation was wrong. “You’re…you two are together?” She emphasizes the last word like she doesn’t really believe it.
I reach for Maggie’s hand and give it a reassuring squeeze. I got us into this mess, the least I can do is follow through. In for a penny, in for a pound.
“Didn’t tell your family about me yet?” I grin down at her. “I’m hurt, babe.” Those beautiful brown eyes stare back at me in surprise, but she recovers quickly.
“I haven’t really had the opportunity…babe,” she says sweetly and I fight the urge to laugh. We stand there staring at each other, hands clasped, both trying to keep a straight face. It isn’t until April makes another irritated squeak that I remember she’s there.
