Page 8 of Lexi Lets Go

He chuckled into the phone. "Okay, I'll see what I can do. Do you want to give me the order?"

"I might just email you a picture of the menu, it's intense. And if you can get this for me, I’ll owe you big."

"Of course, just send it over."

She took a picture of the menu and sent it to Josh. "You should be getting it soon."

"Yep, got it.” He paused, “Wow... you weren't kidding."

"I know. I'm sorry, Josh." There was another pause while he read over the menu and the special orders.

"No, this should be doable. I’ll send Poppy over with it when it is ready."

"Okay, but make sure she knows that she won't be able to meet him, and she shouldn't say on social media he is here. I probably shouldn't have even told you this order is for him. Liam James... I'm probably not even allowed to say his name out loud without his manager appearing to scold me and make me sign an NDA."

"What?" He was laughing on the other end of the line.

"Nothing, just tell Poppy he is secretive and all that."

"Gotcha. I’ll talk to you later."

"Bye."

She returned the phone to the cradle, went to her office, and popped her earbuds in. Her plan was to do some mindless computer work and lose herself in an audiobook. She needed a break from today.

About an hour later there was a knock at the door. Poppy poked her head in. "Hey Lexi, I have your order here. And Josh sent this one over for you," she said, taking out a white paper bag with her name on it.

"Perfect, thank you. I’ll take these from you," she said as she stood to get the box.

"I really can't meet him?"

“I'm sorry, but no. He’s very private."

“I understand, but a girl can dream.” Lexi turned to Poppy and finally took her in. Her long dark hair was wet, and her shoulders were spattered with water.

"Is it raining?"

"Yeah, it kind of came out of nowhere. It was supposed to be clear, but it started raining on my way over, and it looks like it could be a pretty big storm," Poppy said. “I'm gonna get back to the cafe before this gets going,” she said, gesturing to the nasty-looking rain clouds. “I’ll talk to you later, Lexi.”

"Bye," she said, following her out of her office with the box of lunch orders.

Making her way down the hallway to the meeting room, she situated the box so she could knock on the door.

"Come in," called a woman's voice behind the door.

Lexi managed to turn the handle and let herself in the room while carrying the box of orders. Liam stood to take the box from her. She hid her eyes, almost afraid to make eye contact. His hand grazed hers as she set it down, and there was that zing. Stupid zing. She just needed to get through this day, and all of these people, and that obnoxious zing, would be out of her hair.

She looked over to his manager. Her arms were once again crossed over her chest as she examined Lexi.

"Alright, lunch everyone," Liam said as he set out the bags.

"They included some apple cider donuts and some gluten-free muffins," said Lexi.

"We don't really eat carbs all that often," she said, giving Lexi a look she knew all too well. It was a look that said, ‘I don't eat carbs, but it is clear you do’. Yes, Lexi was fat. She always had been, but she gave up letting it bother her many years ago. There were too many other things to worry about.

"Speak for yourself, Jacinda. I love carbs," she heard Liam say. Of course, his manager had a name like Jacinda. She turned to look at him as he took a bite of one of the apple cinnamon muffins. “Damn. These are perfect," he said to the muffin like it had just given him the biggest shock of his life.

"My sister-in-law makes them. She's the baker at the café."

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