Page 6 of Falling for Mr. Bossy Pants

Chrissie’s words are not untrue. Work was and will continue to be my priority, and I don’t think I have the appropriate amount of time to give to someone. Which is why I am beginning to stress about tonight. I sigh and lean my head back, deciding to tell Shane my news.

“Well, you’ll be happy to know I have a date tonight.”

Shane looks at me and furrows his brow. “You’re just saying that.”

“No for real. My insurance agent has been trying to set me up with this woman he knows that lives in his building. He’s been asking me to call her for months now, so I finally said yes to get him to stop asking me.”

Shane gives me a smirk. “So this isn’t a date. It’s just a favor.”

“No, it’s a date. I am meeting her at Lossaro’s. You don’t have dinner at Lossaro’s unless it’s a date or special occasion. I’m meeting her at seven.”

“Right. So what’s her name?”

“Melanie. And before you ask me what she does, she’s an education professor at the university.”

Shane cocks his head. “Okay, so she does sound legit. Do you know what she looks like?”

I scrunch my nose. “Kind of. We had a few texts, and her picture came up on my phone. It’s small though.” I pull out my phone scrolling to her contact. I click on her image and show it to Shane.

Shane takes my phone and squints. “Well, she appears to look normal. I don’t get any serial killer vibes from this photo.” Shane hands my phone back to me as he raises his eyebrows.

“Very funny. My insurance agent says she’s sweet and he hears classical music coming from her apartment when he walks by. That’s encouraging.”

“What that she listens to classical music? Would you change your mind if she was blaring Taylor Swift?”

I roll my eyes. “No, I’m just saying, it’s a good thing. That’s all.”

“Well it’s about time Jared. You have to get out there and live a little. You can’t always be in this office. We’re not getting any younger you know.”

Shane’s words make me cringe inside. If he only knew how much I have thought about that. Being thirty-eight and not settled down or even in a meaningful relationship does make me question myself. And if me questioning myself isn’t enough my parents and sister do it every chance they get to drive home the point.“Jared, you need to find someone to settle down with. Don’t you want a family? Work isn’t everything you know.”Those three sentences should be my family’s mantra. It’s just that work-life balance isn’t something I am good at. It’s always work and more work. I am used to being alone. I have spent my adulthood working and coming home to an empty apartment. Now, it’s just different because instead of a penthouse in the city I have an amazing home nestled in the valley, but every time I go in the front door, I am reminded how empty it is. There’s no sound. There’s no life. It’s just furniture and appliances that softly hum, making it seem more desolate somehow.

I run my hands down my face. “Don’t remind me. I know how old I am.”

“Well, listen, I hope you give your date an honest effort. Who knows, maybe you’ll really like this girl.”

Shane’s words strike a nerve in me. I can feel sweat forming on my brow. I haven’t wrestled with my dating anxiety in years, and I had thought it would have disappeared by now. Let’s hope I can get it under control before seven o’clock.

Chapter three

Lacey

My first day at Whitmore Tech went well. Everyone was so friendly which made me feel more at ease. I know I can bring something to the table as a financial analyst because I basically run the business side of the bakery, so I need to remind myself of my capabilities. I take a deep breath in as I hop off the bus in front of the bakery. I can see Beth through the window bringing trays from the back restocking the front cases. I can tell she’s tired but she’s still smiling as she unloads some cookies into the display case.

I listen to the bell chime as I open the door and Beth shoots me a smile. “Hey Lace! How was your first day?”

“It was good. It went better than I had hoped. I’m glad to be here though. I love the smell of cookies.”

“You and me both. Maybe too much. I think I gained like three pounds in the last month,” Beth says with a small grimace on her face.

I know that pain. People assume that chefs and bakers eat so well when the reality is just the opposite. Back in the day when I was working as a sous chef I ran around cooking and baking with five-minute breaks sprinkled throughout the day. And in those five minutes, I’m lucky if I could take a bathroom break and chug down some water.

“I hear you. Last weekend I had a fudge brownie and a sugar cookie for lunch while I was in the back. Let’s try to get something other than sugar for dinner? I’ll call The Happy Avocado and put in a taco order. Want the usual?”

Just as I ask the question Ashley comes out from the back with a tray of muffins. “Hey, Ashley, you’re here late?” I ask. Usually, Ashley works a few hours during the week in the mornings when the shop is the busiest. I immediately get concerned thinking that she has probably been here all day and we are going to owe her for a full day’s pay not just the three hours she usually works.

“Hey Lace! I just came back in to get some goodies for my girls’ night. Just thought I’d help Beth while I had a few minutes.”

My brain releases the tension forming in my head. “Oh, that’s nice of you. Thanks. Girls’ night sounds fun. What are you all doing tonight?”

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