Chapter 4
EJ
People who say "it is impossible",
should not interrupt
those who are trying to make it possible.
~ Unknown
Unfortunately, Truck has decided I’m his latest project.
“So … what did you say then?” he asks from his spot at the table in our main room at the station.
“You’re worse than a high school girl,” I grumble.
“I’m bored. Humor me.”
“I told her, ‘Challenge accepted.’”
“Okay then,” he says. “I’m impressed. So, what’s your next move?”
“My next move?”
“E-Jayyyyy.” Truck manages to draw out the way he says my name, as if I’m the most exasperating person he’s ever met. “You’ve got a next move, right?”
“I mean … yes.”
Champ chuckles from his spot in a recliner at the other side of the room.
“That would be a for sure no,” Truck says.
“I’m just going to ask her out again.”
“Wraaaaannngghhh. Bzzzzzzzt.” Truck shouts, making the sound of a buzzer. “No sir.”
“I don’t know,” Champ says. “That might just be the move.”
Truck’s face scrunches up in confusion. And he goes quiet for a rare moment.
“You already showed her you’re serious,” Champ says. “Bringing dinner was a solid move. It shows her you know she’s got the boys. And you’re not ignoring them or trying to make her neglect them.”
I smile under his praise.
“And you can’t go wrong meeting a woman’s needs,” Champ says. He shakes his head softly. “I’m not saying you’ll always be able to tell what exactly those are, but when you figure it out, you’ve hit the jackpot.”
Truck’s still speechless. We’re in a masterclass and we both know it.
“So, I say, ask her out again,” Champ says. “You’ve brought her a meal. You made her laugh.” He nods, confirming his advice. “Shoot your shot.”
Truck rubs his hands. “My show’s on.”
“I am not your show,” I tell him.
“You actually are,” he says with a smile.
“Just wait til you like someone,” I threaten.
Surprisingly, that shuts him up.
After work, I sit in my truck, not turning the key yet.
There’s really no time like the present.
I take a deep breath, blow it out and put the truck in drive.
“First shot. Not the last,” I tell myself. “She might say no. Then I’ll tuck tail and come back again.”
The salon light is on. I put my truck in park right out front and walk in.
“Well, hello, EJ,” Laura says with a smirk.
“Laura,” I say, nodding once.
Angie’s station is empty. Her purse is still hanging on the hook next to the mirror, though. She’s here.
“Hey, EJ!” Shannon says from her spot near the front window.
I wave at Shannon.
“Angie’s in the back room,” Laura says. “Go on back.”
I stride through the shop, avoiding the eyes of the few customers left in chairs.
When I walk into the back room, Angie’s singing softly to herself, slightly off-key. Her hips are swaying. She’s folding towels and capes.
“Hey,” I say softly.
Angie jumps and turns. “EJ! You scared me.”
“Sorry,” I smile at her. “I didn’t mean to sneak up on you.”
She tucks a piece of hair behind her ear. “It’s okay. Did you need something?”
“Funny you should ask.” I step a step closer. “I’m here to collect on your promise.”
“I didn’t promise,” Angie says, holding her hand up as if I’m going to step even closer and invade her personal space.
She hesitates. It’s barely noticeable, but I notice everything about her—the way she stands, the pop of her hand on her hip, the slight upturn of her eyebrows in the middle of her forehead. Her words might be saying no, but her face tells another story.
“Angie?”
“Hmm?” She picks up a towel off the pile and folds it midair, still facing me.
“I just want to take you to dinner.”
She glances down and back up at me. “I can’t, EJ.”
“You don’t eat dinner?” I ask, infusing some playfulness into my tone.
“I don’t always.”
“But you do sometimes.”
“Sometimes.”
“And you have to eat it alone?”
“I eat with my boys most nights. And Mom.”
“I have a thought,” I tell her, totally winging this.
“There are three hundred and sixty-five nights a year. If you don’t eat half of them, that’s still around one hundred and eighty nights you eat something after work.
And, let’s say you spend one hundred and seventy-nine of those with your boys.
That leaves one open. I’m just asking for that one. ”
She shakes her head, a soft smile on her face.
She places the towel she just folded on the stack. Then she steps toward me. I step back, making room for her to pass by. She smells like shampoo and something distinctly feminine.
“I’ve got to get going,” she says.
“I’ll walk you out,” I tell her.
Is this when I should back off?
She doesn’t fight me, so I don’t.
We emerge into the main room of the salon together. Shannon and Laura look up, eyeing us with mirrored expressions of amusement and curiosity.
Laura’s finishing up with her customer.
The front door to the salon opens. A man walks in. I don’t recognize him.
“Delivery?” he says to the whole room.
“Oh! Laura says. Our shampoo and styling products.”
Another man comes in behind the first one. He sets two larger boxes in front of the reception desk.
Both men turn, and moments later, they return with two more boxes each, setting them in front of the reception desk.
There are only three customers left in the salon, but still. This place is rapidly beginning to look like a storage unit.
“Seriously, guys?” Laura says, turning away from her customer and popping a hand on her hip. She points at the boxes. “This is where you’re putting all the boxes?”
The first guy looks at the stack of boxes and says, “Don’t shoot the messenger.”
I put my hand up toward Laura and step toward the two men. “Guys. We can do better. These women are busy. Let’s carry the delivery to the back room. There’s some empty space back there. Follow me.”
“Thank you,” Laura says with a sigh.
“That empty wall okay?” I ask her.
“It’s great. Thanks, EJ.”
I pick up a box. The two delivery men stare at me. I stare back and then shift my gaze toward the boxes. They reluctantly each grab a box and follow behind me. When the first six boxes are relocated out of the way, I walk with them out to the truck to get the last three boxes of products.
“Thanks, guys,” I say.
The driver grabs a clipboard and walks in to have Laura sign off on the delivery.
Laura thanks me again. “You’d think they’d know better.”
“Sometimes men take the easy way,” I tell her, as if I’m apologizing for my entire half of the species.
“Not you, though,” she says with a smile and a glance over at Angie.
“No,” I agree. “Seems I like to go in more impossible directions.”
Angie blushes slightly.
“But, I know what I want,” I say, not taking my eyes off Angie. “And I’m willing to be patient.”
“Oh for heaven’s sake,” Laura says. “Put the man out of his misery, Angie.”
Angie eyes me. “You’re not going to give up, are you?”
“Why should I?” I ask her honestly. “Like I said, I know what I want.”
“A dinner?” she asks.
I want so much more, but I know she’ll retreat if I tell her. “A dinner.”
“Oh, okay. Fine. You can take me to dinner.”
I look at Laura and back at Angie. Did my ears hear her right?
“That’s a yes?” I ask. And then before she can answer, I say, “Great!” I let out a whoop and throw my fist into the air. “You won’t regret it.”
She smiles softly at me. “I think I already do.”
“You do not,” Laura says.
Angie grabs her purse. She looks around her station. Then she tells Laura, “I’ll be in early tomorrow.”
“No rush,” Laura says. “I’ll see you then.”
“I’ll walk you out,” I offer Angie.
She doesn’t tell me not to.
So I hold the salon door open and Angie steps out past me. I walk her to her car. We don’t say anything to one another. I’m not sure why she’s quiet. I know why I am. She said yes. Anything I say could tip the precarious scale in the other direction. I don’t want to chance it.
She clicks the fob and her van unlocks. I open the door.
Angie looks me in the eyes before she steps past me and slips into the driver’s seat.
“Let me know what night works for you,” I say.
“I will,” she says. “It’s just one dinner, EJ.”
“That’s all I asked for,” I remind her.
She shakes her head, turning the key.
I shut the door and she pivots to look at me one more time before pulling out to drive away.
I stand there, my hands in my pockets, watching her go.
She said yes.
I have half a mind to call Truck to tell him, but I don't. Instead, I just climb into my truck and smile the whole drive home.