Chapter 11
Eleven
“Hey, were you okay earlier?” Milo asks.
I shut my locker and give him a peculiar look. “What are you talking about?”
“With Christie and Ash,” Milo elaborates. “You seemed a bit off, especially when you were talking with Christie.”
My cheeks flush, and my stomach sloshes.
“Do you have a problem with her?” he asks.
I shake my head. “No, I don’t know her.”
“You just usually seem so cool and confident,” Milo says. “I’ve never seen you act so nervous.”
“It was nothing,” I brush it off. “I guess I wasn’t expecting to see them.”
Milo nods reluctantly. “Yeah, okay.”
Has he really never seen me splutter and stutter around other girls? Oh boy, it’d be a relief to know I’m not as obvious as I feel.
Milo and I walk the halls, pass through the foyer, and down the steps out of the school building. Before us, a limo sits idle. The back door is open and Milo beckons me to follow. My stomach sloshes again as Milo enters the limo.
Really? Are we seriously doing this? Driving to the cafe in a freaking limo?
I enter the limo and see Christie and Ash sitting on the seat that backs onto the partition between us and the driver.
Christie waves enthusiastically. “Hi guys.”
We say hi back and Ash points a thumb at Christie, saying, “She hasn’t stopped gushing about trying these milkshakes.”
I clear my throat, hoping for words. I focus on Ash, and reply, “I hope they don’t disappoint.”
“I love anything sweet,” Christie says with wild hand gestures. “Well, anything savory, too. Ash knows. He’s caught me raiding the fridge too many times.”
Ash smirks and kisses the top of Christie’s head.
Okay, that was so adorable I could vomit.
“Did you tell Kai who you were leaving with?” Milo asks with a small smile.
“No,” I say, pulling out my phone. “But I'm planning on making him jealous.” I clear my throat and waggle my phone at Christie and Ash. “Do you mind if we take a selfie so I can tease my best friend?”
“Sure, but why didn’t you bring her?” Christie asks.
My cheeks flush for a reason I’m not sure about. “Umm, he’s a he. And he’s choosing to be busy with his girlfriend.”
“Oh, is it a new relationship?” Christie replies with a coy smile. “I can understand getting wrapped up in that.”
I shrug. “I guess.” I turn around in my seat and lift my phone high. “Everyone get ready.”
Christie and Ash snuggle in behind me. As I frame us on the screen, Milo’s face is notably absent.
“What are you doing?” I ask him. “Scooch in.”
Milo fills with surprise. “Oh, really?”
I grin. “Seeing your face will help send Kai over the edge.”
Milo smirks and scoots closer. I take three shots, hoping for a winner. One looks perfect and I send it to Kai without any context.
As Milo pulls away, I try not to focus on his body heat or the waft of his cologne. How is he pulling these reactions out of me? The boy needs to stop it.
It’s only a short drive to Main Street. The limo pulls up outside Morton’s Cafe and I feel super weird getting out. I hope no regulars see me and ask why I’m riding in the Ashworth's limousine. I can hardly comprehend how this happened.
Are Milo and Ash friends? How did nerdy Milo become friends with a billionaire? It can’t be a love of math that brought them together.
Can it?
I show them inside and point out a booth. “Okay, you guys can take this booth and I’ll get started on the milkshakes.”
“Thanks, Jamie,” Christie says sweetly as the three of them slide in.
“Umm,” Aunt Maddy starts, giving a slight nod at the booth. “Why is Tom Ashworth’s son in our cafe?”
“His girlfriend wanted to check it out.” I nudge my shoulder their way. “She’s the blonde over there. She’s weirdly easy to talk to.”
Maddy’s mouth falls open as she grins. “What? Have you made friends with a girl?”
“I dunno if we’re friends, but, umm, maybe.”
Aunt Maddy cuddles into me. “Aww, baby, that’s so awesome.”
“Okay, okay,” I whisper, wriggling out of the hug. “Don’t make things weird. I'm probably two sentences away from doing that already.”
“No sweat. Just act cool.”
I laugh. “You’re such a dork.”
She pinches my cheek. “Takes one to know one.”
“Come on,” I say, beckoning Aunt Maddy toward the counter. “Christie wants to try a milkshake. They told me to surprise them with the order, so I was thinking we could make four different ones and add four straws to each shake. That way Christie gets to try all four.”
“I’m prepared to make them everything on the menu,” Aunt Maddy says, walking to the prep station with me. “Imagine if they love the food and want to use us for catering.”
“I dunno if they know we do catering.”
“Never a better time to let them know.”
“Aunt Maddy, please don’t embarrass me,” I whine.
“Baby, there’s no harm in putting it out there. Imagine working an event for the Ashworths.” Maddy’s eyes light up. “We’d never have to do another spot of advertising. The word of mouth would be epic.”
“Let’s just concentrate on making epic milkshakes.”
Aunt Maddy opens the fridge by the prep station. “Sure. What flavors are we doing?”
“The Choc Peanut Butter Explosion is a must," I reply, readying the dry ingredients. “And who doesn’t love the Strawberry Shortcake?”
“They need to try my favorite, the Salted Caramel Kettle Corn,” Maddy adds. “Then it’s either the Banoffee Mess or the Toasty S’more.”
“Banoffee. We’ve already got a chocolate.”
“Great. Let’s get on it.”
Maddy and I each work at a milkshake machine.
Our milkshakes are legendary because of all the layers and ingredients we chuck in.
We’ve perfected them over time so each one looks like an artwork.
There’s ice cream, fudge, sauces, sprinkles, candy, and so much good stuff to plop on top. Every mouthful bursts with happiness.
I walk ahead of Maddy and scoot into the booth, holding two shakes.
“Hi Milo,” Aunt Maddy chirps as she lands at the table. “How are you?”
Milo smiles, murmuring, “Good, thanks.”
“I’ll put the Strawberry Shortcake in front of you,” I say to Milo as I slide the glass toward him. “I know it’s your favorite.”
He tilts his head as he looks at me. “You remembered that?”
I shrug as my gut squeezes. “Sure, why wouldn’t I? I mean, we have a lot of regulars with favorites that I remember.”
Aunt Maddy smirks. “See, Milo. She is capable of memorizing facts.”
Milo laughs, sliding the shake closer and aiming his lips at a straw.
“They all look amazing,” Christie says, grinning.
“Hi, I’m Maddy West,” Aunt Maddy says, placing the milkshakes down on the opposite side of the table. “I’m Jamie’s aunt.”
“Nice to meet you,” Ash says as Christie slides a milkshake in front of him.
“You too,” Maddy says with pep. “I’ve been dying to meet you guys.”
Ash and Christie stare at her like she’s shining bright headlights.
“Psst,” I whisper out the side of my mouth. “Cool it.”
Aunt Maddy giggles, waving her hands. “What I mean is, I wanted to meet someone from the Ashworth family. Even Ashworth family adjacent.”
I groan. “Can you not?”
Maddy ignores me, leaning in. “Did Jamie tell you we also do catering?”
“Oh my gosh, Maddy,” I cut through, “just leave.”
Christie giggles. “It’s cool. And no, I didn’t know you catered. I can just imagine the looks on the society ladies faces if we had a garden party with milkshakes on this level.”
Maddy winces. “No good?”
“I think it would make for a really fun party theme,” Christie replies.
“Well, we do more than just milkshakes,” Maddy says hurriedly. “We have a wide menu and can always create original dishes for the right event.”
“Aunt Maddy,” I groan. “Stop pitching. They’re not asking.”
Christies giggles again and Maddy pulls back.
“Okay, okay,” Maddy says, surrendering. “I’ll leave you guys to it. I hope you like the Salted Caramel Kettle Corn. It’s my favorite.”
“I’m a snacker,” Christie admits, “so I’m sure I’ll adore it.”
I sigh. “Sorry about her. She just gets excited and loses her filter.”
“Oh, please,” Ash says. “Have you met my mother? I’d take your aunt any day of the week.”
“She’s the aunt who looks after you?” Christie says with surprise. “Was there a big age gap between her and your mom?”
Awkwardness quirks across my face. “Four years. My mom had me when she was sixteen.”
Christie’s mouth forms an o as her cheeks sink. “Oh.”
“That would be tough,” Ash comments.
I shrug. “She was the best mom.”
Christie’s face brightens. “I’m glad.”
I gesture at the milkshakes. “We put in extra straws if everyone was to sample each.”
Christie takes a straw of the Banoffee Mess in front of her. “You don’t have to tell me twice.”
The corners of Ash’s eyes crinkle as he smiles at her. Goosebumps prick my shoulders. That’s how someone in love looks at their person.
Ash tries the Salted Caramel Kettle Corn and deems it a winner. My ears prick to a soft cheer of triumph from Aunt Maddy as she wipes down a nearby table. Christie can’t get enough of our last-minute entry, the Banoffee Mess. Overall, the milkshakes are deemed a success.
Inevitably, the boys fall back in physics homework talk on their side of the booth. Christie and I stay occupied with milkshakes as it becomes apparent we no longer have their attention.
“Sorry if I was weird back at school,” Christie said softly. “I kinda assume people don’t like me.”
“Why would you assume that?”
She shrugs, twisting a loose curl. “Just habit. Ash is always on my case about judging people before I get to know them.”
“I got the feeling you didn’t like me,” I admit. “But that would make sense to me. All the pretty, rich girls can’t stand me.”
“I don’t know if I’d call myself either of those things.”
“But don’t you live at the Ashworth Estate?”
She nods. “Yes, but my family’s not rich. At best, we’re middle-class.”
“That’s not bad. It’s still rich for a lot of people. It’s way further up the ladder than a girl from Logan’s Point.”
“What’s wrong with Logan’s Point?” Christie asks. “Ash keeps prodding me to go hiking there.”