Chapter 3 Stephanie #2
“Let me tackle this.” Liz motioned around the kitchen with a wide flap of her hands. “You go enjoy that and then we can discuss breakfast.”
I glanced at the clock. I had a few minutes to sit and enjoy my coffee before jumping in the shower. “Why did you stress bake? Did something happen on your date?”
Liz guffawed and balled up her soiled apron.
“No, it was peachy. We went ice skating downtown in Riverfront Park, then Ben took me for steak. Oh! And we drove through the Candy Cane Lane neighbourhoods to look at Christmas lights. Somehow they’re even better this year.
Hey! You and I should go one night this week before you leave. Maybe tomorrow?”
I plugged in the Christmas tree lights before trudging to the worn leather couch and settling in.
“Works for me, but you didn’t answer my question.
” Careful not to spill a drop of liquid gold, which was disappearing far too quickly, I draped the fuzzy red-plaid sherpa blanket over my legs and sighed contentedly as I soaked in the magic of the twinkling lights.
Dishes clanged, and I could have sworn something broke. “I’m fine!” Liz called.
“Liz. Why the cake?”
She poked her head into the living room. “It wasn’t anything major, I promise. I just woke up early feeling jittery, and Carey’s texts didn’t help so I thought, why not bake?”
“Only you,” I said fondly, smiling over the rim of my cup.
Laughing, she returned to the kitchen, and I heard the tap running. “Who are you meeting on a Saturday? Isn’t it your day off?”
Busted. I hadn’t planned on telling Liz about my… proposal until after I’d hashed out the details with Nash. She knew about my crush and would have plenty to say about my no-doubt idiotic scheme. “Just a friend. I’ll tell you about it later.”
Liz bounced back into view, hands on her hips. “Uh, I know you aren’t meeting a friend, because hello? I’m right here.”
I arched an eyebrow. “I have other friends, Liz.”
“I know, honey. But Danielle’s girls are down with the flu, and I talked to Kelsi yesterday, and she didn’t mention going out with you. So… who’s the hot date?”
“Not a date.” I choked on the last sip of coffee and set my cup down on the side table. “I need to grab a shower.”
“Steph!” Liz hollered after me, but I just laughed and shut the bathroom door with a decisive click to avoid further questions. Under no circumstances would I be late to meet Nash… That was, if he decided I wasn’t insane and actually showed.
“No, no, no, NO! Come on!” I cried out in frustration, giving my steering wheel a slap.
The one day I desperately didn’t want to be late, my car died.
On the road. Thankfully not in the middle of the intersection, like last time.
I loved my little silver Toyota Matrix, affectionately named The Flea because, for all her quirks and threats of dying, she was impossible to fully kill.
Plunging out of the warmth of the vehicle into the stinging cold of outside, I muttered threats to the temperamental automotive.
“Next time I fill your tank, you only get eighty-seven octane. If you’re going to act this bad on ninety-two, I’m just wasting money.
” The old girl hated the winter cold as much as I did, but I didn’t see the need to replace her with a new vehicle for five months of the year. My job paid well but not that well.
By the time I got the hood up, fiddled with a few things, and admitted defeat, I was five minutes away from being late to meet Nash. Gabe had ensured I learned car basics, but whatever was going on exceeded my skill set. Time to call an expert.
I punched in Ben’s number—perks of having my bestie engaged to a mechanic—and he promised to come take a look at it on his lunch break AND swing by the store to grab the white chocolate for Liz.
The gem of a man. Thank you, Lord, for giving my bestie a mechanic fiancé.
After locking the car, I trekked down the slushy sidewalk.
I was now officially late and still fifteen minutes away on foot.
New problem. Did I text Nash and tell him I was running behind? What if he didn’t plan on showing and my text guilted him into it? What if—
“Stephanie Addams, pull. Yourself. Together,” I scolded, huffing with cold. My fingers numbly fumbled for my phone in my purse because, of course, I hadn’t planned on needing gloves.
ME
I’m so sorry. I’m going to be about 15 minutes late. Something came up, but I’m on my way.
The reply was immediate, like he’d been waiting for me to reach out.
NASH
No worries. I’ve saved us a table.
Okay, so he wasn’t standing me up. Why did that have my nerves twitching more than if he had?
Normally I’d have enjoyed a jaunt through downtown Spokane, taking the time to fully appreciate the seasonal décor and the whimsical, winter-themed window paintings, which always reminded me of Paisley, one of my other besties, a librarian who moonlighted as an artist. I tried to hurry since I was in danger of turning into a popsicle and didn’t have the time to linger, but the window art for Mad Hatter Wonders, my favourite bookshop, was too beautiful to ignore.
I snapped a quick picture of the Who Village and Mt. Crumpet and shot it off to Paisley.
ME
Missing you. *kissy face* This should totally be your next library window painting.
PAISLEY
Ha! Too bad my boss would totally take it personally. Miss you, too. With all my grinchy heart.
ME
We both know you’re Cindy Lou, and Juliet is the Grinch.
PAISLEY
Haha, truth! Love you.
Paisley and Juliet, who completed our best friend quartet, had each other and their husbands in Serenity Springs, Idaho, and Liz and I had each other here in Spokane.
I missed the days of us living together in the same town, but that hadn’t happened since college, and I didn’t have time to linger at the windows with my thoughts any longer.
Nash awaited, and I was without proper winter attire.
The only thing going for me was that I’d had the sense to wear boots, so my feet, if nothing else, were warm.
But I nearly cried with relief when the faded royal-blue of Maisie’s Café appeared, a beacon in a sea of red brick, as I stumbled around the corner onto W 1st Avenue.
Finally, the end was in sight. I flung the door open, letting the warm air and yeasty cinnamon-bun aroma wash over me. Now to find my new fake boyfriend.