Chapter 33 The Good Stuff
The first two weeks after our shared afternoon at Noah’s apartment flash by in a blur—faster than the entirety of our trip to Pala.
Between helping Nan pack and scouring real estate listings, as well as tagging along for the occasional property tour, I barely have time to wrap my head around the fact that Noah and I are dating.
Since it’s still a secret, life is pretty normal, except for the occasional dirty text or late night phone call—or the made up property viewings that are actually just us getting hot and heavy at his apartment.
I’ve yet to spend the night, and Noah keeps his promise to keep things professional while we are in the office, but I’m starting to see what he means by taking things day by day.
But outside of us, everything is disastrous. We’re two weeks into our search for a new storefront and his anxiety is growing at a rate not even our afternoon rendezvous can temper.
We are on our way back from an actual property tour that involved some unwelcome rodent friends and at least three outbreaks of suspicious looking mold. Per usual, Noah’s hand is on my thigh as he drives, and I’m pouring over some of the other listings I found this morning .
“God, these really are terrible.”
“Yes,” he says, the stress bleeding out in a single syllable.
“Hey.” I reach down and squeeze his fingers. “We’ll figure it out. New listings are hitting every day and Laura told me she’s optimistic.”
He casts me a sidelong glance. “It’s Laura’s job to say things like that.”
“Which means you should take it as gospel.”
He shakes his head. “You’re right. We’ll figure it out.”
“Now, if only I could talk Nan off of the edge she’s teetering on.”
“Is she still nervous about the move?”
“Yeah,” I say, putting my phone in the cup holder.
“Which I don’t get. It’s like all of a sudden she’s terrified of leaving her house.
And don’t even get me started on the fight we had about her collection of picture frames.
No matter what I say, she cannot be convinced that four boxes of empty picture frames is too many boxes.
I don’t even think there is enough wall space to hang them all in her new place.
And that’s if she had something to put in them. ”
“If there is anyone who can convince her, it’s you.”
He tugs my hand over and kisses the back of it. I yank it back and make a face.
“Oh my god, gross.”
Laughing, he turns into the parking garage below Flourish.
The sentiment of his words ring through me as he parks and I’m faced with another opportunity to ask him about the party.
I’ve swatted away more than a dozen openings over the last few weeks, but today it’s not holding the same edge that it once did.
We sit for a minute, as is our habit when we’re transitioning back into our professional roles, the question I’ve been meaning to ask him burning hotter and hotter.
“Speaking of being convinced of something . . .”
He quirks his eyebrow. “I’m listening.”
“Keep your pants on. I know we are still early in this whole . . . dating thing. And you can say no if you want to, I don’t expect you to even want to come. But I’ve been instructed to invite you to a party. For Nan. Next weekend. Her house warming party.”
“Instructed . . .” His voice trails off and I realize how impersonal that sounded. “Do you want me to come?”
I bite my lip. I don’t want to want him to come. But I do.
“Yes.”
“Then I’ll be there. Give me the time and place, and I’ll show up with flowers in hand.”
Warmth blooms in my chest. “Of course you will. And as soon as I know where this is supposed to be, I’ll let you know. Kara and Henrietta are having a hard time figuring the scale of things. We’re confident whatever it ends up being will not fit into the tiny one bedroom Nan is moving into.”
“Sounds like a hell of a party committee.”
“Best in the city.”
Back at my desk, I scroll through my emails and finish up a few of my last afternoon tasks. Laura’s already sent more properties and I scroll through them before responding with the ones I think we’d like to see.
“Charlotte.” Spencer’s voice surprises me and I spin around.
“Yes?”
He holds out a crisp white envelope. “Payroll asked me to deliver this. Apparently Noah wanted you to have it before the week is out.”
“Thank you.”
“Hell of a nice bump,” he says, turning. “Maybe I should be vying for a spot on trips with the boss.”
His comment seems to be made in good fun, but it gives me pause. Curious, I slide my finger under the seal.
Tucked inside is a check, signed by Noah and in the amount of nearly twice my monthly income. The conversation we had before we left about him making sure I was paid, time and a half, for every hour we spent on the trip comes rushing back. Holy shit. He really meant it.
It’s almost the exact amount I was hoping to secure with the quarterly bonus.
I glance back up at the computer and eye the email from Laura.
With this check, I finally have enough to buy out Vince’s lease on what used to be Nan’s diner, putting me nearly two months ahead of schedule. I don’t have to wait any longer.
My fingers fly across the keyboard as I email Laura and ask her to contact Vince for me—hoping he’ll take my hiring a realtor as a sign I’m finally serious about making this deal. My phone trills right as I hit send, Noah’s name flashing on the screen.
Noah
Please tell me I can take you to dinner tonight. I’m starved in more ways than one.
Lottie
Fine. But if you buy dinner, I’m serving dessert.
Noah
I’d be a dumb ass to refuse that deal and I am no dumb ass.
“You want to move the party where?”
Kara’s nose is scrunched in confusion, her lizard mug cupped in her hands.
We’re supposed to be meeting with the events coordinator at the new apartment building, and my sudden change of plans is stressing her out.
Thirty-six hours out from Nan’s party, and she’s a hot mess.
I took today off to help her, but my launching this news into her lap isn’t helping.
“At Nan’s—the diner. It’s a surprise, so you can’t tell anyone, but I finally have what I need to buy out the lease. That trip I took with Noah gave me just the bump I needed. I’m having a realtor look over the paperwork for buying it right now.”
“Holy shit, are you serious?”
“Yes. And I have another secret.”
She sits up, eager for more information.
“I did sleep with Noah on the trip. And we’re sort of dating now. In secret. But I think I want to introduce him—officially—at the party.”
Kara’s face flashes with every conceivable emotion before her jaw drops open and stays that way for a solid minute. I sip on my coffee and wait for her to regain her composure.
“You liar!” Her shriek is loud and nearly bursts my eardrum, but settles into a laugh. “I knew it! You came home from that trip so glowy and obnoxiously happy. It was so obvious.”
I shrug. “I wasn’t ready to tell anyone. I wasn’t sure I could trust that he was for real.”
“And he is?”
I sit back, pleased and, for the first time in a while, cautiously optimistic. “Yeah, I think he is.”
“And he’s okay with all of this? You leaving Flourish and venturing out on your own?”
I feel myself getting defensive at her question and have to remind myself she is just now learning about this. “I think so, yeah. I haven’t told him about this specific development, I kind of want to surprise him with it, but he knows Flourish wasn’t my plan for forever.”
Things are finally starting to turn in the right direction.
Plus, I’m ahead of schedule. And aside from still needing to find a storefront for our launch, things at Flourish are going well.
My plan to quit can be postponed for a few months, which will probably be better as I venture out on my own anyway.
I’ll still be able to help Noah secure what he needs, all while working towards my own dream.
“How are you going to get Nan there without spoiling the surprise?” Kara asks, her question bringing me back to reality and ready to shift gears.
“That’s where I’ll need your help. I think Henrietta and I can handle getting things cleaned up and ready, but I’ll need someone to keep Nan busy. Are you willing to help with that?”
“Of course!”
“Perfect.”
“Great. Now, one more favor. I’m supposed to meet Vince and Laura to get keys. Are you free to give me a ride?”
“Yes, but now that I know you’re going to be a big entrepreneur and shit, I think it’s time we find you a car.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
We load her car up with enough cleaning supplies to kill any surprises that might be waiting for me in the vacant diner. It’s been seven years since Nan retired, and though the next tenant kept it running for a few months, it wasn’t long before Vince was hanging a ‘for lease’ sign in the window.
We drive the few miles to the ramshackle building, the wide windows and sun bleached paint welcoming me back.
While run down, it all still holds the same warmth and promise I remember from my childhood.
It’s like coming home to an old friend, and I am giddy with anticipation knowing that Nan will be able to have that feeling once again too.
Laura is standing on the sidewalk with Vince, who looks about as friendly as a doberman. I climb out of the car and approach them, a wide smile plastered to my face. This is it. It’s happening.
“Hi, Vince.”
“Charlotte,” he barks.
“Well,” Laura says. “It’s a little unusual to be giving keys before any paperwork is signed, but given your unique history with this place, I think we’re alright bending them.”
Vince grumbles and digs into his pockets, fishing out the silver key. He rummages with the keychain, working to get it off and I’m practically bouncing when he finally holds it up.