Chapter 24
twenty-four
ELLIE
I’m lying on the couch with a bag of chips on my stomach while Riley rests on the floor, feeding herself Sour Patch Kids.
“Ry, you’re going to choke. Sit up,” I demand before I stuff my face with chips.
It’s that kind of day—where I wallow in despair. Wondering where I went wrong and reevaluating my life choices. I know I’m only twenty-nine, but I had a plan.
Graduate high school, graduate culinary school, make a name for me, and live happily ever after.
Boom. Done.
Instead, I have a pile of crumbs on top of my shirt because I don’t know how to properly feed myself.
“If I die, I die. At least I go out with a bang while I eat my favorite candy,” Riley replies lazily.
I hear my phone buzz from the floor next to Riley’s head.
“Who is it?” I ask in a careless tone.
Riley doesn’t move her head or body but reaches her arm across her face to grab it. She looks at the screen and shows it to me.
She shakes my phone toward me. “It’s Rowan.”
“What does it say?”
She’s quiet for a moment and then says, “Ooooh,” in a tone like I’m about to get in trouble.
The box of candy falls off her stomach and onto the floor, getting sugar everywhere. Great.
“What?” I ask annoyingly.
She turns toward me, walking on her knees to me. Did something bad happen? Did something happen to Milo? His mom? The brewery? I sit up just as quickly and snatch the phone from her hand. The floppy bun on my head droops to the side, with loose strands of hair falling out.
Rowan: Hey, El. I wasn’t sure if I should text you this or ask you over the phone or in person. I figured this would be the easiest since I’m at work and can’t really leave.
The gray dots appear, bouncing as I wait for his reply. I look up at Riley who has crawled her way over and is kneeling next to me, looking at the screen.
“What do you think he’s going to ask?” I look at Riley.
“I don’t know, but it’s going to be good. I can feel it.” Riley beams.
I look at her and squint my eyes. “You’re so odd. You know that?”
Riley slaps my arm over and over and says, “he texted!”
We both look at the screen, and my eyes almost leave my face.
Rowan: Can I take you out to dinner?
Riley looks at me with her jaw still on the floor. “Holy shit. I can’t believe he just asked you out. It’s like high school all over again.”
“He didn’t ask me out. He asked if I wanted to get food with him.”
I refuse to let my mind wander. Rowan and I have gone out to eat alone plenty of times in the past few years. The only difference now is I’m single.
“He’s probably wanting to go to the diner or something,” I muse. “Or that taco place I like.”
“El, you’re joking, right? Yeah, sure. Let’s see where he suggests first, shall we?” Riley looks back at the phone.
“Riley, even if it was a date, which it isn’t, you know it would be a bad idea.”
“Bad idea, my ass. It would be a great idea. You two were the couple back in high school. Everyone thought you were going to be high school sweethearts.”
I roll my eyes. “Trust me, I know.”
“If you do not answer him, I will.” Riley lunges to grab my phone out of my hand, but I stand up just in time.
“I’ll answer.” I hold up my phone away from her. “Just let me think.”
“What is there to think about?”
“Um, Charlie, for starters?”
“Oh, you’ve gotta be kidding me. You’re still thinking about giving that asshole of a guy a chance? No, I won’t allow that. Not when you have someone incredible like Rowan standing right in front of you. Again. ”
“What about my job? New York? And if something does happen between me and Rowan? I’m just expected to leave and start that ridiculous idea of opening a bakery?” My tone comes out a bit harsher than I expected.
“For all you know, you try this out and realize that you’re actually better off as friends, not that I believe it for one minute ,” she mutters.
The thought of Rowan getting down on one knee and proposing to me is something I can picture. Teenage Ellie dreamed about that, but teenage Ellie also dreamed about Rick from The Mummy proposing to her. Brendan Fraser was at his prime that year.
I drop my arm down and look at Riley. Charlie texted me a second time a few days ago. I left him on ‘read’ again. This time, asking me if I’d changed my mind early and if I was coming back home. He misses me, and everyone at work misses me.
Which I know is a big fat lie, since everyone at work focuses on themselves and their dishes. I’ve never gone out to get drinks with my crew or anything. I wasn’t like that with them.
Before I start to overthink, I lift my phone up and text him.
Ellie: Sure! Where are you thinking? The diner? That taco place by the beach?
Rowan: I was thinking Zesty Ziti. Is Friday cool? I can get you around 7PM.
My mouth gapes as I stare at the screen. That place is not the type of place that would serve you a greasy burger. From what I hear that place is where you go for an anniversary or to wine and dine with your significant other. Or go on a date.
“What did he say? Where is he taking you?” Riley asks eagerly.
I hold out the phone to her, letting her read his text. Her jaw drops, and her eyes widen. “Ellie,” she says.
“Shut up,” I reply, looking back down at my phone.
“Ellie.”
“Don’t say it, Riley,” I beg.
She gives me an all-too-big smile. “This is a date.”
“It can’t be a date. He should know better. I’m only here until the end of the summer. I’m not staying here.”
“Rowan and Ellie, sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n–”
“Do not finish that.” I point to her.
“G.” She opens her mouth, smiling like she just challenged me.
I let out a sigh and looked back down at my phone while mumbling, “I should have let you choke on a sour patch, kid.”
I hear Riley laugh to herself while I send my reply.
Ellie: Okay, can’t wait :)