Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
tristan
My mind is still stuck on the kiss with Paula. I didn’t mean for it to be as elaborate as it was. Something came over me and it felt right. Based on her reaction she was okay with it as well.
We’ve texted here and there. Mostly her filling me on things she forgot about.
However, the kiss has not been mentioned.
It’s a shame because I’d like to know what she really thought.
Was she as into it as it seemed? Or, was it merely practice for how she needs to react when I kiss her around her family?
“Do we need to go over the siblings again?” Dale asks, breaking me from my thoughts.
“No, I think I’ve got it.” It’s all I’ve been studying for the past week. This whole relationship thing is a farce, I know that. But I don’t want to show up to her family vacation looking like an idiot. They’ll never believe we’re together.
Dale looks around the construction area to make sure we’re alone. “Are the flowers all set to be delivered tomorrow?”
“Yep. Paula said to give her a time, and they’d try to get them too them as close to it as possible.”
“Can you tell her around 6:30 tomorrow night?”
“Sure. Where at?”
“Here.” He nods toward the studio being built.
“It’s not even done, yet.”
“Not in the studio.” He laughs before pointing to the house. “In there. I’m going to set it up in the morning. I made sure there wasn’t anything wrong with the plumbing or electrical yesterday.”
That bit of information is shocking. That’s normally something I would do. He hands off all those tasks to me. Maybe he’s practicing for the week I’ll be gone. Either way, it still kind of hurts that he didn’t put me in charge of that.
“That’s great.”
“Yeah. Speaking of, I’ll need you to distract her while I spend time out here getting everything set up.”
“Why do I have to distract her?”
Not that I’m not capable, but it feels weird to have me do it.
“Well, not just her.”
Good gravy. I would have rather dealt with the utility people. How in the hell did I get turned into a glorified babysitter?
“I’ll lead them in a particular direction then I’ll leave them to their own devices.”
He sighs, but knows he’s asked too much of me. “Actually, we may send them to Dallas for a bit. Tell them we need them to pick out some stuff for the studio. It’s not technically a lie.”
“See two birds one stone.” This is an option I’m encouraging because as much as I love everyone, it’s not how I want to spend my day.
“I don’t know why I didn’t think of that before.”
“Glad you figured it out.” And it means I’m off the hook for entertaining people for the day. Besides at some point today I need to start packing and looking for a place to stay while we’re here.
Even though I doubt things will progress past friendship with Paula, I don’t want to hang out with her in a house full of band members.
They aren’t bad to hang out with…but they have a tendency to be loud for no reason.
There’s always an instrument being played or random signing throughout the house.
Honestly, it’s a lot like how it was when I hung out with my theatre crew in high school.
Now that I think about it, it’s probably the reason I feel so comfortable there.
But alone time is a necessity. I know Paula has been around a loud intruding family most of her life, but it seems like it’s not what she likes to surround herself with at this point in time.
“Let’s get some of this stuff done.”
I have no clue what he’s talking about, but I’ll do whatever he points out.
Most of the work on the studio is being done by the construction crew.
There are things in the house that most likely need to be done, especially with his big event planned for this evening.
Hopefully it all turns out great for him.
I know his girlfriend will love it no matter what he does.
The bell above the door of Whoopsie Daisy rings as I struggle to open it. The bags are awkward to hold as I shove my way through. The group of people hovering around the counter tells me this is probably a bad idea. I definitely should have called before I showed up with food.
Both Paula and Emily are taking care of folks at the counter, and I hang back until they get through as many people as they can. I knew Valentine’s Day would be busy for them, but I never thought they’d be slammed like this.
People seem to go all out on showing their partners they care about them this one day during the year. Maybe they should do it year-round so they don’t have to run themselves ragged.
From the outside looking in, it might seem like I’m hating on them, but I’m not. I’ve never been in a serious relationship during this holiday. Or in a while to be perfectly honest. Getting burned by one person too many will do that to a guy.
“What are you doing here?” Paula’s voice breaks through my thoughts.
Shaking my head to snap out of the state of my love life, I smile and lift up the bags.
“You said you hadn’t had a chance to eat. I’m here to remedy that.”
She eyes almost bursting bags. “Did you buy the whole restaurant to feed me?”
“No.” I readjust my hold on the handles. “I figured if you hadn’t eaten, nobody else had either. I just hope it’s enough food for everyone.”
Paula glances to Emily and has some sort of silent conversation. After a few seconds, she moves to an area of the counter and lifts it up. She nods for me to come back, and I do. She closes the counter and moves to my side before sidling up next to me.
“You didn’t have to do this.” She points to the bags in my hands.
Worry that I’ve overstepped gnaws at me. I have a feeling most people in her family haven’t done anything to help Paula. At least, not without it pertaining to the business.
“I know. But you said you hadn’t eaten, and you didn’t know when you’d get a chance to grab lunch.” I hold up the bag in question. “Now you don’t have to think about it.”
“Thanks.” The hallway isn’t as bright as the front of the store, and I wish I could see her expression clearly.
“You’re welcome.” I want to do everything in my power to show her that people can do kind things without expecting something in return.
We enter the chaos of the back room. It’s spacious and there are rows of refrigeration units along with shelves of various vases, wreaths, and other items they may need to create their floral designs.
“Lunch is served,” Paula calls out. The two other women who own the shop glance up and a man I’ve seen in Out of the Ashes quite a bit stands.
“Who is the angel that’s graced us with a feast?” The blonde woman asks and places her hand over her heart. By the dramatics, you’d think she was in theatre in a past life. She certainly has the flare for it.
“I’m Tristan, Paula’s…friend.” It feels like settling on a word, but that’s what we are. Friends.
“Oh, right.” She drawls out. “I’m Kate and this is Samantha. I’m sure you’ve seen Emily up front. And this is my brother Kai.”
“Sup, Man.” He lifts a hand in acknowledgment. “You saved me a call. I was going to order food in a bit. We’re slammed today.”
“No problem.” I nod in his direction. “I figured if Paula hadn’t eaten yet, y’all haven’t either. I hope I got enough.”
Kai walks toward me and offers to take one of the bags. “We can set them up on the table over here.”
I follow him to the table, but I don’t miss the raised eyebrows on Kate’s face as she rushes toward Paula. What exactly has she told them about me?
“I hope y’all have plates or something. I didn’t grab any.”
“Yeah, we have some in the kitchen, which is probably a better place to set this up, but today we need to be able to eat while we work. There are too many orders that need to go out.”
“Understandable. There’s a few different types of tacos. It was the most variety I could get for the price. I wasn’t sure how many employees there are.”
“It’s just us most of the time. The drivers come in and out, of course. They’ll be excited about the food.”
“Good. Anything to make it easier on you guys. Especially after squeezing in the order for Dale.”
“That’s where I’ve seen you.” Kai snaps his fingers. “You work with Crooked Halo. And I think I saw you at Tiffany’s wedding.”
“Yeah.” I shrug. “I go pretty much anywhere the band goes. I’m part of the road crew.”
“That’s a pretty cool gig.”
“It allows me to see a lot of places.”
“Let me grab the plates and napkins.” Kai backs up. “It shouldn’t take long.”
I finish setting out the styrofoam containers holding the various tacos. Thank God the restaurant labeled them. I would have never been able to tell one from the other. But I know they’re good. We’ve eaten there a few times while in town.
“I can see you’ve made friends with my coworkers.” Paula is beside me, scoping out the options. “They don’t let too many people into their circle so if they like you, I know my family will.”
“Speaking of, where are we going?” I probably should have gotten that information when she told me the dates.
“Oh, um, the beach.”
“In the middle of winter?” It feels like an odd choice for the time of year.
Paula rolls her eyes and sighs. “Yep. They said because it’s less busy. Besides Winter is subjective when we live in Texas. One day it can be eighty degrees and the next forty.”
“You’re right.” It’s one of the things that makes living in this area annoying. The weather can’t ever decide what it’s going to do. “So, I basically need to pack for anything that can happen.”
“Pretty much.” She grabs a taco, unwraps the foil and takes a bite. I can’t take my eyes off her lips. Watching her eat is definitely weird, but it makes me wonder if she thinks about the kiss we shared as much as I do.
“What’s up with all the weird looks the women of the shop are giving me?”
“Nothing.” She blurts out almost dropping her food. She takes a moment to regain her composure. “They are just being weird.”
I shift to the side and glance over her shoulder. The women in question are staring at us with silly grins on their faces. As soon as they realize I’ve spotted them, they make themselves look busy.
Paula definitely said something to them, and I hope to find out what while we’re on our trip. But I don’t want to be the one to bring it up. I guess time will tell.