Chapter Fourteen
Allison
After an eventful weekend that included an almost kiss, I head to the post office to see what goodies I have for today. While I walk in the brisk autumn weather, I think about Daveed and how he could ever think that me inviting him up for wine equaled pulling a naked-man on me. Then Oliver telling me I could date them both. Then him teasing me about the wine spill. He totally had me going at first, but seeing how funny he was gave him major brownie points. I’m still laughing to myself when I walk into the post office and am assaulted with the weird paper smell that only a post office can provide. Stuffed in my P.O. Box is a thick, brown envelope from a client and a notice to pick up a box. When the postal worker hands me the box, I see that it’s from Granite Fitness and know that it’s the protein powder samples I’ve been waiting for to finish Grant’s site.
When I return to my apartment, I set the box on the kitchen table and open the brown envelope. It’s the first few chapters of the book my client is working on. She said she’d send me what she had so far because she was excited with how her website turned out. I set the chapters on my bedside table where I already have a stack of books waiting to be read. I always have good intentions to read before bed, but nothing pulls me as much as an Oliver Hudson book. “I promise I’ll read you all,” I say to the books and then return to the kitchen to open the box from Grant. The packets are black with the name ProAmp in all-caps, bold gold lettering at the top, and “Muscle Building Protein Shake,” in white below. The directions on the back of the packet say one scoop of powder with a cup of milk or water. There are two servings per sample pack.
I can’t wait to try the shakes. Grant was so excited about them, and if I could actually have a plan for lunch that doesn’t involve running to the market every afternoon, I’m all for it. I set the packet down on the kitchen counter and drag out my full-size blender from my corner cabinet while considering why I don’t have a BlendJet. I didn’t write the product description for those, but I’m a believer, and pretty sure I need one in all the colors because I can’t decide which one I like the best.
I try the chocolate first because you can never go wrong with chocolate. I’ve been burned by vanilla before and am always hesitant when trying a new version. As I’m mixing, the phone rings from where I accidentally left it in my office. I quickly grab a reusable straw from the drain basket and plop it into the large, non-portable blender pitcher, carrying it with me as I run to my desk.
“Moore Than Words, how may I help you? Yes. Certainly. I’ll send over my information packet. Can I have your email?” As I’m jotting down the address, I take a sip of the shake. Blech. I spew the shake all over my desk. I’m mortified because my potential new client just heard that. “I’m so sorry. Pardon me.”
“Are you all right?” the customer asks.
I’m grabbing tissues and trying to wipe my tongue clean of the evilness I just ingested and trying to remain as professional as possible.
“Yes, sorry, I just had a slight issue with my drink. What was your email address again?” I grab one of the few pens and a Post-it pad that escaped the liquid assault and write down the email. “Thank you. I’ll send it right over.”
I quickly hang up and dry heave on my way to the kitchen to get some water to remove the awful taste from my mouth. I go straight to the sink and use the hose to power wash the film off my tongue. There is no time for the formalities of drinking from a cup. I cannot let the evil get absorbed into my body. What in the ever-loving hell is in that? I grab the package and read the ingredients. Nothing jumps out at me as being strange, but the protein count is high so maybe that aftertaste is meat. That’s it! It tastes like chocolate-flavored meat! I have no idea how I’m going to write about this. You’re a professional so you will pretend it’s the most creamy delicious shake you’ve ever tasted. I grab some towels to clean off my desk. Once that’s all taken care of, I retrieve a cookie from my stash of goodies in the pantry and some soda to get this taste out of my mouth and my memory before I can do any work. Once my body is happy again, I can focus. I send the email packet off as promised, then get started on the protein shake.
High-quality whey protein…that tastes like a blended chocolate cow.
Probably shouldn’t go with that. After starting and deleting and retyping several times I think I finally have the description the way I want it. I finish up the rest of the items on my list for Granite Fitness and read over it once more before sending it off to Grant. He’s going to see the email and call me to hear what I think about the shake and I have no idea what I’m going to say. I don’t want to lie to him, but I can’t hurt his feelings either. I don’t want to burst his happy bubble. I’ll just tell him the same thing I wrote in the description: it was creamy and delicious. Or maybe I can just not answer the phone and tell him I’m extremely busy.
The phone rings exactly thirty-two seconds after sending the email.
“Hi, Grant,” I greet.
“What? I’m not handsome today?”
“I can’t see you, so I don’t know.”
“You haven’t seen me any other day. Why the formality?”
“Oh, I was looking over an email when the phone rang. I wasn’t thinking.”
“Uh, huh. I see you got the shake and finished the write-up. Thank you. I’m so glad you liked it.”
“I surely did,” I enthusiastically cheer.
“You didn’t like it did you?”
“Why would you ask that?”
“Do you remember when you broke up with Roger and word vomited on me? And remember when you got that big client and were so nervous but knocked it out of the park?” he asks.
“I seem to recall those events. What’s your point?” I fiddle with the pen on my desk.
“I was there for all of that, and I know your voice. You don’t have to lie to me.”
“Fine,” I huff, throwing my hands in the air then bringing them over my eyes. “I’m sorry Grant. I didn’t care for it. It tasted like chocolate meat,” I squeak out. He starts laughing at my description and I’m so happy I haven’t completely hurt his feelings.
“That’s a new one,” he admits between laughs.
“I didn’t offend you?” I ask, removing my hands from my face and looking out the window as we talk.
“No. There are tons of shakes out there because everyone is different and have different tastes. The one you tried is for bodybuilders, so it’s packed with protein. The next round will be more for the everyday person who just needs a healthy meal option on the go. You may like that better. Actually, I should have you come do some taste tests with me.”
“Really? Wow, that would be fun, and we’d finally get to meet face-to-face!”
“Yeah, the test kitchen is here in California, but I’m going to be in New York soon. I’m hoping I could take you out to dinner when I come.”
Holy flooping shirtballs.
“I’d like that very much. When will you be coming?”
“In a couple weeks,” he says.
“Oh wow. Well, let me know when it gets closer. I’m not going anywhere so I should be around.”
“Great. I’ll talk to you soon. Bye, Allison.”
“Bye, handsome,” I respond.
“There’s my girl,” I hear Grant whisper before I hang up the phone. My girl? Oh my gosh, have I gone too far with my flirting? I never thought Grant would ever come here. That we’d ever meet. I have a date with Oliver. I genuinely like him and after the Daveed debacle I don’t want Oliver thinking I’m some sort of player. I need to stop overthinking. He was just flirting like he normally does. That’s all.