Chapter 16
Chapter 16
Since my usual Saturday night karaoke plans have been smashed by a Mandatory McCarthy Meal, Erin and Darcy have come to the open mic night at the Cozy Cottage Café to sing. I’m self-aware enough about my singing abilities that I agreed not to sing with them when they take on “Mama Mia” tonight at my place of work. I may love to sing, but it doesn’t love me back. And I’m okay with that. Well, as okay as a frustrated pop diva with zero actual talent can be.
And besides, I need this job, and I’m pretty darn sure me performing could seriously compromise that.
Unsurprisingly, my friends were more than happy to accept my “I’ve got to work” excuse, and they’re now sitting together at one of the tables with Jason and Ski Jump Nose—sorry, I mean Megan —a mere two performances away from their three minutes of fame. Well, three minutes of Cozy Cottage Open Mic fame, anyway.
Jason comes over to where I’m standing by the register and places his elbow on the counter as he watches the performer on the tiny stage. He leans in closer to me and says loud enough so I can hear him over the music, “It won’t be the same without you slaughtering the song up there with the girls, you know.”
I feign offense. “Thanks a lot! But we all know they’re better off without me. And I don’t want everyone here knowing my musical talents are, well, nonexistent.”
He shoots me his trademark cheeky grin. “That’s not true. You’re out of tune and miss the melody most of the time, but at least you know the words.”
I hit him on the arm, possibly a little too hard when he exclaims, “Ow!”
“Sorry, not sorry?” I give him my most innocent smile and bat my eyelashes at him.
He rubs his arm. “Yeah, I’m sure you are.”
“I see Megan’s still on the scene.” I nod in her direction. She’s leaning across the table, listening to something Darcy’s saying. “She looks gorgeous tonight in that dress, her long blonde hair falling around her shoulders. Hey,” I begin as a thought occurs to me, “with hair like that, I bet David would like her. She’s got definite mermaid potential.”
“I’ll be sure to mention the ‘merfolk lifestyle’ to her. She’s excited about tonight. She loves an open mic night.”
“That’s right, she’s a Von Trapp.”
“Only without the Nazis, remember?”
We share a smile, and I’m struck by how easy things are between the two of us. It’s always been this way, from the moment we met. Why can’t things be easy and fun like that with the guys I’m trying to date?
Seriously, should it be this hard?
“Have you put any more thought into what to do about High Tea?” Jason asks.
“Actually, I have. I spent some time on the web today, doing some research. I’ve got some ideas I’m beginning to put together, but I need to visit the competition first.”
“That sounds promising.”
I bite my lip when I think of what’s at stake. “It needs to be. I’ve got to keep this job, Jas.”
“Well, you’ve definitely made the right call in not singing tonight then,” he replies, his eyes sparkling. “That’s a good start.”
“I’d love to disagree with you, but I can’t.”
Alex walks out of the kitchen with plates stacked up his arms. He grins and winks at me as he passes by, and I beam back at him.
“New server?” Jason asks.
“Yup. He started today.”
Jason nods as he eyes Alex up across the café. “What’s he like?”
“Oh, Alex is the best. He’s funny and clever. He’s a photographer, you know. A really good one.”
He narrows his eyes at me. “You like him, huh?”
I can tell Jason’s got his hackles up. I’m not sure why, but I like the idea of teasing him about Alex. “Who wouldn’t? I mean, look at the guy. He’s tall and totally built. I bet he’d look good in . . . well, anything, really.”
We both watch as Alex places the final plate in front of a woman who looks up adoringly at him. Alex has always had women throwing themselves at him, ever since he sprouted his shoulders and long legs as a fifteen-year-old kid. Sure, he’s good looking, anyone can see that, but there’s something more to him, a charm, charisma. Call it what you like, Alex Walsh has it in spades.
He strides around the back of the counter and winks at me once more. “Next load.”
Once he’s disappeared out back, Jason says, “You’re not lining him up for a date, are you?”
“Why do you ask?”
He tries a nonchalant shrug. “No reason. I just wondered, that’s all.”
“Let’s assess him, shall we?” I lean my elbows on the counter and start counting off on my fingers. “Is he single? Check. Is he in the target age-range? Check. Is he good looking? Double check. Really, Jas, I see no reason why I shouldn’t pursue an Initial Contact with Alex.”
“How do you know he’s not into freaky stuff? Have you forgotten all about the merman? Really, Soph, I would have expected you’d have waited more than a measly twenty-four hours before you launched yourself at some other guy.”
Affronted, I stand up straight and glare at him, “I’m not launching myself at anyone, thank you very much.”
He cocks an eyebrow. “Oh yeah? What about Alex?”
I give a bitter laugh. I was on the verge of telling Jason that Alex and I are cousins—okay, sort-of cousins—and consequently of no interest to me as potential date material. I’ve changed my mind. Whatever bee has got under his bonnet, I’m going to leave it there to buzz around for a while. Who knows? Maybe it’ll even give him a good sting?
I cross my arms, defensive. “Isn’t that the whole point of the pact? To find Mr. Right for Now? I’ve got to at least try to date.”
“Maybe let the paint dry on the merman first, huh?”
I narrow my eyes at him. “Why do you care if I want to go out with someone else, anyway?”
It’s a very good question, and one I’d really rather like to know the answer to. One minute he’s all gung-ho about me dating, and now he’s treating me like some sort of desperate cheerleader on the prowl at prom.
He simply shrugs. “No reason. I’m just looking out for you, that’s all. We’re buds.”
Cue feeling bad.
He’s right; we are buds. Best buds. Only just this morning he had been an amazing friend to me, telling me not to get upset about things not working out with David, encouraging me to find a solution to High Tea’s financial woes. Really, whatever’s behind the way he’s acting over Alex tonight, I should let it fly.
Jason deserves more from me.
“Okay, full disclosure,” I begin.
He puts his hands up in the air. “If this is about how you want to do illicit things with that new guy, I really, really don’t want to hear it.”
I shake my head. “I’m not going on a date with Alex Walsh now or at any time.”
I think I detect a hint of a relieved smile on his face, but I might be reading too much into it. I’ve done it before.
“Why not?” he questions.
“He’s my cousin, and this isn’t Game of Thrones .”
Jason’s eyes bulge. “He’s your cousin? Well, why didn’t you say so?”
I lift a shoulder.
“Alex Walsh, huh? He seems like a great guy.”
I let out an exasperated laugh at his whiplash-inducing change of opinion. “You’re impossible. Do you know that, Christie?”
“That’s Doctor Jason Christie to you.”
I roll my eyes. “We’ve been over this. You’re a trainee doctor, remember?”
“Not for much longer. I’m officially a fully-fledged M.D. next month.”
“Seriously? Jas, that’s awesome!” I round the counter and give him a hug. “With you finally an actual doctor, my life is going to be thoroughly miserable, isn’t it?”
“If you mean miserable for you but fantastic for your fully-fledged doctor roommate? Then yes, it is. And I’m going to enjoy every last minute of it.”
I laugh as I release him from the hug and place my hand on his shoulder. “Moving back in with my parents to take that internship has never looked so appealing.”
“Now I know you’re kidding.”
Alex stops beside us. “No one needs to see their cousin making out, you know. Go get a room, you two.”
We leap back from one another like we’ve both been electrocuted. A loud, surprised laugh escapes my lips. “We’re not making out,” I explain as Jason says, “That’s not what this is, man.”
Alex’s eyes dart between us. “Sure. Whatever you say, guys.”
“No, seriously. We’re roommates. That’s all,” I say hurriedly. “This is Jason Christie. Jason, this is my cousin, Alex Walsh.”
The men shake hands. “Hey, man. Great to meet Sophie’s roommate,” Alex says.
“You, too,” Jason says. “I didn’t know you existed until a couple minutes ago.”
“I didn’t know you existed until just about five seconds ago,” Alex replies with a wicked grin.
“Well, I guess we’re both in the same boat then. Sophie hasn’t mentioned either of us.”
“Sure. Something like that.”
It’s like watching a couple of sparring knights use blunt wooden swords so all they can do is prod each other. It’s strange and a little confusing, but I’ll admit, it’s also pretty darn funny.
Jason’s the one who breaks the tension. “I guess it doesn’t matter, does it? It’s good to meet you, man.”
Just then, Bailey walks past us, and I touch her on the arm to get her attention. “Bailey, can I talk to you for a minute?”
“Sure thing.” She nods at Jason in recognition and says to Alex, “I think table five wants to place an order. They’ve got menus.”
“I’m on it, boss,” Alex replies with a grin and a mock salute, and I’m certain I hear the women at the table beside us collectively sigh.
Once out in the kitchen, Bailey leans against the counter and asks, “What’s up?”
I’m going out on a limb here, so although I think I’m onto something with my thoughts around High Tea, I’m suddenly nervous. “You know how you mentioned High Tea’s falling customer numbers? Well, I wondered if you’d be okay with me putting a proposal together.”
“A proposal to help lift the numbers? Of course! We’re totally open to your ideas.”
“Awesome. I’ll need to have a better look at the spreadsheet you showed me the other day, too. I’d like to get a clear understanding of where the business sits.”
“Oh.” Bailey’s uncertain expression tells me I’ve got to give her more.
“You might not know that I graduated at the top of my finance class a few years back. I’m sorry if I sound like I’m bragging. I’m not, honestly. That’s not what this is about. I just figure I may be able to help. I guess I just ‘get’ numbers.”
Unlike men, who I definitely do not get—even my roommate and cousin now, if the bizarre sparring I witnessed is anything to go by.
Bailey’s face lights up. “Of course you can see the numbers. You are the Weekend Manager now. I’ll email it to you when I’m home tonight.”
“Thanks. I’ve already got some ideas.”
“You do? I’d love to hear them.”
“They’re still percolating, like a cup of Ned’s coffee.”
She smiles. “You’re all about tea these days, remember?”
“Oh, but I do love my coffee.”
A few moments later, I’m back out in the café where Erin and Darcy are already up on the makeshift stage, preparing to sing. Jason is back at the table, sitting with Megan.
I sidle up to Alex, who’s holding some used crockery in his hands. I nod at the stage and say with pride, “My BFFs are about to sing.”
“They’re your friends?” Alex asks.
“Yup. The taller one with the long dark hair is Darcy, and the other one is Erin. They were in high school with us, but I guess that was a long time ago now. They’re going to sing ‘Mama Mia.’”
Alex nods as he watches the girls on the makeshift stage. “Going retro. I like it.”
As they kick their vocals off, the audience applauds and claps along to the familiar tune. And they’re good. Dressed in cute ‘70’s belted tunics Erin designed and sewed herself, they look every inch the pop divas they should have been. Maybe in another lifetime.
Alex and I bob our heads to the music, and I grin as I watch my girls looking so amazing up there. I glance over at Jason and Megan at the table. He’s got his arm slung around the back of her chair, beaming at Megan who’s jiggling her pert little butt in her seat to the music. They look like the perfect couple; young, good looking, happy, in love.
For some reason I don’t understand, my insides twist at the sight of them.
The girls sing their last note and lean their backs against one another, á la Agnetha and Frida themselves. I applaud enthusiastically along with the rest of the audience. The girls beam out at us all and then take a bow and return to their seats, making way for the next performer. There’s always a rush on orders between songs so I get less than thirty seconds to congratulate my friends before I’m needed.
“Who’s the new server?” Darcy asks as she takes her seat. “He looks familiar.”
“We’ve decided he’s definitely date-worthy,” Erin adds. “Are you sizing him up as a potential?”
I shake my head. “He’s my cousin, Alex Walsh. Remember him? He was at school with us, two years ahead.”
Darcy guffaws. “ That’s Alex Walsh?” I give an amused nod, and Darcy’s eyes get huge. “Well, didn’t he grow up.”
“He grew up g oooo d.” Erin mock-fans her face as both my friends watch Alex saunter back to the kitchen.
Really, they’re acting like a couple of dogs in heat.
Jason eyes Erin and Darcy across the table. “So, let me get this straight: everyone’s got a thing for Sophie’s cousin now, have they?”
“I don’t,” Megan says as she wraps herself around one of Jason’s arms. “I’ve got a thing for you ,” she coos.
You know what, Megan? I think we got that.
My BFFs lusting after my cousin is weirding me out enough, but watching Megan fawn over Jason makes me feel strange inside.
It’s definitely my cue to leave.
“Okay, people. I’ll leave you to your evening.” I make my exit.
For the rest of the evening, I return my attention to where it ought to be: my job. I take orders, pour drinks, help deliver meals. But something’s stuck in my head, and it’s giving me an unsettled feeling in the pit of my stomach.
Although I would never admit it to anyone, I didn’t like seeing Jason and Megan together like that.
And for the life of me, I can’t work out why.