21. Eliza
ELIZA
Leo
I’m sorry for not responding three years ago.
I wasn’t going to bring it up again but then I went to text you and saw the message.
Me
You made good on your promise of showing me how sorry you were…
Don’t worry about it. We’re good.
Although, I wouldn’t be mad if you did that thing with your tongue again. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it.
Leo
I think we can make that happen.
Me
Tonight, maybe?
Leo
Whatever and whenever you want, Trouble.
Me
Thank you, chef. :)
Leo
Trouble…
It’d only been a couple of days since my arrangement with Leo began, and we’d already been very productive.
Monday he came to yoga, and after class we’d taken a break back at my apartment before my next class.
Tuesday I went to his apartment. More sex. He did, in fact, repeat what he’d done with his tongue. And he cooked me dinner.
Today was Wednesday, and who knew what the day would bring.
This whole friends with benefits thing was pretty ideal. Not only did I get amazing sex out of it but amazing food, too. And I was less pent-up and more relaxed.
After teaching a yoga classes this morning, I caught up on admin work, including rent and other bills for the month.
As much as I enjoyed bartending at Lake Ridge, I’d started working there for extra money for Root and Vine.
Last summer, Jules helped me with a plan to install new floors, repaint, and add decorations like fake plants, flameless candles, and art.
Next, I wanted to replace the mirrors and light fixtures, which was what I was saving for.
As I looked at the numbers, it seemed within reach.
Like really within reach. If the next couple of months proved to be successful and I saw a bump from the tourists visiting town, I’d have enough money to reach my savings goal and potentially feel comfortable enough to bring on another instructor skilled in Pilates or barre to expand the studio’s offerings.
I also wanted to partner with organizations in town, like the animal shelter or food bank, to host events that benefited both businesses and the community.
I looked up from my laptop when the door to the studio opened, and in came my grandma.
“There’s my granddaughter. Here I thought you’d gone missing,” she teased with a warm smile on her face.
“Hey, Gran.” I got up from my seat and rounded the counter to pull her into a hug. She always smelled sweet—like flowers and honey. “Hadn’t gone missing. And you’re going to see me later today! Are we still on for an early dinner?”
Cooper and I tried to have dinner with Gran as often as we could. Typically, we aimed for once a week, but with the start of the summer right around the corner, we’d both been swamped. We were going to have an early dinner today before I headed into Lake Ridge.
“We sure are.” Gran pulled away from the embrace and gave my hands a squeeze. “You look good, dear.”
I let out a laugh. “Do I usually not?”
“No, it’s not that. You just keep yourself so busy. I was worried you were working yourself too hard when I hadn’t heard from you, but it doesn’t look like that.”
“What does it look like?” I asked.
“Like you’re living life and enjoying every second of it.”
I rolled my eyes playfully, sliding my laptop and notes into my bag. “I’ve been living life, Gran.” I pulled my sweatshirt over my sports bra and leggings, hitched my purse onto my shoulder, and grabbed my keys. “C’mon, let’s go over to Lily’s to grab some dessert for after dinner.”
“Now you’re speaking my language.”
I locked the studio, and Gran hooked her arm with mine once we made it outside.
We went next door to Purrfect Blend, and as soon as I pushed open the door, we were greeted by delicious smells of cinnamon, vanilla, and coffee.
Lily greeted us with a wave as she finished up chatting with Susan, one of the locals who was setting up in the storefront incubator Lily and Gabe were working on. Susan made candles that smelled amazing and always had me craving something sweet.
“What brings you two in?” Lily asked with a grin as we approached the counter and sat at the two stools closest to her. She immediately started making our regular drinks.
“Sweet treats, of course,” I replied playfully.
“How was yoga this morning?” Lily asked but then didn’t waste a minute before turning to my grandma. “Did Eliza tell you that Leo came to a class?”
Gran looked at me with a sly smile. “She didn’t, but Donna did.”
Lily set our drinks in front of us, matching my grandma’s smile. They shared a knowing look. What they both thought they knew was beyond me.
I ignored them both and brought my coffee to my lips. One of the many things I loved about Lily’s café was she always made her drinks the perfect temperature to take a sip as soon as she dropped them off.
“Anyways,” I said, licking the foam off my lip. “Could you pack up some pastries for us? And I guess enough so Cooper could have one. We’re meeting him in a few hours for an early dinner.”
“You got it.” Lily grabbed a pair of tongs and a pink bakery box.
I reached into my wallet, pulling out more than enough cash to cover what Gran and I were buying, and slipped it into Lily’s tip jar.
“I saw that,” she said while closing up the box.
“If you agreed to take my card, then I won’t have to carry around cash. This is the only place I use it, you know.”
Lily shook her head at me, her lips twitching, and set the box down on the counter. “Where are you heading for dinner?”
I looked over at Gran. “Pasta Fresca maybe?”
My grandma nodded in agreement and lifted her tea to take a sip.
“I’ll text Cooper.” I pulled my phone from my bag and saw a new text from Leo.
Leo
Haven’t been able to stop thinking about you.
Me
Yeah? What haven’t you been able to stop thinking about?
Leo
How fucking sexy you look when you come on my cock.
Me
Fuck. Now you have me thinking about sex.
And your cock.
Leo
Mission accomplished.
“Eliza?”
“Yeah?” I looked up at Lily, who had the biggest grin on her face. I set my phone face down on the counter.
“What was so funny?”
I shrugged. “Nothing.”
“You were texting and grinning. Not smiling. Grinning.”
I looked between Lily and my grandma, who again had that same look on their faces. “So? I can grin for no reason.”
“Uh-huh,” Lily responded, narrowing her eyes playfully at me.
“Did you text Cooper?” my grandma asked, taking another sip of her tea.
Shit. “I, uh, I was just about to, but Lily distracted me.” I picked my phone back up and this time went straight to my text thread with Cooper, letting him know we were meeting at Pasta Fresca.
“Sure, dear. It was Lily who distracted you.”
After we finished our drinks, I stayed at Purrfect Blend to finish my admin work while Gran ran a few errands in town. I then went upstairs to my apartment, showered, and changed for dinner and my shift at Lake Ridge.
Cooper and I had gotten to Pasta Fresca around the same time and were sitting across from each other in a booth toward the front of the restaurant—easy to spot once Gran arrived.
Pasta Fresca was a favorite restaurant among me and my friends, especially Lily. She actually had her first date with Gabe here, although at the time, both of them claimed it wasn’t a date but rather an opportunity to come up with a plan of how they were going to complete her winter wish list.
It was totally a date.
“Some water for you two,” Teresa said as she brought over a glass bottle filled with water and three glasses. “And it’s just after three, but feel free to order from the lunch menu if you’d like.”
Teresa was a woman in her early sixties who owned the place with her sister.
The two of them moved to Golden Falls about a decade ago with their husbands after retiring from their corporate jobs.
Within a few years of moving to Golden Falls, they opened a restaurant that pulled on their Italian roots and served delicious and authentic pasta and pizza in a cozy and intimate setting.
Their lunch specials were among my favorites, because instead of ordering one dish, you could mix and match half portions.
“I’ll be over to take your order as soon as Marnie gets here.
” Teresa unstacked the glasses, and we both thanked her as she filled them with water.
“Glad to have you in for an early dinner, although if I were you, I’d be over at Lake Ridge trying to sneak a peek at the new chef. ” Teresa wiggled her brows.
“And miss seeing your beautiful smile?” Cooper chimed in without missing a beat. “No way.” He winked, and I swore there was a faint blush on Teresa’s cheeks as she shook her head with a laugh.
“Ever the flirt, Cooper.” Teresa set the bottle down in the center of the table and crossed her arms over her chest. “You know, one of my nieces might be in town for a weekend soon. I could introduce you? She’s a great girl. Beautiful, kind, successful. I think you two would get along.”
“If she’s related to you, I’m sure she’s wonderful,” my brother responded, and I had to hold back an eye roll. “But I’ve been pretty busy at work. Haven’t really had much time to date, and I wouldn’t be able to give her my full attention. I hope she has a wonderful time visiting you, though.”
Teresa nodded with a smile, completely enamored by my brother—like most women in town. “I appreciate the honesty, Cooper. Well, when you’re ready to date, I’m sure it won’t take long for you to find someone.” She gave us both a smile before walking away.
I lowered my voice and did the best impression of my brother I could when I repeated his words. “Haven’t really had much time to date, and I wouldn’t be able to give her my full attention.”
“What?” He huffed a laugh and rolled his eyes, leaning back in his chair and bringing the glass of water up to his lips. “It’s true,” he added before taking a sip.
“Do you want to tell that to the women who call Lake Ridge asking for your number or should I? Wait—” I leaned in closer over the table. “It is me who has to tell them.”