Shoe Charming – by Tracy Reed #4
“Arranging your payment plan.” She looked at Winston. “What day did you have in mind for this payment plan?”
“Saturday,” he replied.
“What did you have in mind?” Carmen asked.
“I’m new here and I was hoping Sophie could show me around.”
“Uh huh…” She looked him up and down. “Is this your contact information?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll send you details.”
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“My job as your assistant and best friend. This is a very handsome man who wants to spend the day with you in exchange for two gorgeous pairs of shoes. Honestly, I think you’re getting the better end of the deal.” She looked at Winston. “No offense.”
“None taken,” he said.
“Let’s go Sophie.”
I couldn’t believe what Carmen did. I stood in front of my closet trying to figure out what to wear to an all day date with a strange man. Okay, he’s not really a stranger but…
Ding Dong…Ding Dong…Ding Dong…
I rushed out to the front door and looked out the peep hole.
“I know you’re in there, because your date won’t be here for at least an hour,” Carmen said.
I opened the door. “What are you doing here?”
“Here.” She handed me a cup of coffee. “I told you I’m your dating coach.”
“My what?” I smiled.
“Your dating coach.” She pushed her way inside and went down the hall.
“Where are you going?” I followed behind her.
“To your dressing room.”
“Why?”
She continued down the hall to my dressing room. “Because I know you.”
“Excuse me.” I stopped in the doorway and saw my best friend rifling through my wardrobe.
“Soph, I know you. You are not going to take this date seriously.”
“That’s not true,” I protested.
She placed her cup on the counter. “Prove me wrong. What are you wearing?”
I walked over and pulled down the clothes on the brass display rod and handed them to Carmen. “Here you go.”
She looked at my selections. “Yeah, this isn’t going to work.”
“Why not?”
“Did you not see the hottie who wants to spend the day with you?”
“Yes.”
“And this is how you want to look today?” she asked.
I looked at the black leggings, white t-shirt and black cardigan. “So maybe I do need to amp up my look.”
“You think?” she said sarcastically. “I’m going to ask you something and, please tell me the truth.”
“You’re scaring me.”
“Do you like this guy?” she asked.
“What?”
“Do you like what’s his name again?”
“Winston.”
“Do you like him?”
“I’m not…he’s a nice guy, but I don’t really know him.”
“Uh huh…that’s not the answer to the question I asked. Do…you…like…this…guy?”
I felt my mouth turn up into a smile. “I guess so.”
“Girl, I am three steps away from slapping you. Just answer my question. Do you like him?”
“Yes. I like him.”
“Finally.” She sipped more coffee and returned her cup to the counter. “Okay, let’s find you a look that will spark this guy’s attention.”
“Clearly I already did that.” I smiled.
“Oh no you didn’t…okay…I got you.”
We rifled through the racks and each of us pulled out two outfits. About thirty minutes later, I had a cute look, my hair and makeup were on point, and I was starving.
What was I thinking agreeing to an all day date with a strange man? A hot man, but a stranger. I paced back and forth. I was nervous. I’ve never been nervous before a date. I wanted some more coffee, but I was close to buzzing.
“You okay?” Carmen asked.
“Yeah.” I continued pacing and rubbing my hands. “It’s just…it’s been a while since I went on a date.”
She placed a cup of green tea in front of me. “Here, hopefully this will calm you.”
I looked inside the white cup then sipped. “Thanks.”
“You looked like you were about to start spinning.” She sipped more coffee. “Let’s sit down.” We walked over to the dining table and sat down. “What’s wrong?”
“This date means…I guess Gavin and I really are done.”
“Are you serious?”
“What?”
“Soph, you know I love you like a sister. I’m your ride or die, so I want you to understand what I’m about to say. Stop wasting valuable brain cells on Gavin. Trust me, he’s not thinking about you.”
“But he…”
“There is no but…apart from his large although nicely shaped butt which I was denied the pleasure of kicking.”
“Really, Carmen.”
“Honey, I know it still hurts, but if you don’t let it go….you’ve been given a clean slate and you’re still wishing for something that will and was never going to be.”
“What do you mean never?”
“You gave that trifling lizard…”
“Now he’s a lizard.” I smiled.
“He’s anything that crawls on its belly. Believe this, if he were an ant, I would have stomped on him by now. If he were a fly, I’d find the largest, heaviest fly swatter and smack him. If he was a snail, I’d pour salt on him.”
I laughed. “I think I get the point.”
“I hope so. You need to do like En Vogue and free your mind. Now, what’s his name again?”
“Winston.”
She smiled. “What kind of name is…I mean, that’s definitely got some European or African vibe to it.”
“That’s one of my questions for today.”
“Oh, wouldn’t it be something if he turned out to be an African prince over here looking for a wife like in that movie?” She smiled. “Picture us moving to some luxurious African palace and…”
“Hold up.” I held my hand up. “So now he’s royalty?”
“Could be.” She smiled.
I laughed. “Now who’s got the wild imagination?”
“Okay, I may be reaching, but…”
Ding Dong…Ding Dong…Ding Dong…
We both froze. My heart started to race and I felt flushed from head to toe.
“Do you want me to get the door?” Carmen asked.
“Yes.”
She walked over to the front door and I went to my dressing room to do one last check on my look.
I couldn’t believe my hands were shaking.
I wasn’t sure what Winston had planned, so I wanted to be prepared.
I put a change of shoes, a pashmina shawl and a pair of sneakers inside my tote bag.
I did one more stop by the mirror, exhaled and walked down the hall to the living room.
There he was, the strange hot man I was about to spend the day with. I made sure I also had a back up battery and charging cable. I wasn’t about to be stranded with a dead phone. I was pretty sure Carmen put a tracker in my bag, as well as activating that locator app on my phone.
“There she is,” Carmen said.
“Hi,” I said. I looked him up and down. I was used to seeing him in a suit. It was strange seeing him in casual clothes, but he still looked hot.
“Good morning,” Winston said. “You look nice and comfortable.”
“I wasn’t sure what to wear for an all day adventure,” I said.
“You’re fine. Are you ready?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be. Where are we going?”
“I thought you made plans…after all this is your payment for the shoes.” He smiled.
“Excuse me.”
“I’m new here and the only places I know are the store, my neighborhood and your house.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes.”
I looked at Carmen and gave her “the look”. You know the look. The one that you give your bestie when you need to be rescued.
“May I suggest while you’re eating breakfast, you come up with a plan, unless of course you two are good at playing it by ear,” Carmen suggested.
“I like that,” he said.
I looked at my best friend because I knew she’d just lost her mind. “Sounds like a plan.” She walked over and opened the door. “You’re wasting time. Get going.”
I started toward the door and Winston followed behind me. I looked ahead and there was a black SUV parked at the curb with a driver standing next to the passenger door.
“What’s this?”
“I thought the least I could do was drive.”
“But you aren’t driving, he is.” I smiled.
“Semantics,” he teased. “I got this Zoran. Thank you.”
The driver walked around to the other side and got inside. Winston helped me get inside and settled.
“I don’t know about you, but I’m hungry?” I said. “I’m sorry. I probably shouldn’t have said that.”
“Why not? You’re not alone in needing to eat.”
The driver pulled out onto the street. “What do you have a taste for?”
“I’m not quite sure, what do you have a taste for?”
“A stack of buttermilk pancakes drenched in blueberries and bananas and a side of bacon.” I looked at him waiting for a reaction.
“What kind of bacon?”
“Pork, of course.”
“This is the beginning of an amazing relationship.” He laughed. “If you had said turkey I was going to have to take you back home.” He smiled.
My eyes and mouth got wide. “What?”
“Go big or go home. If you want bacon, eat bacon. None of this turkey or vegan bacon. I want the real deal.”
“I agree.”
“So where do you want to go for these amazing pancakes?”
“Zoran, go down to the third light, make a right, and in the middle of the block you’ll see a light blue and white building, pull into the parking lot.”
“Yes, Miss.”
“Thank you.” I looked at Winston. “This place has been around for years. It’s sort of a neighborhood secret.”
A few minutes later we pulled into the parking lot. Zoran got out and walked around and helped us out of the car. We walked around and Zoran got back into the car.
“What about Zoran?” I asked Winston.
“He’s going to take care of the car. Trust me, there’s no way Zoran is going to miss out on the best pancakes.”
We went inside and it was right before the Saturday morning rush. After stuffing ourselves, the server brought over a white envelope.
“Sophie Carter…”
“Yes.”
“I was told to give this to you.” She handed me a small white envelope.
“Thank you.” I looked at Winston. “What’s going on?”
“I don’t know. This is my first time here. Maybe you have an admirer.” He sipped some water.
“Apart from you?” I smiled.
“What?” He looked around. “Who’s trying to steal my thunder? This is my day to impress you.”
“Impress me, huh….I thought this was my shoe gift restitution?”
“It’s restitution with an ulterior motive.” He smiled. “What’s with the note?”
I opened the envelope and pulled the card out and on the front it said, “Read aloud.” I opened the flap.
“Now that you’ve eaten, tell each other one embarrassing story then leave.”
I looked at the signature and shook my head.
“Who sent the card?” Winston asked.
“Carmen. Apparently, she thinks we need a little help.”