“You said we could have coffee together this morning.” He holds up the coffees and grins again.
“Colin,” I say as I lock the door behind me. “I said we could go get coffee. I didn’t mean for you to bring me one.”
“Oh,” Colin looks sadly at the cups, but doesn’t say anything else.
“It was really nice of you,” I pipe up, trying to rebuild his spirit. “It’s just…I really wanted something…frothy…from A Latte Joe’s.”
Colin squirms uncomfortably before he finally says, “Can I be honest with you?”
Oh, Lord. What’s going to come out of his addled brain? “Um, sure.”
“Ever since that Joe guy started working there, I…I…”
“Go on. What’s wrong with Joe?” My curiosity is piqued, of course. I’m dying to know what he has against the guy I went out on a date with last night. Or, whatever that was.
Colin takes a deep breath, filling up his chest and forcing his shoulders back. “I don’t like the way he looks at you.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“It’s like…he’s enamored, or something. He gets all moony-eyed and flirtatious whenever you’re around.”
Part of me wants to burst out laughing, and part of me is giddy that maybe Joe does have a thing for me. Or maybe he did. I feel like I might have ruined things last night, though I’m not sure how. It was a very confusing evening. Hopefully once I see Joe this pit in my stomach will go away. At least I’ll know where I stand.
At any rate, I don’t laugh or let on that I might be flattered by this news. Well, I try not to let on, at least. The longer I’m away from New York, the worse I get at my poker face. And I at least have to pretend that I’m into Colin right now.
“You’re imagining things,” I say. “Joe has no interest in me. Come on. I still want that frothy drink.”
Colin follows behind me to our cars and we agree to meet at work so we can walk to Joe’s together. I’m worried he’ll fill up on his Starbuck’s coffee before we get there, and then I’ll be completely screwed.
I’m about to hop in my car when I get sudden burst of inspiration.
“Wait!” I call out, halting Colin just before he reaches his driver side door.
He turns to look at me, his eyebrows raised. “Yes?”
Oh, God. “Um, I just…” I saunter to him with my most seductive walk, only it’s a little hard to be seductive on gravel. When I reach him, I throw my arms around his neck and whisper into his ear, “Thank you.”
“For what?” There’s confusion in his voice.
“For thinking of me,” I whisper back, letting my breath tickle his ear. But now is the moment.
I pull back abruptly, purposely knocking his coffee from his hand. The cup flips over, spraying lukewarm coffee on me just before it hits the ground. I look down at it, and notice, much to my horror, that the lid is still on and the cup in tact.
Crap. I leave my shame at the door and deliberately stomp on the cup with my Prada tennis shoe. Coffee seeps through the fabric, but I can’t find it in me to care. I’ve saved the day—saved my life, Colin’s life and Holly’s life with this one, reckless move.
“Oh, no!” I cry. “I’m so sorry. Goodness, I’m so clumsy!”
Colin doesn’t seem to have noticed that I did it on purpose. He’s just saying over and over again, “It’s all right,” as he picks up the ruined cup from the driveway.
“Well, at least we already had plans to visit Joe’s, right?”
Hmm. Maybe I’ve pushed the issue too far. Colin’s eyes are narrowed on me again, but before I let him see how uncomfortable I am, I say, “Okay, see ya there!” and bound off to my car.
Once we park and drop our things at the bakery, we walk across the street together in the chilly morning air. I wrap my arms around myself as I take in the smell of burning leaves and consider getting something warm instead of frothy now. Maybe with pumpkin in it.
The door chimes as we walk through it, and Joe appears only a moment later. My breath catches. He looks even better than he did last night, which seems unfair. I’ve got sallow skin and bags under my eyes from going to bed past ten pm. He looks fresh as a daisy in his dark gray, long-sleeved t-shirt and jeans.
“Morning, guys!” he says, a wide smile on his face. “What can I get for ya?”
Colin stares up at the menu board and Joe gives me a covert wink. My hands are balled into fists. God, I’m practically shaking. I take a deep breath, knowing it’ll all be over soon and I’ll be able to relax again.
“You know,” Colin says, turning to me. “I think I’ll pass.”
My heart seizes. So much so that I’m slightly worried I’m having a heart attack. “What? Why?” I blurt out, blinking wildly and resisting the urge to clutch my chest.
Colin shrugs as if it’s no big thing. “I drank most of the Starbucks. I’m good on caffeine for the day.”
“What about something caffeine-free?” I suggest. “You’ve got to have something. I mean…I’ll feel awkward if you don’t.”
“Nah. I’m good.”
I close my eyes. There’s only one way I’m going to get him to drink a coffee from Joe. It makes my stomach churn just to think of it, but I have no other choice. I look to Joe with a grimace, and then turn back to Colin. Pasting on a pouty look, I sidle up to him, grab his hand and say, “Pleeeeaaaase, Honey Bear. You know I hate to drink alone.”
I’m so close to his face right now, close enough to place a small peck on his cheek. A couple weeks ago I would have given anything to be this close to him, but now it just feels wrong. Especially with Joe looking on, which makes no sense at all since he’s made no moves on me whatsoever.
Colin laughs. “Alcohol, maybe,” he says. “But I think you can drink a coffee alone, can’t you?”
I bat my lashes at him hoping I resemble a sweet little kitten. “Come on. Just a small one. Please?”
There’s a long pause. So long it feels as if it’s stretching into eternity. I’m holding my breath and I can tell Joe is too, by the way his chest is puffed up and he’s turning a bit red. But finally Colin says, “All right. A hot tea, please.”
Joe visibly relaxes. “Coming right up! And what about you, Candy?”
“Small vanilla latte, please.”
Colin’s brow is furrowed when I turn back to him. “I thought you wanted something frothy.”
“I did,” I say, “but I changed my mind. It’s so chilly outside, I need something to warm me up.”
He looks from me to Joe and back again. “What’s going on here?”
I gulp. “What do you mean?” I reply, scoffing at him as if he’s lost his mind.
“I brought you a hot latte this morning that you wouldn’t drink.”
“I-I didn’t know it was a latte. You just said coffee.”
“You didn’t give me a chance. Just insisted we come here. To see him.”
“Not to see him,” I protest as I wrack my brain with ways to diffuse the situation. “To sit down and have coffee with you. I didn’t want to just drink coffee in my living room. I can do that anytime.”
“Candy. What. Is. Going. On?”
Joe interrupts us, shoving our drinks forward on the counter. “You’re all set, guys.”
“What do I owe you?” I ask.
Joe holds up his hands. “Don’t worry about it.”
This doesn’t sit well with Colin, obviously. “Oh, now you’re giving free drinks to my girlfriend?”
“Colin.” I try to remain as calm as I can as I gently grab his hand. “Let’s just go. We can sit in the square and enjoy a quiet moment together before…before work, okay?”
I wish I could tell him that once he has a few sips of his tea he won’t give two hoots about me anymore. But I can’t, so I just have to get him the hell out of here and away from Joe.
With one last menacing look for Joe, Colin finally picks up his drink and starts out of the shop. I follow, tossing an apologetic look to Joe before I do. He nods and gives
me a grin that says, No harm done, though I’m not completely reassured. Especially after the way our date ended last night.
But I can’t really worry about Joe right now. I have to get Colin to drink his tea and pray it works.
We sit down in the square, on the same bench where I’d run into Joe yesterday. Wow, was that really only yesterday? Somehow it seems like a lifetime ago.
I angle myself toward Colin. He looks agitated, but still the same handsome guy I fell in love with. Or lust, maybe. That dark hair, the smile that could make a girl’s heart melt. Only I don’t feel for him what I felt a couple weeks ago. I only feel ashamed for what I’ve done to him. And kind of pathetic too. I mean, who am I? Not so long ago I was a confident, independent New York executive with fantastic clothes and a ruthless attitude. When did I become a chubby, desperate girl who thought she had to cast a spell on a guy to get him to notice her?
I shake my head, drawing Colin’s attention.
“I told you I don’t like that guy,” he finally says, a scowl on his face.
“Yeah, I know,” I reply. I’m not going to indulge the conversation. I just need him to drink his tea so we can get this over with and go back to normal. Go back to him being madly in love with my sister, and me…being happy for them. “Aren’t you going to drink your tea?”
“Too hot.”
“Oh.” I look up at him and our eyes meet. His are vacant, of course. God, what am I going to tell him when he snaps out of this? Will he remember what happened? Or will he have missed out on a couple weeks of his life?
We sit in silence for a few minutes. I take tiny sips of my latte, wondering if Joe did anything to my own beverage. I smile, thinking I wouldn’t really mind it at all.
“Something funny?” Colin asks.
“Oh, um…not really. Just thinking about how much I love this weather.” It’s not a total lie. The weather is quite nice.
And then it happens. Finally. Colin lifts the cup to his lips and tests a sip. He startles just a bit, as if it’s hot, but then goes back for more. I’m holding my breath, waiting. Watching. For any sign it’s working. But nothing is happening.
“So,” I venture, “how do you feel?”
“Better,” he says. “Well, we should probably get inside. Holly will be wondering where we are.”
“Holly?”
Colin gives me a cock-eyed look and laughs. “Uh, yeah. Your sister? Remember her?”
I stare back at him, my eyes wide. “Do you remember her?”
“Are you feeling all right?” Colin puts a hand to my forehead. “Maybe you should see a doctor.”
“No, no,” I say. “I’m fine. I just…” Here we go. This will be the real test. “I just need to grab a couple Stevia packets from Joe’s. I’ll be in in a few minutes.”
Much to my surprise and delight, Colin only shrugs. “Okay. See ya in there.” And then he walks away.
My heart is fluttering with giddiness. It worked! As he walks toward the bakery, I make a beeline back to Joe’s and burst through the door. He’s standing on the other side of the counter and looks up when the bell jingles.
“Well?” he asks.
I give a moment’s pause, for dramatic effect, of course, and then shout, “It worked! It worked! I could kiss you right now!”
Oops. That wasn’t supposed to be out loud.
“I mean,” I fumble to cover my last statement as I cross the shop. Maybe he went temporarily deaf. “I, um…”
“Well, that’s a relief,” he says, thankfully ignoring that humiliating outburst.
“I know,” I say, my heart still racing but for an entirely different reason all of a sudden. Because it’s in this moment I realize I’m free. Not that I wasn’t before, but we all knew I couldn’t make a move under the circumstances. “I couldn’t have done it without you, so…thanks. A lot.”
Joe shrugs and offers me a sweet grin. “No problem.”
A customer pushes through the door, breaking the trance I’m in, and I smile back at Joe. “Well, have a good day,” I say, backing out of the shop, but wishing I could stay. Wishing I had the balls to say what I really want to say. But it’s not the time, and I have work to do. Not to mention, I’m dying to see what’s going on at the bakery. Will Colin want to pick up with Holly where they left off? I still don’t know what he remembers. And will Holly just take him back?
I rush across the street, into the bakery. It’s quiet, and Colin’s not in the office. I keep going and push through the swinging doors of the kitchen, only to find Colin and Holly in a liplock, groping one another right next to the giant vat of butter.
I smile and lean against the wall. A couple weeks ago this would have sent me into a jealous tizzy. But now, I only feel happiness for them. And relief for me. I just hope Holly can forgive me for all I put her through. The way she and Colin are groping each other gives me hope.
“I hate to break up the reunion,” I say, expecting them to pull apart, but they just keep at it. “Ahem!”
Nothing.
Ah, well. I was planning to have to run things myself, anyway. Which makes me wonder why Holly decided to come back to work today. Wasn’t she going to wait until she was sure I had straightened everything out?
“Um, guys?” I try again. I don’t care if they want to stay like that all day, I’d just rather they not stay that way in my kitchen. But I’m pretty sure I’ll have to use brute force.
I stride across the kitchen to where they’re standing and tug at both their arms.
“Mmmm,” Holly says. I suppose that’s her way of dismissing me.
I tug again, harder this time, forcing them apart finally. They don’t even look at me. They just stand there, panting and staring at one another.
“Um.” This is so awkward. “Why don’t you guys take the day off?”
“Okay,” Holly says, still staring at Colin as if she’s under a spell.
“See you tomorrow,” Colin adds.
And then they both walk out the door. I smile after them, feeling satisfied and proud of myself. Not to mention, hopeful. With all that mess out of the way, maybe I can make a move on Joe.
Nineteen
By the end of the day I’m exhausted. Not only have I done all the baking, but all the sugar molds and decorations too. What I want now is to go home, put on my PJs and watch TV. But there’s one thing I have to do first.
Once I’ve stripped my apron off and waved goodbye to the sales girls out front, I make my way across the street to Joe’s. He’s still behind the counter, and he looks just as tired as I feel. I smile at him as I walk through the door and he gives me a wink in return.
Seriously. Why does that one little gesture turn me into pure mush inside?
I wait in line, and when I get to the front, he asks what he can do for me.
“Actually,” I say, drawing out the yyyyy at the end. “I was hoping we could go out again sometime.”
“Ah,” he replies, with a satisfied smile. “My plan to woo you is working.”
Woo me? “I-I didn’t realize you had such a plan.”
“Ouch.” He rears back as if offended. “You mean me buying you dinner and drinks didn’t tip you off at all?”
I can’t help but laugh. “It might have, but then…” Heat infuses my cheeks.
He leans over the counter. “I didn’t kiss you goodnight?” he says in a whisper.
“Um, well…yeah.”
“Give me another chance?”
“Didn’t I already ask you out?”
He cocks his head sideways. “Good point. How’s tonight?”
“Tonight?” I’m a little surprised. We did just see each other last night.
“Unless you’re busy.”
The bell rings behind me, heralding the arrival of another customer.
“No, no,” I say in a rush. “Tonight’s fine. Wanna come over and watch a movie?” Maybe I can have my cake and eat it too. Cozy up on the couch and spend the evening with Joe.
“Be ther
e at eight.” He winks again and then turns to the next customer. “The usual?”
I enjoy the sounds of him making small talk with his customer as I exit the shop. The sun is almost gone on the horizon and the temperature is dropping fast. I can’t wait to light a fire in the fireplace, order a pizza and pop in a movie. A few months ago that would have sounded like such a boring evening, but I’ve become domesticated and dull, it seems. And even stranger than that, I don’t mind it at all. Funny how much has changed. How much I’ve changed.
By eight o’clock I’ve showered, lit the fire and ordered the pizza (plain cheese, to be safe). Joe should be here any minute, so I pull out an array of DVDs for us to choose from. Everything from classic movies like Field of Dreams to modern movies like Iron Man and Leap Year. I’m secretly hoping he’ll choose Leap Year.
The doorbell rings and I bound across the living room in my sweat suit to fling open the door. Joe is standing there on the stoop, clad in jeans and a wool military coat with a hood hanging out the back.
“Hey,” I say, a little breathless.
His smile is seriously devastating, and I’m so glad I’m able to freely admit that now. “Hey,” he replies.
I step back and gesture for him to enter. He does, and I grab his coat as he slips it off, moving the bottle of wine he’s holding from one hand to the other.
“Hope you like red,” he says, holding the bottle aloft.
“After the week I’ve had, you could give me turpentine.” I grab the wine and head for the kitchen. “I ordered pizza. Hope that’s okay.”
“My favorite.”
I pull out the bottle opener and hand it over. “Do you mind? Unless you like cork? Because it usually ends up in the bottle when I try to open the wine.”
With a laugh, Joe takes the wine and opener from me. The way he so expertly twists the screw into the cork and then deftly pulls it out with a pop has me all hot and bothered. Trying to ignore my impulse to jump him then and there, I turn to the cabinets and pull out the wine glasses. Joe fills them generously, and I can’t help but feel there’s such synchronicity between us. It’s like we’re doing a dance as we twist and pop and procure.
He hands me a glass and then holds his up to toast. I clink my glass against his as he says, “To us.”
The Matchbaker (A Romantic Comedy) Page 20
