by Dee Florence
That he’s a bit of a neat freak, is so intriguing to me. To meet him on the street, you wouldn’t pick it. I like that he’s a bit mysterious. Like he has secrets for me to uncover.
The part that really floored me though, was the card he hand wrote me, along with a $50 gift card to my favourite lingerie store. I re-read the card for, at least, the 20th time.
Dear Cate,
I wanted to let you treat yourself to something nice.
Once I knew your favourites, I couldn’t resist getting you a gift card to treat yourself to some more. It probably looks a little creepy, but they’re not for me, just for you.
If I did get to see them, I’d be chuffed, but that’s not the point.
Treat yourself, you gorgeous woman. I get the feeling you don’t do it enough.
xx The Man
What a charmer! It should be creepy to receive a gift card for lingerie from someone you had a one night stand with, but somehow, he made that sweet too. So I agreed to not only see him again, but to be the one to pick the time and place. I am definitely paying this time.
Oh god, what have I got myself into? This isn’t my life.
I put the gift card in my wallet for safe keeping. I think I’ll go have a look tomorrow. Maybe there’s a spring sale on and I can get a few? That would be nice.
I’ve always wanted to get more, but I’ve never been able to justify the cost. Especially as I’m so very, very single.
Fancy undies seem to be for show. Though, Blake suggested that they could be just for me. I think I like that.
I can’t help but text Lottie.
Cate: Hey guess what?
Lottie: I have no idea. I need more than that.
Cate: I kind of went on a coffee date with my one night stand today and we’re going out again soon.
Lottie: WHAT?? When? How? Why did you keep this from me???
Lottie: Do you not love me anymore??
Cate: It was very last minute.
Cate: I saw him in the supermarket last night and he said he had a surprise to give me if I met him today.
Lottie: What kind of man offers to give you orgasms in a coffee shop when you hardly know him??
Cate: Hahaha! Surprise was not a euphemism, Lottie!! It was in a gift bag and everything.
Lottie: Hold the phone! I asked around about this guy and he’s strictly one-and-done. And he not only spoke to you in the supermarket voluntarily, he initiated another meeting? With gifts??
Cate: Yes!! I was as surprised as you!!
Lottie: And you didn’t tell me??
Cate: I got distracted and forgot.
Lottie: I need more details. I’m coming over tonight. Go get wine. You owe me that much. I’ll bring food.
Cate: Haha. Okay. See you when you get here.
I walk to the bottle shop down the block to get our favourite Pinot and snacks for Lottie’s impending arrival. We’ve been friends for so long that I know she’s bringing Chinese and I make sure we have appropriate after dinner snacks.
Maybe an hour later she hammers on my door, like the brute she is. “Let me innnn!”
“All right, give me a second,” I shout. As I get up off the couch, to open the door.
“I can’t believe you left me in the dark about this. How could you?” She’s overly dramatic today and I can’t help but laugh as I take the carry bags of food from her hands. She’s brought enough food for five people.
“Go sit. Your wine is already poured and the plates are out.” I set up the living room earlier for us to eat on the couch and catch up over movies and food. She just nods once, huffs and drops her bag by her favourite spot.
I open the containers and fill my plate with a bit from each of them. She does the same. We sit, eating in companionable silence for a moment, before she throws a look at me and starts on me.
“Tell me everything! I can’t believe you kept this from me. I am seriously pissed right now! You wouldn’t come out with me last night, but somehow you met up with him and now you’re going on multiple dates?”
“I didn’t meet up with him instead of you. I was at the supermarket and we both reached for the ice cream at the same time. I didn’t even notice him until our hands touched and it was so strange, I wasn’t sure what to tell you.”
She scoops more rice onto her fork and says, “Go on...”
I tell her the whole story. The supermarket. The exchange of phone numbers. The texts. The bakery today. The waitress. The thumb incident. Even the surprise.
I get up and bring the card back to the couch. She hasn’t said a word. She’s just nodded, with some head tilting, and face pulling in curiosity throughout the retelling.
I hand her the card to read. She puts down her plate and her wine as though she knows that this requires her full attention. She even wipes her hands on her skirt in preparation. She opens it dramatically and reads it. Her eyes go as wide as saucers.
“Whoa. This is some guy!” I was worried she might say something like that. I kind of wanted her to talk me out of seeing him again. I mean, he’s so Thor-like and I’m just so... plain.
Ugh. That’s a bad attitude, Cate. Where is bold Cate now?
“I agreed to meet him again. This time it’s my choice of location and I insisted that I’d pay. Do you think I should? Is this is a weird prank that I don’t know about? It seems so unlikely for me.”
Lottie rolls her eyes. “Seriously, Cate. Stop with that nonsense! He seems kind of lovely. And we know that he’s hot and great in bed. Stop overthinking it! It’s not like you’re getting married. Maybe he just wants to hang out? It’s time to bring out bold Cate. You’ve got this. I know you do.”
I’m about to reply to her when my phone buzzes on the coffee table.
The Man: Hey hot stuff! Thanks for meeting me today. When are we doing it again?
I can’t help but smile sheepishly at that.
“What are you smiling about?” She rips the phone from my hand. “Oh. My. God. He messaged you the day of the date? Cate! You have to see him again. We need to figure out where you should go! Where’s your notepad? We have brainstorming to do!”
The rest of the night is quickly filled with more and more ridiculous ideas for dates. The more wine we drink and snacks we eat, the more ridiculous the suggestions get.
Lottie takes herself home—with half the leftovers—late in the evening, after drinking lots of water and eating some great dessert.
I lie in bed, not too long after Lottie—who left in a cab—texts me that she’s home safe and reread Blake’s text. It really is too late to text him back, but tipsy Cate does it anyway.
Cate: Thank you for today.
Cate: And soon! I promise. x
The Man: Sleep tight, gorgeous. x
I smile at the endearment and fall asleep with my phone still in my hand.
TEN
BLAKE
It’s been 24 hours since Cate and I parted ways at the bakery.
I gave her a kiss on the cheek and I’ve been slowly losing my mind ever since. I wanted to kiss the shit out of her from the moment she walked into that room and the feeling only grew as the date went on.
I know I told her it wasn’t a date, but if I’m being honest here, it 100 percent was from the moment she apologised to the chair.
She was adorable and captivating and I am still pissed off that the waitress almost ruined it for my girl. She’s still not mine. But there was something in that moment where I sucked the milkshake off her thumb and her reaction to that that had me screaming ‘mine’ in my head.
I may as well have handed her my balls on a platter. What is she doing to me?
I’m staring out my kitchen window facing the back garden, but I’m completely lost in thought. A hand touches my shoulder lightly and I jump and spin to see who it is. Ella is laughing back at me.
“Where on earth were you just then, Blakey?” She laughs. “I unlocked the door, closed it and even put my bag on your dining table and you still had no ide
a I was here!”
“Uh, nowhere. Just thinking.”
I grab her in a bear hug, like I have forever. My baby sister is four years younger than me and I’ve always seen it as my job to be there for her. She may be 26, but she’s still my little Ella-Bella, and genuinely the only one allowed to call me ‘Blakey’.
She gives me a sceptical look but changes the subject. “Do you have any ice cream?” She’s already making her way to the fridge to inspect the ice cream situation.
“Of course! I got you some on Friday night. See? When you tell me you’re coming to visit, I look after you.”
She rolls her eyes and makes herself a bowl. I grab the container to put it away. Ella didn’t get my neat genes and I’m still working on bringing her over to the dark side.
As I put it back in the freezer, I can’t help but stop to smile at the memory of seeing Cate in the supermarket’s frozen foods section and how it lead to yesterday.
“Earth to Blake!” Ella’s voice snaps me out of the memory.
Oh man, I’m losing it today. She’s completely infiltrated my brain.
Ella tips her head towards the living room with a spoon full of ice cream in her mouth. She’s here to talk and I don’t think that she’ll let me get away with avoiding her questions.
Shit. I’m not sure I’m ready to tell anyone about Cate. What do I tell her?
She gets comfy on the couch with her legs tucked beneath her. She’s in her favourite spot. I love that my little sister feels so comfortable in my home, even if she is too nosey.
“To what do I owe this pleasure, Ella-Bella? Why are you visiting your big brother on a sunny, Sunday afternoon and not out with your friends?” If I start with the questions first, maybe I can avoid the slew of questions that I know are coming.
“Why do I need a reason to visit my big brother, Blakey? I missed you. Isn’t that enough?”
“Sure it is, but I’m not buying it. Tell me what’s going on in your life, little sister.” She rolls her eyes at me.
“Fine. But don’t think you’re off the hook for telling me about why you’re so spacey today. I see you.” She makes a V shape with her fingers and points them at her own eyes and then at mine.
She tells me about her teaching life. About her friends and the drama that comes when young women begin to choose different paths, but feel like they have to justify their decisions at every turn.
She tells me about the kids she loves to teach and how interesting it is to teach 5 year olds on a daily basis. She loves her job and it shines right out of her.
“What about the guy you were seeing?” I ask. “He’s noticeably absent from these stories. You seemed so keen on him. Did he hurt you?”
I try to keep the growl out of my voice, because she hates when I get protective, but it’s hard when you only want the best for your sister and most men are trash.
“Oh, it fizzled out. He turned out to be really dull. I wanted to like him and he was nice enough. But there just wasn’t anything there.” She shrugs.
“If anything, I might have accidentally hurt him, as I think he thought it was going better than it was. But I think he’s found someone else now. So that’s for the best.”
I nod.
Good. He wasn’t enough for her. I’m glad she spotted it early this time.
“Anyway, enough about me. What about you dear brother? What’s got you spacing out looking at ice cream and staring out windows.”
“I just have a lot on my mind is all. Working and studying at night is stressful. Sometimes I wonder if it will pay off.”
“I call bullshit.”
“Who me? I’m not lying to you. I would never.” I put my hand over my heart and act offended.
“Oh, I don’t doubt that working full time and studying at night is hard, Blake.” She hits me with one of her pointed stares that says she sees right through me. “I just don’t think that’s why you’re away with the fairies today. Did you meet someone? Is it a new woman? Do I know her?”
I start to shake my head in denial but I’m laying it on too thick and she can read me like a book.
Damn close families. Whose idea was that anyway?
“Ooh!” she squeals. “It is a woman! Who is she? How did she get under your skin? This never happens to you. You keep them all at arms’ length. I need to know more.” She’s practically bouncing in place on the couch in excitement.
“She’s not under my skin!” I shake my head. “She’s just someone I met at a party this week, who I also had milkshakes with yesterday. No big deal.”
That is a big fat lie.
“No big deal? Are you kidding? Milkshakes? What’s her name? Tell me all about her. I’ll keep your secret for you. No one else needs to know.” She winks at me and is too damn excited about this.
“Fine. Her name is Cate. With a C. I don’t really know all that much about her. Well, that’s appropriate to tell you anyway.”
She rolls her eyes at that, but motions for me to continue.
“She’s cute and kind of clumsy but gets this fire in her eyes when she wants to do something that she thinks isn’t really her.”
“Squeeee! Are you dating? Will you see her again?”
“It’s not dating!” I am still protesting too much. “I might see her again if she wants to. Like I said, it’s no big deal.”
I am a dirty liar.
“I bet that you’ll fall in love with her and want to make all the babies with her. This is going to be so amazing! I will get to be an aunt! I’m so excited!”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Back that up about a thousand paces. None of that is happening to us. I mean, to me. Or to Cate. With me. Nope.” I shake my head. “You need to stop watching those happily ever after movies of yours. They’re rotting your brain.”
She just looks smug, like she knows something I don’t.
Abort. Abort.
“Don’t get your hopes up, Ella! You know I’m not that guy. I know you’re looking for love, but that’s not on the cards for me. I like how I do things. It works for my life.”
She simply shakes her head at me. “I’m getting more ice cream,” and she gets up off the couch and leaves the room.
I have no idea what I’m doing with Cate, but love isn’t it. I need to get her out of my system before this gets too big. It already feels big.
I am so screwed.
Ella and I talk about nonsense for the rest of the afternoon. She dropped the topic of Cate when she realised that she might push me too far. I shouldn’t have told her anything, but she draws things out of me like no one else.
Little sisters are trouble.
I’m getting into bed for the night and my phone buzzes with a text. It’s labelled as from Sweet Cheeks. I can’t help but smile. I made that Cate’s name in my phone because I love how she squirms when I call her that.
Like terms of endearment are so foreign to her that she assumes you’re talking to someone else.
Does she seriously not know how stunning she is?
Sweet Cheeks: Are you sure you want me to pick the time and place?
Blake: Definitely.
Sweet Cheeks: Really, really sure?
Blake: Yes, sweet cheeks. Really sure. Wherever you want to go. I’ll even pay if I can convince you to change your mind on that.
Sweet Cheeks: You can’t. I’m paying!
Blake: Are you going to tell me? Or are you just torturing me?
The bubble that shows she’s typing a reply pops up and disappears 4 times before a reply comes through.
Sweet Cheeks: Maybe I want to torture you a little bit?
Blake: Gorgeous, you already are! You started something with that milkshake and you know it.
Sweet Cheeks: ME? I did no such thing. I think you’ll find that YOU started something with that milkshake. I. Am. Innocent!
Blake: You were wearing that hot-as-fuck outfit. Blushing just for me. Don’t think I don’t see your game, Cate. Trying to give me blue balls.
The bubbles are back.
Oh shit. I hope I didn’t just scare her off. Fuck.
I wait 5 minutes and nearly reply with an apology when another text comes through.
Sweet Cheeks: What?! My outfit was cute and sweet and none of the things you are suggesting. You have a dirty mind, mister!
Blake: You bet I do, gorgeous. And you’re the star every night.
Sweet Cheeks: *blushing embarrassed emoji*
Blake: See. Still blushing just for me.
Sweet Cheeks: For that I’m not going to tell you where and when tonight. I’m going to keep you guessing.
Blake: You cruel mistress. I only told the truth.
Sweet Cheeks: It wasn’t fact, it was fantasy!
Blake: That’s exactly what you are. The star of my dirty fantasies.
Sweet Cheeks: Stop that! You’re just playing with me now.
Blake: I wish I was playing with you now, babe. All I have is my hand and thoughts of you.
Sweet Cheeks: Good night, Blake!!
Blake: Sweet dreams, gorgeous. x
ELEVEN
CATE
Crafting is my happy place.
Technically, it’s not a place so much as it’s a feeling I get when I’m making something with my own two hands. I almost always feel better having made something myself.
There’s a calm—maybe even a sense of happiness—I get when I’m lost in making. I’ve been doing it long enough that I have even made my peace with the projects that fail completely.
Mostly because it’s rare that I don’t either get a laugh out of where I went wrong or I learn something for next time.
Because crafting is my hobby and I live in a small space, my dining table is more craft explosion than it is a space for entertaining. I like it that way though.
On nights where I’m not hanging out with Lottie, you’ll most likely find me at my table trying a tutorial from the internet or making a gift for someone. Sometimes I’ll knit on the couch with a movie in the background, but I’m really drawn to trying new things at the moment.
