Maybe Later(43)

“I have no idea what I’m doing here,” she confesses.

“We’re going to the museum,” I propose. “When we’re done, we’ll find a good taco place where you can get guacamole. And then, I’ll take you home, and we’ll forget this exchange ever happened.”

“I haven’t scared you away yet?”

Bending, I kiss her close to the edge of her mouth and then whisper, “It takes a lot more than your cute-but-awkward confessions to scare me.”

“Why don’t you share something embarrassing, so I don’t feel inadequate?” she asks.

“Nope, I like you flustered,” I confess.

She gives me a challenging glare. “I’ll find something soon. I’ll get even.”





Chapter Twenty-One





Jack


Monday, May 2nd, 7:39 a.m.



AWalk90 sent you a playlist.



JSpear84: Good morning?

AWalk90: Why the question mark?

JSpear84: The playlist, it’s different.

AWalk90: Different how?

JSpear84: You sound tired, not the regular Monday wake up and appreciate the week.

AWalk90: Yesterday was unexpected, and I had to rearrange my schedule, and I only had two hours of sleep. I just realized that I didn’t send the right playlist.

AWalk90 sent you a playlist.

JSpear84: You’re going to have to resend your playlist to all of your clients?

AWalk90: No, not everyone gets a playlist.

JSpear84: Aww, I’m special.

AWalk90: I wouldn’t take that as a compliment Mr. Spearman. You’re high maintenance. You need lots of support. That includes helping set your mood daily. If this were preschool, I would call you my challenging child.

JSpear84: There you go. If you’re trying to get a good review from me, try harder. Stop calling me challenging and a child. Seriously, you compare me to a petulant preschooler? What do you have against children?

AWalk90: Nothing, I hear they have more fun than adults. Who wouldn’t want to go back to preschool? You have scheduled naps and get to finger paint every day.

JSpear84: Do you have children?

AWalk90: Fishing for information?

JSpear84: Trying to determine who I’m dealing with because one second I’m special, and the next I’m called a toddler. If you have children, maybe it bumps me back to the previous category.

AWalk90: Every client is special.

JSpear84: I’m wounded. All this time you had me thinking I was unique. You sound like my mother. Everyone is special in their own way. That’s BS. Now I realize I’m just a commoner. How many clients do you have?

AWalk90: Enough to keep me busy for an entire year, 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Even holidays.

JSpear84: You don’t work on Sundays.

AWalk90: I try not to, sometimes I can’t avoid it.

JSpear84: How about the holidays? Does your husband let you work during the holidays?

AWalk90: And there you go asking about the husband again.

JSpear84: Are we not supposed to bring your significant other into the conversation?

AWalk90: If you’re fishing for information, you’re terrible at it.

JSpear84: Not everyone can be a ninja inquisitor. Do you do that during dates, holidays, family reunions and even while on Tinder?

AWalk90: Wouldn’t you want to know?

JSpear84: Of course, I do, that’s why I’m asking!





*



She has to give me more information about herself. Amy Walker and Emmeline are opposite poles of oversharing and inquisitor extraordinaire. If I had to choose one, I couldn’t, but I definitely enjoy Emmeline more. Is it because I know her in person? Mostly, because she tastes like spiced sweetness and, I find her endearing and beautiful.





*



AWalk90: You don’t need any answers.

JSpear84: How do people in your circle of friends react when you’re an insufferable know-it-all?

AWalk90: What do you think happens to someone with my ninja skills in the outside world? People think I’m too pushy and they avoid me. You might not have guessed it yet, but I’m not fit for real life. If I want to have a circle of friends, I’d have to get off the internet.

JSpear84: You’re underestimating yourself. Just be who you are. You turned an ogre into a mere grumpy human.

AWalk90: I needed this conversation.

JSpear84: What does that even mean?

AWalk90: Nothing really, it’s just I needed a reminder that I can do this.

JSpear84: You can do what?

AWalk90: Would you like me to make a reservation for Wednesday after your meeting?



Monday, May 2nd, 2:41 p.m.



Jack: Would you like to go out on Wednesday?

Emmeline: On May the 4th be with you? We could do something on Cinco de Mayo.



Yesterday she set my brother straight, and today she’s speaking my language. This woman is perfect.



Jack: Where have you been hiding all my life?

Emmeline: In the bookstore. I was actually trapped in there until you came and rescued me. Save me Obi-Jack-Kenobi, you’re my only hope.



I shake my head and laugh, I imagine her doing just the same and decide to call her instead.