Chapter 10

Tanya took the news better than expected. Eliza declined the full-time position and buckled down on her photography business, setting aside money for advertising and budgeting more time for brainstorming and social media engagement. Marketing was her worst enemy. She signed up for marketing classes and hoped it would help her overcome her shyness and all its drawbacks. She had to figure out a way forward.

“How’s the website coming?” Andi asked as Eliza ditched the apron and grabbed her backpack from under the desk. Andi had just clocked in.

“It’s…coming along. I’ll show it to you this weekend.”

“You should ask Tanya to hang up some of your photos around here.” She motioned toward the back office. “Oh! That reminds me: I have a date this weekend. Remember the guy I met at the speed dating event? He’s taking me out for Valentine’s Day.” Andi bit her lip and grinned from ear to ear.

“Oh, so you do like him.” Eliza rolled her eyes. Andi was always critical of a romantic prospect until they’d had two or three dates.

“I think so. He’s so nice. Plus, he has a stable job, chiseled jaw…chiseled abs.” She snickered. She pushed her auburn spirals out of her face. “Hey.” Her expression changed swiftly. “Why didn’t you tell me Tanya offered you the shift manager position?”

“I…” Eliza sighed. What could she say? That she was too scared? “You were already having such a bad day when she brought it up, I didn’t want to make it worse.”

“And every day after that?”

“I knew I wouldn’t take it, so it didn’t matter.”

“You can’t just keep stuff like that from me and expect me to trust you!” She waved her arms emphatically in front of her.

Eliza shook her head and gazed at her leather boots, stuffing down a wave of regret. “Yeah, I know. Andi, I’m sorry. I let my fear get the best of me.”

“I would never hold something like that against you. You know that.” She half-smiled.

“I guess.” Eliza frowned. “But you would hold it against Tanya."

Andi sucked in a lot of air and let it out quickly, her frustration visible. “I would and I do. I just can’t be that angry with her since she just promoted me.” Eliza gasped. “But if I wanted to be angry, it’s my right. You can’t take that away from me.”

“I’m sorry, I really am.” A smile tugged at her lips. “And congratulations!” Eliza pulled her in for a hug. Andi would not only appreciate the job more than Eliza ever could, but she would be better at it, too. “I gotta go. See you tomorrow.”

Cooper was the first person to cross her mind as she stepped outside onto the sunlit sidewalk full of people too busy to notice her presence. He had been right on both accounts. She was happy she followed her gut, and she should have told Andi sooner about the offer. She pulled out her phone to text him.

You were right.

She walked down the street, hardly paying attention to where she was going. The air was unseasonably warm, and the rush she had been in to get home and work on the website had dissipated.

??? I was?

Yes. I should have told my friend about the opportunity.

Oh. I hope you two can work it out. Did you take it?

We’re fine. But it was still wrong of me. And no, I didn’t. I don’t regret it now, and I hope I don’t in the future.

She wanted to ask about him if he was still doing the job he hated; she wanted to ask how he was doing. But that would mean admitting to him that she wanted to know more, and the boundaries she had kept between them would be in danger. She sighed and sent the message anyway.

And you? Are things going well?

Considerably. My work is as pleasant as ever. But I met someone new – I’m hoping for a second date soon.

She laughed audibly at his sarcasm. So, things couldn’t be that much better, but at least he had someone else to pour his heart out to. It meant their conversations might soon fizzle out.

And you? Everything is going well?

I guess. I did just turn down an opportunity and choose to pursue my passions. I’m a little nervous.

I have no doubt that you’ve got this.

She smiled at his confidence in her, despite still being strangers. She climbed the stairs to her apartment floor and ambled down the dark hallway to her apartment. She could still smell the chicken parmesan from dinner the night before as she opened the door and set her bag on the counter.

Tell me about your date.

She plopped down into a kitchen chair by the window.

How the tables have turned! Miss ambiguous is asking me questions.

She chuckled and touched her cheek, now warm with embarrassment. Had she really wanted to talk to him that badly?

I never said I was a ‘miss.’ And no pressure to tell me anything.

She’s sweet and funny. And gorgeous, of course. I’m looking forward to it. But I don’t know if it will go anywhere.

Do you expect to know so soon?

She took a carton of leftover Chinese food from the fridge and popped it into the microwave.

You don’t believe in love at first sight?

She thought for a moment. No, I guess not. Do you?

No. But I believe in analyzing details and patterns and predicting a path forward. There’s an unspoken current of detail running through everything that happens. All the good info is in that.

Eliza stared at her phone. The conversation had somehow gone from friendly check-up to poetic and philosophical between the microwave and the couch.

How very…analytical. Has it served you well?

It was a genuine question and hopefully, he didn’t see it as an accusation. She had never used her analytical powers with much success in dating. She had shied away from the whole idea of it more often than not and could count on one finger the number of serious relationships she’d had. And that one was in high school.

In work, yes. But we both know I decided that I no longer like my work. I’m not sure I ever have. In love? Not so much, I guess. Maybe I should take a different approach this time.

This is where Eliza fell short on advice. And since he wasn’t asking for advice, she didn’t have to give any.

Whatever you do, I hope you have fun.