Single Wide Female: The Bucket List Mega Bundle - 24 Books (Books #1-24) (61 page)

“Thanks for handling that. I didn’t know what to do. I don’t understand how people can be so rude sometimes.” She frowned.

“Don’t let it get to you. Everybody has their bad days.” I glanced over the list of customers behind the register. “Pretty slow today?”

“Not this morning. We were slammed. But since then it’s been quiet. Which means you should be enjoying your day off!”

“I will be, I will be. But I wanted to bring you something.”

“Oh?”

“I’m having a little dinner party.” I handed Janice an invitation. “Please feel free to bring your boyfriend.”

“Thanks.” Janice smiled. “I’ll be there. Is there anything I can bring?”

“Just yourself. I’m going to provide everything—including wine.”

“Sounds wonderful. What’s the occasion?” Janice wiggled her eyebrows. “Did Max finally pop the question?”

“What?” I laughed. “As if Max would ever propose to me.”

“Maybe not propose—maybe not yet. What I meant was, did he finally ask you out?” She smiled so wide that I could see small dimples forming in her cheeks.

“Max and I are just friends.”

“Sure.”

“I mean it.”

“So what’s the occasion?” Janice waved the invitation in front of me.

“Nothing really. I’ve just decided that I want to see my friends more often.” I shrugged. “I guess you could say I’m becoming more social.”

“It sounds like it’ll be fun. I’ll be happy to be there. But I’m still not buying the ‘just friends’ speech.”

I tilted my head back and forth. “That’s for fate to decide, I suppose.”

“Let me tell you something, Samantha, sometimes fate needs a good swift kick in the—”

“Hey, ladies.” Max smiled as he walked into the laundromat. “What have you two been chatting about?”

“You, mostly.” Janice winked.

“Oh?” Max smoothed back his hair. “I like to hear that.”

“Here you go—an invitation for you to my dinner party, and I suppose you can bring your ego as well.” I held out his invitation.

“A dinner party?” He grinned at me as he took the envelope. “Will there be wine?”

Janice and I both stared at him as if he had two heads.

“Right—silly question.” He slid the invitation into his back pocket. “I’ll be there. Let me know if you need any help setting up—or cooking.” He cringed.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I put my hands on my hips.

“Oh nothing. But I mean, will there be anything other than salad?”

“Max!” I shook my head.

“It’s an honest question. A man needs more than bunny food.” His smile revealed to me that he was trying to get a rise out of me.

“Trust me, you’ll be satisfied.” I met his eyes with a grin of my own.

“I like to hear that too.” He laughed. “I need to get to my appointment. Seriously, though, let me know if you need anything.”

“Thanks, Max!” I waved to him.

Chapter 3

As soon as the door closed Janice jumped into action.

“Thanks, Max!” Janice repeated my words in a mocking tone and pretended to swoon across the register.

“Stop it!” I laughed. “I don’t sound like that.”

“The two of you are going to kill me with all of the tension between you.”

“I think you’re just looking for something that isn’t there, Janice. Of course we’re close, we’ve been friends for a very long time.”

Janice looked at me as if she was going to argue.

Before she could speak, I rushed forward. “Besides, I invited someone else that I’m interested in.”

“What?” Janice grinned. “You’ve been holding out on me, girl. Who is this mystery man?”

“Just someone I’ve gotten to know.”

“Oh, okay—you want to draw out the mystery. Don’t worry, I will definitely be there for this dinner.” She laughed.

I smiled at her before walking out of the laundromat. But the smile faded as soon as I was out the door. I realized I’d just pushed myself right over the edge. Now if Blue didn’t show up, I would look like I had an imaginary date—which, in all reality, I sort of did.

For all I knew, Blue could have been an old man hunched over his keyboard and dispensing wisdom as he pleased. Was that why Blue hadn’t gotten back to me? Maybe he was the one who had something to hide.

As I delivered the rest of my invitations, my mind wandered over the possibilities.

The little grocery store near my apartment was more like a mixture of a department store and a corner store. It had some groceries, some housewares, and even some clothing. I enjoyed shopping there because of the assortment of things that I could purchase. Of course, that also meant that a quick shopping trip always ended up being a lot longer.

As soon as I stepped in, I saw them. On the very top shelf was a beautiful set of crystal wine glasses that would be perfect for my party.

I looked around for someone to help me get them down. There was a bit of a line at the register and the only clerk working looked very occupied. I decided that I would do the rest of my shopping and wait for the line to go down, then ask for help.

I was careful to select the best ingredients. I spared no cost for the dinner party.

As I shopped, I thought about the beautiful wine glasses that my friends would be toasting with. I checked on the line. It was shorter, but there were still a few people to go.

I browsed a bit. Then I saw a man walk toward the shelf with the wine glasses. I was sure that he was looking at something else. When he stopped right in front of them, I could see that he was looking up at my glasses. Then he looked toward the register. I knew that he was going to ask the clerk for help. I had to do something—and fast—if I wanted those glasses.

As the man walked toward the register to wait for the clerk’s help, I looked at the shelving. It looked like it would be sturdy enough to climb. I hesitated. I knew that it wasn’t the best idea in the world, but I still wanted to try. I wanted those glasses so badly, and there was only one set.

I carefully climbed up the two lowest shelves. They felt very sturdy. I climbed up to the next shelf. This meant that I was officially off the floor and there was no turning back.

“Miss! Miss, what are you doing?” the clerk called out from the register.

I ignored him. My eyes were on the prize. I was getting those wine glasses.

I grabbed the edge of the box. I carefully nudged the box toward the edge of the shelf. I just needed to get a good grip and then I would be able to safely get them.

Suddenly, I heard a loud creak. I was aware of the metal shelf bowing beneath my feet. I knew that I was about to fall, and if I grabbed the wine glasses I would be taking them with me.

I just couldn’t do that to such beautiful glasses. I let go of the box and jumped away from the shelf just before it had a chance to break. I landed with a loud thump on the floor, which drew the attention of anyone who hadn’t already noticed me climbing the structure.

“Miss!” The clerk looked at me. He was obviously astonished. “Sir, are those the glasses you wanted?” he asked.

“Yes, well, I was thinking of getting them, but honestly, I think she’s earned them.” He laughed a little and tipped his head toward me. “I think she wants them a lot more than I do.”

“I do!” I looked at the clerk. I wasn’t sure if he was going to let me buy my purchases or if he was going to ban me from the store.

“We really do frown on the customers climbing the shelves. I’m sorry someone wasn’t available to assist you. Let me get those down for you.” He walked away to get a stepladder.

As soon as he was gone I looked at the man who had also wanted the glasses.

“Thanks, that’s very kind of you, sir.”

“Hey, anyone who is brave enough to climb shelving to get what she wants, deserves to have it.” He smiled and left the store.

Me? Brave? I felt quite proud of myself despite the fact that I had nearly caused a lot of destruction. Instead of letting my fear stop me, I’d gone for what I wanted. Perhaps it wasn’t the best way to go about it, but at least I’d given it a good try.

Chapter 4

I left the store with my brand new wine glasses tucked under my arm and my grocery bag draped over my wrist. I was feeling quite excited about the dinner party—and my bold behavior.

I also couldn’t wait to get back to my apartment and check my computer. I was sure that Blue would have responded by then. Even if he didn’t, I was determined not to let anything ruin the dinner party. If Blue was a no-show, so be it. I had other friends that were more than happy to join me for a delicious meal.

As I made my way down the sidewalk, I noticed that there was a construction zone not far ahead of me. In the past, I’d actually been disappointed when a construction worker didn’t catcall me. It was shameful, I know. While other women complained about being objectified, I had just a little wish that maybe one of the guys would shout something demeaning at me.

Of course, as I’d been gaining in confidence, I knew how foolish that desire was now. I wasn’t someone who needed to have their physical looks validated, and I certainly didn’t want to be degraded. I held my head high and did my best to make my way carefully around an open manhole. I held tightly to my wine glasses. After all I’d gone through to get them, I didn’t want to accidentally drop them down a hole.

“Hey, beautiful! Up here, gorgeous!”

I was a little startled—but mostly annoyed. I looked up at the construction worker who was standing on a ladder against the side of the building.

“Sweetheart, just wait until I get down there!” His voice carried over the traffic and the noise of the other pedestrians.

I was stunned that he would be so bold. “Excuse me?”

“I’m going down there now, baby. I can’t wait to get my arms around you!” The construction worker started to climb down the ladder.

I knew that I should just take the high road and walk away. I could easily ignore his advances.

I thought about Zara, the main character in the book I’d been writing—and was possibly slightly obsessed with.

Would Zara walk away? No! She would stand up and declare her dominance and never let a strange man speak to her that way.

I waited until the man reached the bottom of the ladder and then I let him have it.

“Listen up! Just because I’m walking down the sidewalk that doesn’t give you the right to make comments about me! I am not your baby and I am certainly not going to let you put your arms around me!”

The man stared at me, obviously put into his place by my stern lecture. He couldn’t even bring himself to speak, he was so ashamed—or possibly just stunned at my outburst.

“Well, that’s a good thing.” A voice came from just behind me.

I turned to find a petite brunette with her arms crossed. “Because if he touches you, I’ll kill you both.”

I was so surprised I dropped my bag of groceries—right down the open manhole that I’d been so careful to step around. Luckily, I had a death grip on my wine glasses.

“Ouch!” Someone in the manhole complained.

“I’m sorry!” I took a slight step back. “I thought he was talking to me.”

“As if I would ever speak to a random woman like that. What do you think I am, some kind of oaf?” He shook his head and wrapped his arms around the brunette. “There’s only one lady for me.”

He kissed her passionately, despite having grime all over his face. She didn’t hesitate to kiss him in return.

I stared at them both for some time. That was the kind of love that I wanted.

“Did you drop something?”

I turned to see my grocery bag dangling from the gloved hand of another construction worker.

“Sorry about that. I hope I didn’t hurt you.” I frowned and took the bag from him.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s not the first time someone has dropped something on my head.” He rapped the hard surface of his hat. “That’s what this is for.”

I smiled at him, but I still felt foolish for accusing the other worker.

I started down the sidewalk again. I hoped to escape without anyone else noticing me.

“Wowsa, that is one delicious set of buns!”

I willed myself not to respond. I was sure it was someone buying a hot dog or something. I had already fallen for that once.

“Oh, you’re too good for a thank you?” The construction worker beside me asked.

I turned to look at him.

“I’m sorry, were you talking to me?”

“Yes, I was. I just paid you a nice compliment.” His dark mustache wiggled as he stared at me.

I resisted the desire to say thank you. I reminded myself that I was a modern woman that could not let that kind of behavior slide.

“Sir, I’ll have you know that women don’t find comments like that flattering.”

“Oh, sure they do.” He shrugged. “I guess you’re just too pretty to appreciate a man trying to flirt.”

I had to smile at that one. Okay, yes—it was wrong, but still—he called me pretty.

“Maybe if you came up with a nicer way of doing it, you wouldn’t have so much trouble.”

With that I walked past him. I might have walked with just a little more sway in my step. I wasn’t proud of it.

Chapter 5

Once I was safely in my apartment, I set my wine glasses on the counter and put my groceries away. The entire time I was itching to check my e-mail. I tried to remind myself that I might not hear anything from Blue and that I had to be okay with that. But it was not easy to stay focused on what I was doing.

Finally, I gave in and rushed over to my computer. As soon as I logged into my e-mail, I saw a notification that I had a new message. I was excited but also a little frightened. What if he said no?

I opened the e-mail.

SWF,

I would be honored to join you. Just let me know where and I will be there. I can’t wait to finally meet you in person, and I’m glad that you invited me. I was beginning to think that you never wanted to lay eyes on me. I guess we will find out on Saturday!

Blue

My heart fluttered at his words.

Yes, we would find out on Saturday. The very idea that in just a few days I would be face-to-face with Blue made me dizzy with excitement—and more than a small amount of fear. What would he think of me? Would he be disappointed? Would I be disappointed?