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We sit in silence, while I internally panic on what to do and try to remind myself not to talk about vegetation of any kind. Calliope smiles at me and sips her tea and I take another bite of cookie, tapping my finger on my thigh under the table.

“I like your flowers today.”

“What?”

Calliope's compliment startles me and for a moment I don’t know what she’s talking about. Then I see her incline her chin towards my head and realize she means the flowers in my hair. Since I don’t know what flowers are currently blooming, I decide to just roll with it.

“Thank you.”

“So, what made you decide to come in today?” Calliope sets down her teacup and watches me with an unassuming expression. Friendly and open as usual.

“I don’t really know. Just thought I would. Trying something different I guess.”

Setting down the partially eaten cookie, I pull my teacup to me by the rim of the saucer it sits on and remove the metal tea infuser, making sure all the liquid is drained before setting it on the edge of the plate. The tea is a dark amber and tastes of cinnamon and honey. The warm heat of it chasing away any lingering chill from my bike ride over.

“I used your cinnamon to make the tea. Do you like it?”

“Yes, it’s very good.”

“You know you can talk to me the same here as we do at your house. There’s nothing different about being here.”

Except for all the people around us. But they’re all focused on their own plates and cups.

“I just don’t know what to talk about.”

“How about your new boyfriend?” Calliope teases with a grin and playful poke at my elbow.

“He’s not my boyfriend…I think.”

“Oh, he is so your boyfriend. He spends every day at the nursery following you around with a dopey smile on his face.”

“He does not.” Kai has spent a lot of time at the nursery, just this morning I was depressed when he didn’t show up right after opening.

“He so does. Anyone who sees the two of you together can see how much he adores you. It’s cute.”

Cute is not a word I would choose to describe Kai. Sexy, handsome, inquisitive, touchy, silly, and even sweet but he outgrew cute a long time ago.

“Why don’t we talk about something else?” I suggest, covering my blushing face with the expertly frosted cupcake and shoving half of it into my mouth.

“Okay. Like what?”

“Like what you’re going to enter into the Christmas baking contest this year, because this cupcake isamazing,” I mumble around a mouthful of the most delicious cupcake I’ve ever eaten.

I may not attend the contest, but Sage and Tobias always bring me back a bag full of goodies, and this cupcake would put them all to shame.

“Oh, I don’t know about that.” Calliope blushes and readjusts her apron around her waist, attempting and failing to brush away more flour.

“I do. Because you would definitely win.”

“Well, I have been working on my peppermint recipes. They would be perfect for Christmas cookies or cupcakes.”

I can see Calliope’s wheels turning as she stares off, her eyes unfocused as she mentally catalogs the possibilities. Her smile slowly grows as she seems to get more comfortable with the idea.

“Maybe I will, but only if you come to the contest and taste them.”

Hm. Maybe suggesting she enter the contest wasn’t such a good idea. Now she’s going to make me come or miss out on her baking. As long as Kai comes with me, maybe I could go to the holiday event I’ve only seen from afar. It’s still a few months away. Maybe by that time I’ll be more comfortable around people.

In my newly formed pledge to be more social and put myself out there more, without fear of what others think of me, I give her my best smile.