Page 8 of The False Start (Off the Bench)

Chapter Six

LILA

I wake surprisingly refreshed considering the night I had.

I pad into the kitchen, seeing the large floral bouquet sitting atop my counter, and my heart skips a beat.

I stare at them for what might have been fifteen seconds or an hour until my alarm blares from where I left my phone on my nightstand.

I jump to attention, running to switch it off, and hop in the shower to get ready for work, my mind constantly wandering to a dangerous corner.

Is he thinking about me this morning? I order my coffee, sending a manifestation to the universe that he might have the same idea I have.

And if I spend a little more time than usual on my makeup and choose my favorite shirt for work, that’s my own business.

Even in a city as large as Chicago, our apartments are close enough that a casual run-in is possible.

The Starbucks, while by no means empty, is bare of Cal or any look-alike baristas. I try to ignore the way my heart falls just a little bit. The same way I’ve been ignoring the five text messages from Dennis.

Look good, feel good. That advice has never led me astray, and it won’t start today.

I walk into the office with my head held high and my shoulders back. I am the main character today, even as I’m greeted immediately out of the elevator by Kevin, his expression full of false cheer.

“What’s wrong?” I ask.

“How do you know something’s wrong?”

I level him with a stare.

“Right, uhm, Colton’s in your office.”

“So that’s why you’re out here?”

He nods.

“Right. So, why exactly is Colton Varga in my office?” I panic about our close fantasy score last night, but I came out on top in the end so he wouldn’t be here to brag.

“He said he had urgent news on the rig situation.”

Of course, and he needed to get in early to sit in my office and wait for me, just to prove he could.

I take a deep breath. “Okay, thanks for the heads-up Kevin. If you hear shouting just ignore it, ‘kay?” I plaster a smile on my face.

Kevin grimaces as he takes my jacket from my arm. I march to my office and push open the door.

I fight the urge to start yelling when I see him lounging in my chair, his feet on my desk as he fiddles with his phone, probably playing some stupid game.

“Colton, can I ask what you’re doing at my desk?”

He glances up and smirks at me. “Lila, how good of you to finally get here.”

“Please take your feet off my desk,” I say, a hint of danger in my voice. “Now.”

He looks back down at his phone. “You know I’ve been waiting for twenty minutes to give you information for your client.”

I cross my arms and glare at his over-shined dress shoes still resting on my desktop. “It’s barely 8:30, and we both know you’ve maybe been here for five minutes.”

“I’m wounded you’d think I’m not being honest.” He closes his eyes, one hand placed over his heart as if in agony. I roll my eyes.

“What do you want, Colton? Seriously.”

He drops his feet but stays seated. “I found you a supplier for C&C.”

“What?” Part of me is convinced this is some elaborate prank.

“I found a supplier, one of my clients.”

“Are you serious?” My brain kicks on, and my focus is suddenly razor sharp. He wouldn’t risk his clients for a joke. “And they’re in? Like all in?”

“Yes.” A weight lifts off my shoulders. “But they’ll want to meet you before they sign.”

“That shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Great, we leave next week. That should give legal time to draw up the paperwork and get the travel booked.” I nearly groan.

“You’re coming too?” I can’t entirely keep the whine from my voice. As grateful as I am to have this on its way to being solved, I’d rather handle it alone.

“Obviously. They’re my client, after all.” He stands, grabbing three mints from the bowl on my desk before pausing at the door. “You’re welcome, Lila .”

“Thanks, Colton. I appreciate it.” The words taste sour leaving my mouth, even as my sarcastic tone provides the spoonful of sugar. I do kind of mean it though. It’s a huge help.

“I’ll send over their file so you can take a look.”

I nod. “Great, thanks, copy Kevin also.”

“Sure thing.” He leaves, and I fall back into my recently vacated chair.

At least that’s one thing in my life starting to clear up. Now I only have the shit show of my personal life to deal with. I scoot forward, only to realize the idiot messed up my chair settings, and I have to spend the next several minutes fixing it, cursing him under my breath the entire time.

The rest of the morning is spent reading through the file Colton sent over. Dover Industries is a readily able supplier that falls perfectly in C&C’s price range. They honestly couldn’t be more perfect.

I’m pulled out of my research by an unknown text.

Unknown

Hey, I just wanted to make sure you got the flowers.

Cal?

How’d you guess?

I did get them, they’re beautiful. But you didn’t have to do that.

Cal

I know, but I wanted to.

Something in in my heart clenches.

Cal

And the shop was on my way home, and my mother has always had a rule about flowers and women who are upset.

I wasn’t upset.

….

Ok fine. I was obviously upset, but it wasn’t your fault.

I’m very much aware.

But that doesn’t mean I couldn’t be the reason to make you smile again.

Well, thank you, they are lovely. And they did help.

I’m glad.

Who handed over my number anyway?

You already know the answer

Theo obviously

I should’ve known. No respect for anyone’s privacy.

I can always delete it if you’d prefer?

No, keep it.

I’m curious about your mother’s rule though?

Just know it involves tea or flowers, and the occasional sweet.

I’m holding you to that, you know.

I’m counting on it.

I swipe out of the conversation and see three other messages that need attention, one from Katie that I click on first.

Katie

Hey, you know what I think would help?

I can only imagine.

What?

If you got back in the studio!

I really haven’t had the time. You know I’d love to, but it takes so much time and I just don’t seem to have a lot of that right now.

Right… I booked you the studio tonight, just in case you want to go.

You’re kidding, why would you do that?

You need a break. And nothing gets you out of your head like pottery.

Thanks, Katie. I’ll try to get out early and go.

Just take care of yourself okay? It makes the rest of us nervous.

I check my work calendar, grateful to see no urgent meetings after 4:00 p.m. With Colton having found a supplier, I should be able to make it to the studio, and my heart soars.

It’s been nearly a year since I sat at the wheel, felt the clay in my hands.

I love making pottery, turning an ugly plain lump of clay into something beautiful that people want to display in their homes.

It’s refreshing to take time to see the beauty in the world, and pottery lets me do that.

It makes my mind go quiet when nothing else will.

I open the last text from my younger sister and suppress a groan.

Kayla

Hey, Mom said to ask you about the shower next month. You’re coming right?

Yes of course, I wouldn’t miss it.

Are you bringing anyone? Or anything?

No, I’m not bringing anyone.

Do you need me to bring anything?

Also shouldn’t you not be planning your own baby shower?

Yeah, I think she has a list somewhere of the food we still need. I’ll tell her to send it so you can pick something.

Well, maybe but you know how she is.

Okay, well I’ll bring whatever you need.

How are you feeling by the way?

Some days are better than others. Alex is trying to help, but the morning sickness still hasn’t stopped.

Is that normal? You’re almost at six months right?

No, not normal. But the Dr says it can happen, so just to keep taking my vitamins and eating when I do have an appetite.

Okay, well I’ll talk to Mom about food, but let me know if you need anything, okay?

Thanks. Love you.

love you too

My little sister, almost six months pregnant with her first kid. Our mother’s disappointment was bad when Kayla beat me down the aisle, two years ago, but now giving my mother her first grandchild? I can hear the disapproving sighs from the suburbs thirty miles away.

I can’t blame Kayla though. She’s always wanted to be a mom, and the pregnancy hasn’t been easy on her. But I’m excited to spoil my soon-to-be nephew.

Hey, just talked to Kayla, what do you need me to bring to the shower?

Mom

Oh good, can you make deviled eggs?

Yeah, that’s fine.

And you can come early to help set up right?

Sure

You know she’d do the same for you.

I said sure

Are you bringing anyone?

No

Dennis isn’t flying in?

I didn’t ask him. I thought baby showers were supposed to be for women.

I leave out the part where we’re not even together right now.

I made the mistake of telling her once that we had broken up, and she nagged me nonstop for a week.

Apparently, I need someone to take care of me, and Dennis’s family pedigree should be enough.

I swear if I have to hear “You can’t let a good man like that get away, Lila” one more time I’m going to lose it.

Mom

Alex and your father will be there. I thought maybe you’d want to celebrate as a family.

Well, I don’t think he can come. He’s been really busy with work lately.

Right, well since work is so important to you both no wonder you’re not prioritizing your family.

We’re not ready to get married. It’s not like I’m alone in this, Mom. A lot of women are getting married later in life now.

You’re thirty-three, Lila, and not getting any younger. At this rate I’ll probably be dead before you even have children.

I roll my eyes.

You can’t be serious.

Mom

I’m just saying. Take your sister for example. She found a nice young man and settled down and now has a lovely home and is going to be a wonderful mother.

Don’t you want that?

I don’t know, Mom, but I’m done with this conversation.

I’ll bring the deviled eggs, and I’ll be there early to set up.

Don’t be so dramatic, Lila, I only have your best interests at heart.