Olly
“Hello.” I lightly knocked on Jules’ office door.
“Olly.” She stopped typing and stood. “Wait—” she tapped on the screen of her phone— “how is it already 5:00?” Jules walked around the desk and took the few steps toward me.
“Crazy day?” I reached for her hand and tugged her against me.
“Yes, and no.” She rested her hands on my chest. “A woman fainted while grabbing a tomato, we ran out of donuts two hours after we opened, and somehow, my order was missing iceberg lettuce.”
“That feels like a solid yes that it was definitely a crazy day.” I ran my fingers through her hair.
“No, because it didn’t start crazy.” She winked.
“I see what you did there.” I leaned in and kissed her. “You’re right, though. This morning was more on the fun side.”
“Oh, that reminds me.” She slapped her hand softly against my chest. “I bought you a toothbrush.”
“You did, huh.” I burst out laughing and wrapped my arms around her waist. “What about those two extra ones you had in the cabinet?” I had a good hold of her to move our bodies side to side together.
“They weren’t good enough.” She lifted her arms and laced her fingers around the back of my neck.
“Oh, well, I look forward to using it tomorrow morning.” I kissed her. “Do you need me to come back later and pick you up?”
“No, you need to rescue me now.” She tapped her hand on my chest and stepped out of my embrace. “Plus, I don’t want to keep your mom waiting.”
“She would be happy to hear you say that. She spent the afternoon making tortillas for the occasion.” I leaned my shoulder against the doorframe.
I watched as she turned off the computer and gathered up her stuff.
It was weird how quickly the relationship moved from friends to…
…what was this? I guess it was fair to say we were dating. Or was it more? She did buy me a toothbrush.
“Okay, ready.” She stopped in front of me and let out a heavy sigh. I didn’t move. My eyes were locked onto her face. “Olly.” She waved her hand back and forth in front of my face. “You okay?”
“What? Yeah. Of course.” I straightened. “Oh, I should probably let you know that mom didn’t make Birria, only homemade tortillas.”
She dropped her bag and jacket on the floor and crossed her arms over her chest. “I can’t go.”
“What?” I glanced down at her bag and back up at her. “Why? Is it because you need Birria with your tortillas?”
She reached down and grabbed her stuff. “No, silly.” She pushed at my chest and stepped out of the office. “I’m kidding. I’m not going for Birria, I’m going to see your mom. The tortillas are just a delicious bonus.”
I turned and wrapped my arm around her waist. “They are pretty amazing.”
Stacy was heading our way as we walked up front. “There you two are.” She sighed. “I saw you come in, Olly. I’ve been waiting for you both to come back up front.”
“You could’ve come back to the office?” Jules turned her head to the side.
“But it’s so far away.” Stacy winked. “And I didn’t want to walk in on anything.”
“Stacy,” Jules said her name a little too loudly.
I covered my hand over my mouth to hide my laugh.
“What?” Stacy shrugged and pointed at me. “He agrees with me.”
“I what?” I glanced at Jules and back at Stacy. “Don’t bring me into this conversation.”
They continued to go back and forth. It was hilarious.
I moved away from Jules and leaned my forearm on the customer service counter. Ryan happened to be standing a few feet away. “It doesn’t last that long.” He stepped closer to me. “One of them usually gives in and ends it.”
“Good to know.” I shook my head. “Are you coming for dinner tonight?”
“Leaving now.” He smiled. “Should I take wine or cookies?”
“Just yourself.” I placed my hand on his shoulder and squeezed. “Hopefully, we’re not too far behind you.” I glanced over at Jules. She let out a heavy sigh and hugged Stacy. “Oh, it was Jules this time.”
“That’s new.” Ryan laughed. “Usually it’s Stacy.”
“Okay, ready?” She stepped into my personal space.
“Let’s do this.” I wrapped my arm around her waist. “See you in a few, Ryan.”
The double doors slid open. “Has Ryan met your parents before?” Jules rested her head on my shoulder.
“Nope.” I reached into my pants pocket for the car keys. “Hopefully, my mom goes easy on him.”
We stopped next to the passenger door. “Hopefully.” Jules leaned up on her tippy toes and kissed my cheek.
AUTHOR NOTE: Now I want homemade tortillas. What do you think, will Olly’s mom put Ryan through a rigorous approval process, or will she keep things simple since she just fractured her hip and is resting?