Olly
Three days later…
“How is your friend, Jules?” My mom poured coffee into a mug and handed it to me.
“Good. I think.” I grabbed it and took a sip. “She stopped by the stand the other day, but she seemed…”
“Oh no, is she okay?” My mom sat down at the kitchen table beside me.
“I don’t know.” And that was the truth. Jules acted uncomfortable or maybe distracted from the moment she appeared behind me.
“Have you talked to her since?” My mom looked so concerned.
“Um, no.”
“Olly.” She slapped her hand on my thigh and made me jump.
“What?”
“I taught you better than that.” She shook her head. “She seemed so happy when she was here.”
“I’m sure she’s happy, Mom.” I attempted to guzzle the coffee and burnt my throat in the process. “Shit. I mean, ow.” I hopped up and bent to kiss her on the cheek. “I wouldn’t read too much into it.”
“But you plan to go see her, right?” She held her coffee with both hands against her chest.
“Maybe. Yeah. I don’t know.” I grabbed my keys and waved goodbye. I was moving so fast to get out of there that you would’ve thought a bomb was ticking nearby.
“Olly,” she said sternly as I closed the door. I only responded with a wave.
As I slid behind the wheel and put the key into the ignition, Jules’ face popped into my mind. She looked so distracted from the moment she handed me the tomato.
I could stop by the market and say hi.
I was one of those people who tended to leave way too early and arrive really early for everything. So, I had time before I needed to open the stand.
“Jesus.” My mom was standing at the window above the kitchen sink. The look on her face told me she was repeating my name and telling me get my butt over to the market. Fine. I’ll go.
I waved and backed out of the driveway. When I turned right instead of left, she would know where I was going.
When I pulled into the parking lot, the market was already busy. It was probably the worst day to try to talk to Jules.
As I left the house, my mom’s stern look ran through my mind. “Fine. I’m going.” I was now talking to myself, but really to my mom. I needed help.
A part of me hoped Jules wouldn’t be there, but that’s not what happened. She was standing at the customer service desk when I stepped inside the building. She noticed me right away.
“Olly.” She turned to face me. “Hi.”
“Hi.” I shoved my hands in my pants pockets. “You’re busy early.”
“It’s our special monthly sale on canned goods.” She shrugged.
“Ahhh…” I nodded. “So…”
“Hey, I wanted to apologize about the other day.” She took a step forward.
“For what?”
“I had a lot on my mind.” She smiled. “I planned just to say hi, but then I made things awkward.”
“No, no, you didn’t.” I reached out my hand and touched her shoulder. Something odd happened; she flinched, and a jolt of electricity ran through my arm. Did she feel that jolt, too? “I actually stopped in to ask you a question.”
Another woman, Stacy, Jules’ friend, was standing behind the customer service desk within earshot of our conversation.
“Oh, okay. What’s up?” She leaned her forearm on the counter.
Technically, I didn’t have a question. When I told her I had one, the words spilled out before I could think about what I was saying. Touching her arm threw me off.
“Yeah, um, would you like to go on a date?” A date, really, Olly? My inner voice was so confused. “And an actual date that doesn’t involve going to my mom’s house.”
The woman behind the counter laughed and threw her hand to her mouth.
“Oh.” Jules looked surprised.
“If not, it’s fine.” What was I thinking? A date.
“She’s available.” Stacy filled the silence between us by answering the question.
“Stac.” Jules looked over at her friend.
“What? You just told me a few minutes ago you were looking forward to having two full days off this weekend.” She shrugged.
Jules rolled her eyes and glanced back in my direction. “I planned to say yes before the peanut gallery over here tried to become a part of the conversation.”
“Yes? Awesome. How does Friday night sound?” I wanted to laugh at her and Stacy’s conversation but stayed neutral.
“Friday would be great. Should I meet you somewhere?” She looked uncomfortable like the other day, again.
“I can pick you up at your house.” I wasn’t sure if she would agree, but I figured I would offer.
She paused for a beat. “Okay.”
My mom would be happy to know I did as she asked.
Hell, I was happy.
AUTHOR NOTE:
They are so funny how awkward and weird they are making things, but maybe all that is about to change. Should they go to a place and sit down to eat? Or should they go to some event or festival and enjoy different foods together?