A Day in a Life

Chapter Seventeen

Elijah

“ E MERSYN? I NEED your help.”

“Well, hello to you too, baby brother. I hear you’re on a case in Key West. Isn’t life rough?”

I ignore her teasing words. I’m all business today. “I need to get close to a young lady, but she has major walls around her. With good reason, mind you, she’s been through some horrific things. But I can’t catch a break. How do I arrange a meet-cute? You know that kind of meeting between a man and a woman you’re always talking about? And it’s cute?”

“Are you serious right now?”

“Yes. It’s vital that I somehow get close to this girl. I need to know what really happened to her, but she won’t give me the time of day.”

“How rare for you.”

“Em, please?”

“Okay. What have you tried so far?” Emersyn asks.

“You don’t want to know.”

“I need to know what you’ve already done if you want my help.”

I let out my breath. “I complimented her name. It’s an alias, but it’s a name that’s super important to her.”

“Good.”

“I also asked her to show me around Key West. She declined and set me up with her coworker.”

“Not so good.”

“Plus, I might have accidentally on purpose bumped into her. It didn’t go well. What should I do?”

“My brother, the heartthrob of Lincoln High, the heartbreaker of his college years, can’t get a girl? This is unheard of.” Emersyn guffaws loudly.

“Are you done?” I can’t see the humor. Yet.

“Wow, you’re no fun today. Fine, first tell me why bumping into her didn’t go well. Bumping into a girl is probably the number one meet-cute of all time.”

It is? Hey, I got one thing right. I let out a sigh. I’ll never live this down. “I bumped shoulders with her, and I pretended like the force knocked me down, flat on my back, cane and all. By the way, my back is still sore, thank you very much. What I didn’t foresee is the force of the shoulder bump knocking her backward. She hit the waitress behind her, which forced her back toward me. She tripped over my feet and landed right on top of me.”

“Ha! That’s perfect.”

“It wasn’t. She was mortified.”

“As any respectable young lady would be. What’d you think would happen? A first kiss?”

Would’ve been nice. “She did worry and fuss over me. I kinda enjoyed it. Until her employer took over and sent her back to work.” I don’t mention that moment we had when she was on top of me. Aw man, I can still feel the weight of her body on mine, the way we’d fit together so perfectly. I was right. My extra inches don’t matter.

“Hold up. You did this while she was at work?” Emersyn blurts out.

“That’s what I just said.”

“Huge mistake. You could have caused her to lose her job.” She scoffs with disgust.

“I didn’t think about that. It was a spur-of-the-moment idea.”

“Obviously,” she remarks sarcastically.

“What can I do? I need some meet-cute ideas, a way for us to meet up and become friends so she won’t feel threatened by me.”

“Movies are littered with meet-cute ideas. Just think of your favorite one.” She lets out her breath as though she’s disgusted with me.

A few movies float through my mind. “So I should be Kyle, pretend she’s Sarah, and say, ‘Come with me if you want to live.’” Actually, it may not be far from the truth.

“Really? The Terminator ? Do you really think that’s a meet-cute?”

“They fell in love,” I argue.

“Touché, but no. That won’t work.”

“I need an idea. You watch lots of those Hallmarky movies. You must know hundreds of meet-cutes.” All she does at Christmas is watch Hallmark movies.

“Yes, I love ‘Hallmarky’ movies, as you call them. And every single one has a meet-cute. But they’re also circumstantial. Where does she work?” Em asks.

“She’s a waitress at a beachside restaurant.”

“Is there something you can carry as you go to the restaurant? Maybe go to the library and get a stack of books. Act like you’re going to the restaurant to sit and do some research. As you walk past her, drop all the books.”

“Are you kidding? Why do I have to look like an idiot?” Sydni is going to think I’m a bumbling fool. That has romance written all over it.

“Most meet-cutes are a bit fumbly.”

“Fumbly? I’m not fumbly. Do you have another idea? One that doesn’t make me look like a chump?” I’ve already tried fumbly.

“You could accidentally bump into her while holding your drink and spill it all over her.”

“Negative.” Not going to happen.

“You could trip and fall right when she’s walking past you,” Emersyn offers.

“Too similar to our first not-meet-cute. Is a meet-cute meant to make the guy look stupid?” I feel stupid just hearing these ideas.

“Oh, fine. Let me think for a sec.”

“Don’t hurt yourself,” I mumble.

“Do you want my help or not?”

“I was just kidding. Sheesh. Don’t bite my head off.”

Emersyn lets out a yelp. “Okay, I’ve got it. If some guy is trying to pick her up at the restaurant, you could pretend you’re her husband and save her from unwanted attention.”

“I like that idea. I’d be a hero instead of a bumbling idiot who can’t stay upright. There’s just one problem.”

“What?”

“Basically, none of the restaurant’s customers are younger than seventy.” Not strictly true, but mostly true.

“I thought Key West was known for its nightlife. It’s a popular spring break destination.”

“It’s off season. School’s still in session. Cruise ships dock here, and more than half of the people aboard are senior citizens on vacation. Hey, I’m exaggerating a little. Of course, there are young people here too. But the general customer population at the restaurant where Sydni works is older people. It’s not hip enough for the younger crowd. They’re out barhopping on Duval Street.”

“Darn. That was a great idea. Why don’t you just hit her over the head with something hard enough to give her amnesia, and when she wakes up from her coma, pretend you’re her husband.”

“Now you’re just messing with me. Seriously? That’s called assault.” I’m not going to hit Sydni over the head.

When I hear Em laughing, I realize she was joking. I’m taking this too seriously.

“I’ve got it. Tell her you need a fake fiancée for a week to get rid of unwanted attention from your ex. Works every time.”

“She’s far too skittish to go along with something like that.” I blow out my breath in defeat.

“I don’t know, Elijah. I’m fresh out of ideas. I still think dropping a pile of books is the best option.”

“I thought you said don’t let it happen at her place of employment.” Although I don’t know where else it could happen.

“She’d be helping a customer. It’s all good.”

“She was helping me when I fell,” I point out.

“After she landed on top of you. What happened to the waitress she bumped into?”

“You don’t want to know,” I repeat.

“Oh, but I do.” Em knows this is going to be good. Her tone of voice says it all.

“The waitress was right behind her, holding an order on a tray. She ended up covered with food and drink, like she’d just been in a food fight.”

Emersyn bursts out laughing. “See what I mean? Too much of a scene. It takes away from the meet-cute. Dropping books doesn’t involve other people.”

“I’m supposedly on vacation. What am I researching?” Who does research on vacation?

“Key West, of course. You want to plan your vacation.”

My schedule of water activities? A bunch of things I really can’t do with my bum leg. “What happens after she helps me pick up the books?”

“Oh, c’mon, brown eyes. You can take it from there. I have full faith in you. My best friend’s baby sister still bursts into tears at the mention of your name.”

“I didn’t even know her.” I roll my eyes, even though Em can’t see me.

“Does the young lady you’re trying to charm know your name?”

Shoot. “No, she doesn’t. I’ll make sure I fit that in while she’s piling books onto my one arm to help the crippled man.”

“Elijah, that’s your ex speaking. You’re not a cripple, and you know it, Mr. I Go To The Gym Every Single Day. You’re in better shape now than you were before your injury. Seriously, don’t let that get to you. You’re a catch. Don’t forget it.”

“Thanks, Emersyn. Guess I needed to hear that.”

“Oh, I know you were the charmer when it came to you and Ry breaking cases…and hearts.”

“This case is different. This girl is different. I don’t want to hurt her. She’s been through a lot.” Besides, my charms don’t work on her.

“You like her. Like really like her. Oh my gosh, now I see what’s really happening. Admit it, Eli!”

“Thanks for your help. Appreciate it. Love you, Em. Talk later.”

I hang up, knowing she’s right. I really like Sydni Greer.