28. Sweet Tooth, Elevator Pitch (Hapless In Love #1)

28. Sweet Tooth

sweet tooth

Greyson

Manhattan, NY | January 8, 2024

After dropping Cliff off at home, I hop on the elevator, press the sixth floor, and wait anxiously as I descend. It's been four days, and I haven't heard a peep from Selah, so I've decided to take matters into my own hands.

I take a deep breath before I exit the elevator. As I get closer, my nerves get the best of me, but I bite the bullet and force my feet to keep shuffling closer ‘til I reach her door. I press her doorbell, clutching the box hard enough that I could crush it. I take a step back, psyching myself up as I wait and hope she answers the door for me. It’s been about thirty seconds, but it feels like thirty minutes. I hear heels clacking on the other side of the door. I really hope she’s not going on another damn date. The knob turns softly, and my thoughts subside when I see a petite shapely woman answer Selah’s door. I freeze, and we stare at each other for a moment before I decide to speak up.

She looks so familiar.

She parts her lips to speak. “So, we meet again. You look so different when your ex isn’t draining the life out of you.”

As her distinctive jazzy tone fills the space, I recall where I last heard it.

This woman is the wedding planner.

Aileen’s fucking wedding planner.

At a loss for words, I stand there processing and panicking. She goes silent and sizes me up. Her glare hasn’t wavered, and she stands firm in the doorway.

This is such an odd interaction.

What is she doing here, and where is Selah?

Does Selah know Aileen?

My stomach turns at the thought of them being friends.

She breaks the silence and holds eye contact.

“And people keep telling me to stop playing God. This,” she says, pointing between us. “This is why I won’t stop. I put the bug in your ear, and you managed to find her.”

“Excuse me. What is it you’re talking about? I’m lost here.”

“When we met at the engagement party, I tried to set you up with a friend of mine, but I had to take a call. When I got back to the bar, you were gone. Remember?”

I think back to that conversation.

Radiant like a field of sunflowers.

Holy shit. Selah is ‘sunflower girl.’

“When did you meet her?” she asks, yanking me from my thoughts.

“That same night. I live in this building.”

She hums a response and doesn’t falter.

I remember the reason I’m here and ask, “Um. Is Selah here by chance?”

“Selah isn’t here. She left for Portland on Saturday. Business trip. I’m house sitting and babysitting Peach. We never did introductions, but by the looks of you—I’ll call you big sexy.” She states, leaning against the doorframe and crossing her feet.

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me. Mr. Call me Grey if you’re nasty. I am nasty, but I think big sexy is more fitting. Is that a problem?” she asks, but I get the idea that she couldn’t care less what I have to say about it. It clicks for me, then.

The fearless one.

If you ever meet her and she decides she likes you, she won't let you leave until you are friends.

If she doesn’t like you, you’ll leave on a stretcher.

This must be Audrey.

Selah’s best friend is planning my ex-wife's wedding.

I fix my stance and respond.

“I don’t mind that at all. You must be Audrey.”

I stretch my lips into a smile, reaching out my hand to greet her with a shake.

“As I live and breathe,” she says with a soft smile.

She shakes my hand firmly, maintaining eye contact.

This handshake plans weddings?

“What’ve you got there? Something for me?”

She peeks around me with a squint to get a better look at what I’m carrying.

“Well, it was for Selah, but since she’s not here, would you like to have it? It’s iced coffee and cinnamon rolls.”

She perks up. “Don’t mind if I do,” she exclaims.

I hand her the box, and she says, “would you like to come in and eat with me?” She opens the door wider.

“Umm.”

“Oh. Come on. I don’t bite. Well, I do, but I wouldn’t bite you,” she cackles.

I contemplate for a moment, and she chides, “I’ll put in a good word with Selah.”

As if that was all it takes, I find my feet moving as I cross the threshold into Selah’s humble abode.

I’m removing my shoes as she shuts the door behind her and says, “Just so you know, coffee and sweets won’t get you the same result with me.”

I snort.

“I can assure you what happened the other day wasn’t planned. It just happened and I’m grateful it did.” I open the curtains to let the sun in before I stride over to the island for a seat. She stands across from me, watching me closely.

I’m finding it hard to focus being back here without Selah. I fight off images from the other day as I stare at all the surfaces I satisfied her on. I shake my head to free the thoughts before it becomes obvious what I’m imagining.

“Grateful, huh?” She looks at me as if she’s reading my mind.

I head over to the sink and wash my hands as she gathers small plates. Each time I’ve met her, she’s brought an odd sense of ease. I imagine she makes Selah feel the same.

I glance up as I’m drying my hands, and she rips off a piece of the cinnamon bun and places it into her mouth, squeezing her eyes shut in satisfaction.

Audrey likes sweets. Noted.

“By the way, I see you strolling down memory lane. All I ask is you keep yourself covered,” she says, pointing at my pants. “I know those gray sweats were meant for different eyes to see.”

“Ah. Sorry.”

She hums her response, visibly enjoying the cinnamon bun and coffee.

I’m starting to get the allure of Audrey. She is an interesting character.

“How’d you get into wedding planning?” I ask.

“Good question. I don’t just plan weddings. I guess some of it is in my blood, but events? My family wasn’t doing enough in that market beyond the hotels, so I took it upon myself to create something there.”

“Hotels?”

“Oh, honey, I thought you were just being charming. The venue of the engagement party, I own the place.”

“No, the greenhouse was at the hotel. The Woodward Hotel.”

She waves her hand, urging me to keep thinking. “You’re getting warmer.”

“You own the Woodward Hotel in Manhattan? ”

“Well, not just one. I own them all.”

My eyes widen with the revelation, and she nods.

Holy shit.

We proceed with the conversation, and I learn that the woman standing before me isn’t just anybody—she’s Audrey fucking Wood. No wonder she’s so tough; she is the only woman running the Wood empire. Of course, she’s firm and fearless.

“You know, I’m embarrassed to admit this, but I haven’t heard from her since we—you know. That’s why I stopped by.”

“Interesting.” She pulls out her phone and begins typing.

“Now, Grey, before I start meddling, I should probably ask if you shared that with me because you wanted my help or if you needed to get that off your chest?”

“I would like your help with her. I know you don’t know me well, and your loyalty lies with her, but was she okay after the other day?”

“Oh. She was more than okay.” She cackles. “I’m so glad you asked for my help. Now I don’t have to feel bad about doing this.” She rounds the island, holding up her phone in a selfie stance.

“Doing what?”

“We’re going to take a picture for Selah and I’m going to send it to her. Once she sees you’re here, she’ll remember to use your number. How’s that sound, Big Sexy?”

“I’m down,” I agree.

Posing for the selfie, she insists we take three. Two with a smile and another with a silly face. I oblige, and she shows me the results as we choose the perfect one to send her.

Audrey grills me, as I expected, but nothing I don’t feel comfortable answering. She asks about my marriage to Aileen and why it ended, and I answer truthfully hoping that doesn’t change her opinion of me. She listens intently and seems understanding. She assures me that we were young and that everybody makes mistakes. She tells me that she’s never married and has been in a long-term relationship with a man named Rome for the past five years. When I ask if marriage was in the plans, our phones ding at the same time. She smiles wide before retrieving her phone to glance at it.

“I told you it would work!”

Selah

What the hell are you doing in my house?

How did you get Audrey to let you in?

I got her. My sunflower .

I then decide to change her name in my phone to ‘Sunflower.’

I needed to borrow a toothbrush.

Sunflower

You are a little shit. Get out of there.

I can’t believe you had her bully me into texting you.

Are you bothered, or is that a part of your charm?

Sunflower

Both. :)

I missed you too.

Keep talking shit, and I will be leaving with that toothbrush. :)

Sunflower

You wouldn’t dare.

I would dare.

Sunflower

I think you might be jealous of my toothbrush.

I am not jealous of toys. I’m not an insecure man, and I recognize that toys are partners in pleasure. I used it on her for that reason. She’s just trying to get a rise out of me. While I contemplate how to respond, typing and deleting repeatedly, she sends another text.

Sunflower

Cat got your tongue now?

Now I know how to respond to this. Let’s play, Princess.

I know a cat that has my tongue. ;)

Sunflower

SIR.

Good girl.

She takes a moment to respond as I watch the three bubbles dance along the screen. I decide to be more intentional with my approach because it’s possible she’ll disappear again if I play along with her.

When can I see you again?

Sunflower

Depends.

On what?

Sunflower

When you get the hell out of my house, I’ll consider it.

I need to buy you a toothbrush for my place. ;)

Sunflower

Greyson “I don’t know your middle name” Park!

It’s Dae-Hyun, after my dad.

Sunflower

Greyson Dae-Hyun Park!

I love it when you call out my name. :)

I see the three bubbles appear and disappear, then reappear again before they stop for a moment. I wonder if I came on too strong and scared her off again. I set my phone down and look around the apartment. I notice Audrey reading on the couch with Peach snuggled on her lap. Chimes fill the air, causing me to turn around and panic when I see exactly who’s calling me.

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