Lucky 33 (Love in the District #2)

15. Hooky

CHAPTER 15

HOOKY

Amy: Guess what? You have the day off today.

Belinda Collins: Who is this?

Amy: Oh, stop it. I’ve rescheduled our clients for today. We never do it, so I’m cashing in on all the goodwill we’ve generated with them over the years as the best cleaning duo in the business.

Belinda: Is this a trick?

Amy: I’m 100% for real. Go have a fun day. Go get some ice cream and make a mess with Ollie. It would be a slap in the face to this unseasonably cool and low-humidity day not to go out and appreciate it.

Belinda: *Runs off, leaving a trail of smoke like a Looney Tunes character*

A my was accurate in her text: she never did this. In fact, she was doing a lot of things that were out of character lately—and she liked it.

Drew was coming over to pick her up and go on an adventure in Virginia. There was a place in Round Hill, about an hour west of the city, that her family had gone to all the time when she and Laura were little. She wanted to show Drew a little slice of Mansfield family history.

They drove with the windows down all the way there, and Amy’s hair was a wild mess by the time they entered the tiny town’s limits. Amy directed Drew to a dilapidated storefront that advertised fresh produce, homemade pies, and ice cream inside.

“Homemade pies? Nice. Want to make that our lunch?” Drew asked, wide-eyed.

“That’s the plan. There’s a secret about this place that I’ll tell you later. Right now, I’m too anxious to hit the bathroom.”

“I told you not to get that huge soda at the gas station.”

“Don’t. Tell me. What. To do.

“Noted,” he nodded.

They had fun loading up on fat, red tomatoes, juicy strawberries, and pies to bring back home. They selected a strawberry-rhubarb pie to eat out at the picnic tables that the store provided.

“I can’t remember the last time I had a homemade pie,” Drew said giddily. “This looks so good.”

Amy smiled at his childlike enthusiasm.

“Mmm, this is delicious,” he said with his mouth full.

“I know, it’s so good. Laura and I used to give ourselves the worst stomach aches for the ride home between the pie we took down and the ice cream. Oh, to have a little girl’s metabolism again.”

“I’m with you. As a teenager, I used to eat eight BLTs in a sitting. No foolin’. My mom said our family couldn’t afford to have more than one kid at that rate. Now, even the idea of that many sandwiches gives me heartburn.” Drew leaned back and patted his stomach in satisfaction. “So, what’s the secret about this place? You forgot to tell me after you went to the bathroom.”

“You’ll never believe it,” Amy said, holding back a laugh.

“I’m too full to test my beliefs.”

“Those pies are just Mrs. Smith’s brand from the grocery store. They repackage them and mark up the price.”

“What?”

“Yep. They’re still incredible, so my family just went along with it all these years.”

“That’s the kind of thing they don’t teach you in business school. It’s raw, country-style business acumen. I’m impressed,” Drew replied. “But I’m also really happy. This means we can get more of them at home without taking a day trip.”

“What an optimist.”

He kissed her deeply in response. She sighed as he pulled away, not wanting the kiss to end. “It’s hard not to be with you around. And, on that subject?—”

“The one where you’re a naive optimist who thinks store-bought pies are homemade?”

Drew playfully whacked her. “No, on how nice it is to be around you. I was thinking about how I wanted to ensure it stayed that way. Are you open to being exclusive?”

Amy raised an eyebrow. “Were we not already?”

Drew shifted on the bench. “I considered you my one and only, but I’m not blind enough to think that others aren’t vying for you. If you want to date other people or keep your options open while we get to know each other, I understand.” He thought I’d be the one who wanted to see other people? I guess I wasted my time worrying that a flirty student could interest him.

“When would I have had time for anyone else? We’re attached at the hip, and I like it that way.”

“So, you’re my girlfriend?”

“Obviously,” she said, kissing him, glad that the seriousness of their relationship hadn’t been all in her head.

“What’s up with you?” Belinda asked, eyeing Amy suspiciously. “You’ve been in a daze for months and rescheduled clients just because you felt like a day off last Thursday. Is it Drew? That reminds me, you owe me the latest on him. Did you make things official?

“Yes, and I think I’m in love.”

“What? Back up. Love?”

“Okay, that might be an overstatement. I’m in very strong like.”

“You?” Belinda looked incredulous.

“Yes, Belinda.”

“Just checking since you’ve never acted like this over a guy. It’s all very exciting for me.”

“For you, huh?"

“Yep. I bet Laura’s having a field day with this. Remember when she used to set you up with the friends of the loser guys she was dating?”

“See? I’ve dated,” Amy said smugly.

“Have you? In the past, I’d say it’s more like you tolerated men hanging around you for a while.”

“I guess that’s fair. No one has really interested me like Drew before. They were all just around because why not?”

Belinda put down her dust cloth and pointed to the kitchen table in the house they were cleaning. “Sit.”

“You know I can’t. We have work to do. This isn’t a coffee shop.”

“I said sit,” Belinda said in her Mom Voice.

Amy was compelled to obey.

“You’re going to tell me all about him and what you’ve been up to. I feel like you owe me that if I’m going to continue to fix your work behind you while you daydream.”

Amy looked down at the table guiltily. “Sorry about that. ”

“I have a personal interest in your happiness, and I don’t care about a little extra work to have this version of you. Now, spill it.”

Amy told Belinda everything about Drew since they had become official on their day trip to Round Hill. She couldn’t help smiling as she detailed their time together and everything she had learned about him. She hadn’t noticed any red flags yet, and her friends, Laura and Jake, had all given him the thumbs-up. They were a tough judge of character, so that really meant something. Should I be noticing red flags, though? He can’t be that perfect. Nah, that’s me being unreasonable and closing myself off.

“Again, I’m sorry that I’ve been distracted lately. I’ll fix that, stat.”

“I told you; I don’t care about that. I care about you,” Belinda stressed.

Amy smiled gratefully at her friend. I’m so lucky to have all these people in my life.

Belinda cleared her throat and her expression turned serious. “I am a little concerned that he sounds like an almost impossibly perfect guy.” Hang on. Is his lack of red flags a red flag? “It’s not that I don’t trust your judgment. You’re a shrewd woman with a big enough brain to see through people who are deceiving you. But I remember our girl Laura faking perfection when she first started dating Jake. It didn’t take away from the fact that she's a great person and a match for Jake, but it's a good reminder that perfection isn’t always reality.”

“I get what you’re saying, and I appreciate your concern,” Amy said genuinely. Belinda is being overcautious since she knows I’m not very experienced with relationships.

“You’re not mad?”

“Why would I be mad at you for making good points and caring about me?” Amy reached over to hug Belinda. “Enough chit-chat. Let’s get this place finished up. ”

Belinda had planted a seed of doubt in Amy’s mind that morning. Doubt in Drew but more so in her inability to see past wanting Drew to be perfect. She spent the rest of the workday and the drive back home thinking whether Drew was as perfect as he appeared to be. Other than some negative reviews from bitter students and one with a schoolgirl crush, she had no reason to think otherwise. Yet, Belinda’s point about Laura’s deception was valid. If her sister was capable of that, anyone could be, including Drew.

Amy’s analytical mind went into overdrive. Drew's apparent perfection was suspicious once she looked at it through a more skeptical lens. He had no discernable flaws. He was successful and brilliant but had no ego about it. He was gorgeous with those blue eyes and bright smile. Am I just seeing what I want to? She needed to ask the expert herself what she thought. Amy texted Laura to invite her over for an impromptu discussion.

“Why are you questioning his greatness?” Laura asked, giving Amy a puzzled look. “I thought everything was going so well.”

“No, it is. I just got to thinking that maybe it was going too well.”

“Why do you always expect there to be a catch? No one is out to get you. You don’t have any trauma that I know of to make you like this. I think you’re being a pessimist instead of being overjoyed that you two found each other.”

“I’m not being a pessimist,” Amy protested. “I’m trying to be sensible.”

“You are being a pessimist. You’re even making that dumb stink face right now while talking about it. Do you think Drew is sitting around thinking that you’re too perfect? Is he asking his friends to help him find your flaws, or is he thanking the sweet baby Jesus that he met you? You know the answer. Stop borrowing trouble.”

“Yeah, but look what you did with Jake.” That was a bad move.

Laura looked outraged. “Am I ever going to be forgiven for trying too hard to make him happy? So what? Yeah, okay, I was a little sneaky. But I don't think that’s what’s happening with Drew. Let my sins belong to me and stop projecting them on an innocent man.”

Well, she sure told me. “I get it. I’m sorry for bringing that whole mess up again.”

“I think you’re getting in your head about this instead of enjoying the honeymoon phase of the relationship. I regret being like that with Jake. This is supposed to be a fun time for both of you. Everyone seems perfect at the beginning of a relationship. That’s what’s so intoxicating. You’ll find his flaws eventually. Why rush that?”

“When did you get so smart?” Amy teased.