“Viv, it’s not even lunchtime,” I pointed out.
“So! I’m calling Maysie and we’re having an impromptu lunch date at Barton’s! My treat.” She pulled out her phone and typed out a text to Maysie. “Now go put on something cute,” she instructed. She walked down the hallway back towards her room. “Cole! Get dressed! We’re taking Gracie to lunch!” she yelled before slamming her bedroom door.
I picked up my phone and wondered who else I could call to share my good news with.
I thought briefly about calling my parents but I didn’t want their negativity to put a damper on my good mood.
Mitch…
That was out of the question.
So I put my phone back down and went and got dressed, wondering when he’d stop being my first thought.
And my last one.
“Okay, this calls for a toast. Everyone raise your glasses,” Maysie shouted over the loud conversation at our table.
We were all crowded into a long booth at the back of Barton’s. Maysie, Jordan, Vivian, Cole, and myself were gorging on mozzarella sticks and potato skins as we waited for our lunch orders to show up. Everyone was excited for me and I was reminded again why I had the best friends in the world.
“To Gracie! Who is on her way to conquering the world!” Maysie toasted, giving me a wide smile.
“Yep, conquering the world one overgrown garden at a time,” I snarked.
Vivian kissed my cheek loudly and I was pretty sure she left a lipstick smear behind. “To Gracie!” she saluted.
“To Gracie!” Jordan and Cole yelled as loud as they could.
“To Gracie!” Dina, the bartender and the rest of the wait staff shouted. Everyone in the restaurant clapped, even though I knew they had no idea what they were clapping about. But it felt pretty damn awesome.
“You guys having a party and didn’t invite me?”
And there went my good mood. My heart did a slam-dunk into my shoes.
“Hey man, what are you doing here? I thought you were spending the day with Sophie,” Jordan said, sliding down the booth to give Mitch room to sit down.
“Yeah, well she’s got stuff to do today,” he said offhandedly as he squished in beside Jordan and smack dab across from me. Our knees bumped under the table and he gave me a half smile.
“Hey Gracie,” he greeted and I inclined my head in acknowledgment.
There was a brief moment of silence where everyone seemed to recognize the rise in tension.
We’ll be old friends that used to be close but have drifted apart.
“So what’s everyone celebrating?” Mitch asked.
“Gracie got a new job!” Vivian announced, bumping my shoulder.
Mitch’s eyes sparkled in my direction. “You did? That’s awesome, G. What kind of job is it?”
He called me G again. I loved that he still did that. Sometimes.
Then he gave me his stomach turning, heart-flipping smile.
“I’ve been taken on as a fulltime staff writer at Southern Gardens magazine. It’s really no big deal—”
“No big deal? That’s a huge deal! You’re getting to write! That’s what you’ve always wanted to do!” Mitch enthused.
I couldn’t help but smile back. He seemed so genuinely happy for me that joy spread from the tips of my fingers all the way down to my toes. “Yeah. I’m pretty stoked.”
Then I felt his foot lightly kick mine under the table. My gaze flickered up and met his. “I’m really proud of you,” he said softly and for a second we were the only ones at the table.
Just Mitch and Gracie…
“Boys! It’s so good to have you back at Barton’s!” Mitch’s eyes tore away from mine and looked up at the man who had appeared beside our table.
Mitch moved his foot away so that it was no longer touching mine. But that was okay. Because we were just old friends.
Why did that sound so depressing?