date. An honest-to-goodness, real, go-out-on-the-town sort of date. Trembles poured down my spine like warm water. How many years had it been since I went out on a date? So long ago, I couldn’t even remember, that’s how long. “Sounds like fun,” I said before I talked myself out of it. A real date.
“Good! We can grab some dinner first. Do you like seafood?”
I think I nodded. Anticipation strummed over me as I tried to plan what I would wear. I might even go shopping again. I’d eaten half of my oatmeal before I realized it. Funny how the sweetness of the moment made something as unappealing as oatmeal taste good. Hesitantly, I smiled at Kevin.
A date! I couldn’t wait to call Maddie. She’d been pushing me to go out for months, so I knew she’d be thrilled. Plus, she’d help me figure out my wardrobe and makeup and everything.
This magic stuff was working better than I’d expected!
Today was turning out to be a really bad day. Alice had called in tears once already because of Troy. The enchanted cup-cakes had seemed to even her out for a few days, but now she was just as upset as before. I wondered if the effects were ever permanent or if I’d continually be baking to keep a spell alive. Mental note to self—check with Grandma Verda on that. Though, on the good news front, it didn’t appear as if my magic had hurt her, either.
Also, Jon’s mood was far from bright and sunny, and I was mostly just trying to stay out of his way. On top of all that, I couldn’t seem to get a hold of Maddie. Not at work, not on her cell, and not at home. I figured she was home, because whenever I called her, all I got was a busy signal. Which was odd, because as far as I knew she had call-waiting. If nothing else, I’d see her tomorrow for our normal Wednesday lunch, but I really wanted to talk to her today.And I still hadn’t seen Nate. I knew it shouldn’t bother me. I had a date with another man that weekend. But come on, Nate was the first guy to—well, to be blunt—make me come in forever. Plus, something about him had dug into my heart.
I felt a little weird about going out with Kevin while I had these unknown feelings for Nate, but it wasn’t as if we were committed or anything. Like I said, I hadn’t seen the guy since that afternoon at Alice’s. Over a week ago. And that amazing night? Almost two weeks had passed. And yeah, I had to wonder if what ever interest he’d had in me had disappeared.
I hoped not. Probably, he was working ridiculous hours. Or maybe I just wished that. Because part of me worried that he thought my family was a bunch of lunatics, that with my gene pool he was better off staying away. Who could blame him? Between Grandma Verda and the encounter at Alice’s, it made perfect sense to me. That didn’t stop me from hoping I was wrong. I wanted to see him again.
“Did you place the order for fondant? We’re almost out,” Jon said, entering the kitchen.
“No, but I can place it today and express it.”
His lips turned downward into a pout. “With what we’ll pay, we may as well pick it up locally. Can you do that tomorrow before coming in?”
“Sure.” After all, it was my fault. But it meant driving clear across town during morning rush-hour traffic. Not exactly the best way to start any day.
“Thanks. Just pick up enough to get us by, and I’ll go place a normal order now. Say, two weeks’ worth.”
Nodding, I turned back to my batter bowl. No wedding cakes to bake, but I did have two birthday cakes and one baby shower cake to get out of the oven before I left.
“Lizzie?”
Now what? “Yeah, Jon?”
“Andy’s going out of town this weekend on business. Want to share a movie and a pizza or something?”
A nuance in his voice compelled me to turn around and face him. “I can’t on Saturday. Friday sounds good, though.”
“Oh.” Another pout. So unlike Jon. “Well, okay then. Maybe I’ll see if Maddie wants to get together on Saturday.”
Something was definitely off. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. Just didn’t feel like spending the weekend alone. After we’re done here on Saturday, I’ll be at loose ends.”
He said he was fine, but he wasn’t. Jon’s expression