“So, you’re hanging out with Owen tonight?” Jacob pops a bite of his candied pear and walnut muffin into his mouth, and I love the way his eyes close, just briefly, with pleasure.
“Yeah, we’re going to watch the Antiques Roadshow and make fun of all the ugly artifacts people bring in for appraisal. You want to come?” The invitation pops out, surprising me a little, but not completely. I’ve never asked him to hang out before, but we weren’t friends before. And now… well, it seems like maybe we are.
“I’d love to, but I have—” He stops talking, and then, “I have other plans.”
I will not ask if he was about to say he has a date.
“But I wish I could come.” It sounds like he actually does wish he could come, so he must not have a date. Because who would want to hang out with me and Owen and nineteenth-century candy dishes worth a stupid amount of money if they had something fun to do, like go on a date?
“I’m asking because Owen left his wallet at my place last night,” Jacob says. “Can I give it to you?”
“Sure, but I can’t promise I won’t go on a shopping spree with all his credit cards.”
“Once it’s out of my possession, I take no responsibility for what happens to it.” Jacob grins. “Let me run home and get it.”
I slide the last plate of muffins into the display case. “Actually, I’m done here.” I pull my apron over my head. “I can walk with you.”
We say goodbye to Zoe and Mrs. Kaminski, and the few blocks to Jacob’s place pass quickly. In the lobby, I realize that even though this building is as familiar to me as my own, it’s supposed to be the first time I’ve been inside. I play dumb on the elevator, asking which floor to push, and again when Jacob waves me to go first into the hall. He leads me to his apartment and is pulling out his key when the neighbor’s door swings open and Paige steps out.
“Jacob! Hi!” Paige walks over, arms outstretched, and gives Jacob a hug.
Huh. Since when do Paige and Jacob hug?
Hi.” Paige turns to me. “I’m Paige.”
Jacob clears his throat. “Sorry. Sadie, this is Paige. Paige, this is Owen’s sister, Sadie.”
“Oh! It’s so nice to meet you, Sadie!” At that, she leans over and gives me a hug, too. Maybe she’s just a hugger. I try to remember if that was the case in my first go-around. “I adore your brother.”
“Oh, you know Owen?” I ask, straining to piece all of this together. When I lived here during my Very Bad Year, I was the only one acquainted with Paige, and only because I…
Oh.
Only because I sent her wine and chocolate.
The wine and chocolate I encouraged Jacob to send her, just a couple of weeks ago. When I sent it, she came over to say thank you, and we chatted for a bit. So, she must have done the same with Jacob.
“Yeah, I know Owen.” Paige laughs. “And I’m ready to kill him for bringing that bottle of whiskey last night. I’ve never had such a killer hangover.”
Okay, so clearly, she and Jacob didn’t just chat, they also hung out drinking. I wonder if Brandon was there, too.
“Oh man.” I wrinkle my nose. “Yeah, I avoid the stuff. I hope you’ll be okay. Maybe Brandon can bring you some soup or something.”
Both Paige and Jacob look at me sideways, and it’s a look I’ve gotten used to in the past few months. I’m not supposed to know anything about Paige and Brandon. As far as anyone around me knows, I never lived here in Jacob’s building, so I’ve never actually seen Paige and Brandon making out in the halls. All of that happened during my Very Bad Year, which never actually happened.
I can’t believe I’ve done this again. How am I going to explain that I know about Brandon? I can’t pull another Sadie the Cat Lady and make up an outrageous story like I did with Zoe.
But then Jacob says, “What are you talking about? Who’s Brandon?”
Paige’s brows knit together. “I don’t think I know anyone named Brandon.”
How can she not know anyone named Brandon?
And then it hits me. Paige met Brandon because I’d sent her a package and he’d delivered it. But if Jacob sent the package, that small change could have altered everything that followed. The wine and chocolate could have been delivered by anyone. And obviously, that anyone wasn’t Brandon, because Paige doesn’t know a Brandon. She’s not dating a Brandon.
And she’s drinking whiskey with Jacob and hugging him in the hall. Is it possible that Paige and Jacob are dating?
This train of thought goes careening off a cliff when Paige smiles at Jacob and says, “Don’t worry, I’m going to take some Tylenol and have a nap. I’ll be totally good for dinner later.”
Yep. I guess it’s possible. And mystery solved about Jacob’s plans tonight.
That’s when I realize that it’s not only the trajectory of my life that I’m altering in this strange second chance year. There’s a domino effect for everyone around me. What if Brandon is missing out on the love of his life because Jacob sent Paige the package and I didn’t? What if my actions are screwing up everybody’s lives?
But short of finding Brandon and dragging him to Paige’s door, there’s not much I can do to fix this. And who knows? Maybe Paige is the love of Jacob’s life, and not Brandon’s after all.
And if that thought bothers me more than it should… Well, there’s not much I can do to fix that either.
Chapter 16
Sadie,” Xavier says, as I put the last touches on a six-layer mimosa cake with chocolate drizzle and candied orange peel. “I need you to stay late tonight. Rob Thurmond and his group just came in, and he specifically requested you.”
I wonder how he managed that, since I doubt Rob even knows my name. Did he call me the girl whose ass I grabbed? I can still picture that smarmy grin as I backed away from him in disgust. There’s no way I’m letting him within ten feet of my ass again. Or any other part of me.
“I’m sorry, Xavier, but I can’t.” I set my pastry bag on the counter and push the champagne confection in his direction, hoping to distract him with his own reflection in the perfect mirror glaze. “I just finished up here, and I have something I really can’t get out of.”
“What is it?” he demands, not even glancing at the masterpiece before him.
It’s none of your business doesn’t seem like the smart response, even if it would feel really good to say it. I search for an excuse that Xavier would deem worthy of bailing on Rob Thurmond. Volunteering at the soup kitchen? No. Visiting my sick grandma? Unlikely. Emergency brain surgery? He’d want me to reschedule.
What if I just went ahead and told Xavier the truth about Rob? Alex suggested that maybe Xavier doesn’t know his VIP client is a creep with roving hands. As mortifying as it would be to have to admit what happened to me, maybe it’s the right thing to do?
But just as I’m opening my mouth to speak up, Xavier cuts in. “Rob and I have been friends for twenty-five years, and he’s a huge supporter of my restaurant. So, don’t drop any plates like you did last time.”
My mouth snaps shut. Why would Xavier ever believe the word of an assistant over his longtime friend and patron? I know exactly how this will play out. Rob will deny anything happened, and Xavier will fire me. And I’ll be right back where I started.