My Missing Puzzle Piece (Creekside Falls #1) (10 page)

“Hey girlfriend, how are you? It’s Thursday girl’s night, you shouldn’t be working when your best friend brought food and wine.” Taylor said as she walked into Elle’s kitchen, she used her key to let herself in.

Elle looked at the time, “Holy crap, I didn’t realize it was that late already.” She said as she started to put away the papers she was working on, they could wait until later. She was going to enjoy her night. “What did you bring? I’m starving.”

“Chinese. What else? Glad you’re starving because so am I.” Taylor said as she grabbed wine glasses and the corkscrew.

Elle started to grab plates and utensils when she said, “How’s V by the way? You said you had to go pick her up again earlier.”

“She’s good, it was her car again, I swear she’s gonna have to get a new one but she’s being too cheap. We both know she doesn’t have to be but you know her.”

They opened the food before they sat and Taylor said, “So how did the rest of last Thursday go with Trevor, I never got details and didn’t know if I should ask you at the office.”

Elle felt her face turn bright red. She didn’t even have to say anything because Taylor caught her blushing, she was hoping that Taylor wouldn’t have noticed but of course she did so she had to tell.

“Oh my God. Something happened and you didn’t tell me, why?” Taylor practically yelled.

“Fine. He came back here after the bar, we watched a movie, fell asleep, kissed when he left and have a date tomorrow night. Okay so let’s eat.” She said as she sat down and started putting food on her plate.

“Shut the front door! Back up and tell me everything from the beginning and don’t leave anything out. I mean it.” Taylor shrieked and crossed her arms in front of her chest.

Before Elle could speak, “Why did you wait a week to tell me this by the way?”

“I’m sorry.” She groaned, she knew should have told her everything the next day but somehow it all didn’t seem real so she didn’t say anything but knew at some point
she would have to tell Taylor. To be honest she was kind of dying to spill. So she took a sip of her wine and told Taylor everything from when Taylor left McDuckers to this morning in the park.

After she finished Taylor said, “Wow, okay you’re forgiven…I have to say it sounds like you’ve got it bad for this guy. But so does he so it looks like you’re perfect for each other! So what are you wearing tomorrow night?”

“I don’t know yet; maybe a dress, or jeans with heels and a top. I’m not sure where we’re going.”

“Let’s grab this wine and head upstairs; you have outfits to try on. We are going to be sure you look hot!” Taylor said with a cocky wink and confident smile as she rushed them through their dinner. She grabbed their glasses after topping them off; “Come on, get up and get a move on.” They went upstairs for Elle to try on clothes.

Trevor’s day flew by so fast after the park he couldn’t believe it was after eight already. His meetings and appointments were longer than he thought but he was able to make bookings for next week, they were going to be beyond busy. He may have to consider hiring some more guys, but figured he should wait until all the problems were fixed at work and Elle helped him figure out who was screwing with the scheduling and his business was back on track. Of course his mind immediately went to Elle; man she was amazing. He felt like a teenager, he was so giddy over how things were going with them the past few days. His daydreaming about Elle was cut short when his doorbell rang. His pizza was here and he was starving. After he finished eating he turned on ESPN
to watch some TV, he was exhausted thanks to his busy past few days he didn’t have the energy for anything else. He felt older than his twenty-eight years, but so stinkin’ happy he didn’t even care.

“We definitely found the outfit!” Taylor said with a triumphant look on her face.

“
Now
this outfit works?! This is the original outfit I pulled out two hours and twenty changes ago.” Elle said with narrowed eyes looking at Taylor with a hint of annoyance and amusement. Elle changed out of the outfit and into her pajamas -- she knew Taylor wouldn’t care what she had on. She sat on the bed next to Taylor and they finished their wine. It was time for a refill. She figured now was a good time to ask. “So what did you think of Jake?”

“What I thought of Jake? Why would I think anything of him?” Taylor said quickly without making eye contact with Elle.

“Because you guys seemed to get along and you thought he was hot when we first saw him, that’s why.”

“Okay fine. I liked him, probably more then I should since I barely know him. But he did give me his phone number and said to call him, but I don’t know.” Taylor said with a sigh at the thought of his hotness.

“I knew it! So you’re not going to call him? Why?”

“You knew what?” Taylor asked

“Well that you two liked each other. Okay that you liked him, I wasn’t sure how to read him but I was pretty sure. But I thought I saw him give you his number when he left.” Elle said with a smile.

“You did? Oh...” Taylor said with a slight blush. “Should I call him? I’ve never felt nervous or unsure before but with him I do. Damn it!”

“You liked him, he liked you and it’s not like he proposed, you’d just be getting to know him.” Elle grabbed her friend and gave her a big hug. “He gave you his number so he wants you to call and why wouldn’t you? I think you should and I think you guys would be good together. Maybe even balance each other out. Plus he isn’t Bill, remember that.”

“I know he’s not.” Taylor said quietly and after a minute said, “Okay I’ll do it. But not tonight, tomorrow. I don’t want to worry about it tonight plus I need to figure out what to say.”

“Okay but you better. At some point you have to take a risk sweetie. I know your heart has been broken but there is a point you put yourself out there and take a chance with someone. You can’t protect your heart from hurt forever. He may not be The One, but you’ll never know if you don’t let somebody in. You know I’ll be here regardless.” They both had tears in their eyes remembering the many breakdowns Taylor had and all the times Elle just held her while she cried. Taylor broke up the weep fest with, “how ‘bout we refill these wine glasses, I could use another.”

“You got it. And let me know what happens. You don’t need to think of something clever, just let it go and see what happens. He may steal the conversation you never know.” Elle said and they both started laughing.

“Oh yeah Mr. Talker he is not. But I guess since I talk so much sometimes it would be perfect if we did hit it off, wouldn’t it?” Taylor said with a quick flash of smile at the possibility.

“Yes. Now let’s go get some more wine and see what our fortune cookies say? We could both use a good fortune.”

“You’re on and hell yeah we could!” Taylor said as they headed back into Elle’s kitchen.

Trevor woke up on his couch with a knot in his neck from sleeping sitting up. He turned off the TV, shut off the lights and headed towards his bedroom when he remembered he had to charge his phone. He went in the kitchen and plugged it in; he saw he had a text from Jake saying, “Hey man, what’s up? You pine for Elle for months and don’t tell me you finally balled up and asked her out? What the hell?!”

Trevor had to read what Jake sent twice before realizing he had obviously heard from
someone
about his date with Elle and his money was on Taylor -- Elle was right about those two. He texted Jake back, “Sleeping that’s what’s up. Yeah I asked her out but didn’t know I had to clear it with you. I’ll do it next time. Talk to you later.” Then he went to sleep pissed off for some reason that people knew about his date with Elle, it wasn’t a secret but he liked thinking it was just their thing for now.

Elle and Taylor finished the first bottle of wine and opened another, which they were half-way through before Elle declared, “Okay we’ve had enough.” She started to put the wine-stopper in the wine bottle when Taylor’s
phone beeped, for what seemed like the thousandth time that night.

Taylor looked at her phone after eating another fortune cookie and whispered, “I think I may have screwed up. I texted Jake tonight when you went to the bathroom and we’ve been texting back and forth ever since. I wanted to call him tomorrow, I don’t know what got into me, maybe your pep talk earlier.”

Elle just looked at Taylor for a minute before saying, “No wonder your phone’s been going crazy. You didn’t say anything embarrassing did you? You did help me drink all that wine.”

Taylor responded to another text from Jake and then started looking back through her messages in their text thread. After a few minutes and a cup of tea she said, “No I didn’t say anything embarrassing but I did mention your date with Trevor and apparently he didn’t know. I’m sorry.”

“Then you don’t have to worry about embarrassing yourself. You’re fine. Why did you tell him about Trevor and me? I mean it wasn’t a secret... you know what, I am not worrying about that tonight. But I am glad you texted him and I hope you guys hit it off. He seems like he’d be good for you.” Elle went over and hugged her friend before sitting down next to her with her tea.

“You’re the best! Would you mind a sleepover, even if it is a work night?” Taylor said with a wink; they had Friday off because Elle decided to close the office. They could work from home if they needed to; there were no scheduled appointments, which was rare, so they did something they never did and took a day off.

“Thanks. You’re the best too...I figured you might be staying anyway so I made up the guest bedroom for you.”

The next morning after they had breakfast and Taylor left, Elle started doing things to help pass the time, she was worried time would move too slowly until her date with Trevor. She had to admit to herself she was pretty excited. She answered email, organized her home office and gave herself a home facial; it had to be at least noon. But when she checked the time it was only 10:30, jeez she had a lot of time. So she decided to put in her favorite yoga DVD and get in a workout to help pass some time.

Trevor woke up to pounding on his front door; he looked at the clock and saw it was 11 a.m. Wow! He never slept that late, but he was exhausted and he wasn’t going into work today. He got out of bed and headed downstairs to the door, who would come by at this hour on a Friday when he was normally at work. As he went to open the door he thought of only person -- Jake, who was also off today.

When he opened the door, “Hey buddy. Whoa did I wake you up? Sorry about that.” Jake said as he walked past Trevor into the house and to the kitchen.

“Come on in Jake,” Trevor said as he closed the door and followed him to the kitchen.

“So what ‘cha doing today man?” Jake asked as he started making coffee and going through Trevor’s refrigerator for something to eat, he found bagels in the freezer, he lifted them up to see if they were still any good.

“Well I was sleeping until you came so now I’m up,” he said with gruffly, “I was planning on getting something
done and then I’m going to dinner with Elle.” Trevor said as he poured himself a cup of coffee before it was even done filling the pot.

“Whoa, when did that happen and why didn’t I know about this man?” Jake said with a suspicious voice as if he hadn’t texted Trevor asking about it last night.

“Yesterday when I was out running and ran into her at the park.” Trevor said with a smirk.

“Well damn dude! Its ‘bout time. Where ya’ takin’ her?” Jake asked.

“I don’t know yet. Last time we worked together I remember her telling Becky about this Mexican restaurant she really liked, so maybe there. Why?”

“No reason just asking. If she likes it there then go for it. Can’t go wrong with a place she likes.” Jake said, pouring himself his own cup of coffee.

“Yeah. So let’s talk about something else besides my date tonight…we’re not women dude. You catch the Phillies game last night?”

“No I met up with a few Air Force buddies at Pete’s, his cable was out so we weren’t able to watch it. Heard it was a good game, sorry I missed it.”

“It was a good game for sure. Did you hear about Utley’s catch and the grand slam in the top of the ninth? I hope they play more like that during the season, otherwise they’ll never make the playoffs.”

fter Jake left around 1:00 Trevor finally was able to get some of the things done he had planned. He had to pass the time and keep his mind busy while waiting for his date with Elle. After he showered and changed, he walked Bruiser. As he was leaving he turned to Bruiser and said, “Wish me luck boy, I like this one.”