I get a notification as I'm leaving my first class that Lucy Halloway has uploaded a new video on her channel LucyBakes. I tuck an airpod in and immediately click on the post. It's a short video, obviously recorded last night, of her making a single serving of cake in a mug. The video isn't as colorful or as bubbly as they normally are but she seems in her element. Watching her mix in the few ingredients and telling her viewers that baking doesn't have to be done in batches, that single girls with no roommates can enjoy warm cake at midnight too makes me smile.
I go to the comment section and type, "Glad to see you baking again. I missed your videos." I hit submit and see it posted from bakerbuddy123. Lucy refused to tell anyone close to her about her baking videos when she started posting them. I only found out when her power went out in the middle of her recording a video on how to make some fancy icing. She called me to beg to use my kitchen because Stella was out of town and she was worried all of her batches would go to waste if her power was out for too long. I had no idea how much she put into the little cookie creations that she left in Maggie's office for the staff to enjoy until I watched her take over my space. That's when I realized baking was her passion. She was confident on camera and poured love into what she was doing. She finally told me about how baking helped with her anxiety and how it was therapeutic when the pressure of her parents and dance became too much. That Stella grew her love of baking into a baking channel and in between classes and bartending, she was a Youtube star. She told me I wasn't allowed to subscribe or watch because she didn't want me to tease her, but I immediately ignored her request and secretly subscribed and followed her across social media. She needed to know she had a fan and a supporter and I knew she'd never take me seriously.
I close out of Youtube and walk into my second design class of the day. Lucy may have baking but I have drawing. My passion lies on paper and creating sustainable designs. I'm lucky to be able to take my love of doodling and make a career out of it. It also helps that my dad and uncle have supported my passion by encouraging me to follow in their footsteps. They have a lucrative architecture company that focuses not only on commercial and residential architecture, but interior design as well so I could wander into any branch I wanted to. Nepotism at its finest.
It wasn't until last year while on a trip to Costa Rica that sustainability became interesting to me and decided I wanted to focus on experimenting with new materials and use of space. Now, I am in my last months of schooling and the realization that I will be leaving both bartending and spending my days at the lake to work in an office to draw all day is a bit overwhelming. I knew I couldn't fuck around forever and that I'd have to get serious at some point.
Now, at twenty-eight, I realize the time is now and I'm ready. I'm ready to focus on work. I'll have the degree, I'll have the job, I have the home, now I just need the girl.
I ignore my monotonous design teacher all through class as I think about wooing Lucy. It usually doesn't take much for me to get a woman's attention, but Goose is different. I want something more from her than just sex and it's a new feeling. I haven't encountered this hurdle before. I can't just tell her I'm in love with her because she'd probably just laugh in my face. I once told her she was my favorite person on the planet and she replied by telling me that that was like saying my favorite flavor of ice cream was vanilla. That there were other flavors in my life far more interesting. I asked her what was wrong with vanilla and she said no one picks vanilla unless it's the only option or paired with something else. It broke my heart that that's how she saw herself. Plain and undesirable.
I also know I'm not her favorite person at the moment and she made that apparent when she scrubbed her face off immediately after I told her she looked good. I don't know if she's ready to date yet, so I don't want to ambush her either. Maggie made a comment that she's not interested in men at the moment, but maybe she'd let me be the exception. Maybe I can show her that I am not a jackass and am really the man of her dreams. That she's desirable. That she's not vanilla.
I notice all my other classmates taking diligent notes so I try and blend in by putting my pen to paper. But instead of copying down the PowerPoint notes, I write What does Lucy like? and then underline it. I then make a list that contains: Taylor Swift, cookies, sunshine, Gilmore Girls, leaving her Starbucks straw wrappers all over my car, whiskey, Blue Moon, the X-files, Thai food, stealing my hoodies, stealing Stella's shoes, wine tastings, art walks, boba...my eye goes back to art walks and I remember Fischer saying his buddy was participating in that art walk in Old Town Scottsdale on Thursday. March Madness also starts tomorrow, so I know Lucy and I are both going to have to work. If I can somehow swing it so we work the day shift, I wonder if I could get her to go with me after work. I then remember her calling me "Jackass" all through our shift, so she might not be enticed to do anything with me.
I then shift my eyes to boba again and remember Stella posting a picture of them at Boba Time a few days ago. Stella. I wonder if I can get Stella to help me? Fischer has always been into Stella so Fischer might help me out too.
I glance at the clock and see I still have twenty minutes of class left. I slyly pull my phone out and quickly text Fischer.
You still going to Jameson's show on Thurs?
Fischer: Ya. Y?
Wanna invite Stella Jackson?
Fischer: Ya. Y?
Fischer: This something to do w/ Lucy?
Ya. Text Stella and invite her and Lucy. Let me know what she says.
Fischer: K
Now I just have to hope that Stella says yes and invites Lucy. I have to find a way out of my closing shift and that also means I'll probably make less money working the day shift. All of this to maybe spend some time with Lucy and convince her that she doesn't hate me and that she actually is in love with me.
******
Maggie had no problem switching me to the day shift. I guess Lucy was scheduled for the early shift too, but had to call out tomorrow because she's going onto campus for a meeting at school. I don't know what time her meeting is, but Fischer texted me when I got home from class saying both Stella and Lucy were in for the art walk. Apparently, Stella knows Jameson as well and is helping with the marketing for his art show. It seems Phoenix is a small town.
So that means I just have to get through my shift tonight, without putting my foot in my mouth, and then I might get to hang out with Lucy. If I can just not be Jackass for one evening, I might be able to pull this off.
I arrive at work and am trying to remain optimistic. After I park, I find Maggie in the parking lot vaping with her sister, Missy who works here during our busy times. Maggie shoves her vape pen into her pocket when I walk up next to her.
"Hey," she says with a seductive smirk and my stomach clenches. Kissing her was the dumbest thing I have ever done.
"Hi Maggie," I tell her flatly. No underlying intention within those two words.
"How was class?" She asks and I place my hand on the door handle.
"Fine. Long. Tiring." I reply and slowly open the door, hoping she's not wanting to chat.
"Missy was thinking of throwing a party for the staff on Saturday. As a thank you and kick-off to spring break and March Madness." She glances to Missy who adds, "Yeah, we'll supply the alcohol and just have people roll through after work." I know some of these girls like to party and clocking out at 2 a.m won't stop them.
"I'm sure some people would drop by," I tell her, now getting my foot onto the threshold.
"Wanna invite your crew? Get some men to come along too?" Missy asks and I don't know if it's wise for me to bring my lake crew to mingle with my bar crew. I've had them come into the bar for cheap alcohol and occasionally run into the bartenders out on the lake, but I have never intentionally brought the two together. Before I am able to answer, Maggie adds, "I invited Ariana and some of our old crew to drop by. Just have a big ol' open house." I know that it won't be Lucy's scene and I don't want to go to any party Maggie, Ariana and Hannah B. are at.
"I'll spread the word," I tell them, without committing. I am about to get my torso into the hallway when Maggie tugs at the back of my shirt. I freeze while holding the door open and she leans in and says, "I can show you my room this time." She then plants a tiny kiss on my cheek and I feel like I might be sick.