I stared up at the coffee shop door and sucked in a deep breath. It’s just coffee. Just because she used a lot of emojis in her message doesn’t mean anything. Lots of people overuse emojis. Shouldering my bag like it was armor, I pushed the door open…
And nearly fell inside as my old high school friend yanked it open at the same time in excitement.
“Hey huuuuun!” Lucy drew out the word in the most obnoxious way possible. Red flag number 2. I was regretting coming already.
“Hey there!” I greeted her with a quick hug. Even as I was pulling away she still held on. This was going to be awkward, wasn’t it?
“I figured since everyone was in town for Christmas I’d invite a few more to our little date!” She gestured to the conference room on the far side of the entrance. I suppressed a groan. The Lucy I know hates everyone from high school. Shoulda trusted my gut.
“I’ve gotta run to the little girl’s room real quick, I’ll be right there!” It was a lie, but it would buy some time to send a quick text message. Or two. Couldn’t be too careful when engaging in survival tactics.
Thank god for single room restrooms. With the lock secure, I skimmed through my custom default messages in my phone’s inbox to the one I’ve had to use more than I would like to admit and added the cafe’s geotag from google.
SOS. Start the Grandma protocol. Code Red.
One sent to my husband, one to my mother. One of them was bound to see it. I squared up in the mirror. Ok. Let’s do this.
“Nessa!” a chorus of my old high school friend’s voices accosted me as I opened the frosted glass door.
“Ohmygosh, hi guys!” I forced out, with more enthusiasm than I felt. By a quick survey of the room there were at least two faces that silently pleaded ‘help me’. At least I wouldn’t be alone.
“Nessa, we were just discussing this new line of vitamins I’m trying out!” Lucy wore that shit-eating grin like she was born with it.
I grimaced back weakly. “Oh yeah?” Here comes the pitch…
“Seriously, they’re so life changing, hun! I started taking them after my mother in law recommended them and I’m like. SO. Obsessed! I love them so much I’ve started my own business selling them!”
“That much, huh?” I traded a glance with Ann, who looked like she needed a drink.
“Girl, you have no idea! I love them so much I just wanted to share with all my boss babes!”
Kill meeeee.
It was that moment that my rescuer came in the form of a barista poking her head through the conference room door. I would survive after all.
“Vanessa Tigler? Your mother called here looking for you, she thought your phone might be off. She says it’s about your grandmother?”
“Oh!” I feigned distress.
Bless you, Mom. Bless you.