Kat slowed and took the call. “Hey.”
“Good fudge nuggets, lady. Where’ve you been?”
Kat smiled. “Fudge nuggets” was Mia’s favorite term to replace outright foul language. It had started as a joke, but over time had stuck. “Sorry, I’m buried. Just leaving work now.”
“So, let’s meet up.”
“Sure, where to?”
“How about the Taco Bar?”
“That works. See you in twenty minutes.”
Kat was already in line at the Taco Bar when Mia sidled up beside her.
“What is going on?”
“Big project at work. They had a glitch with another exhibit so someone from on high decided this one would be easy to bump up and fill in.”
“Ugh. What about next weekend?”
Kat placed her order then turned to Mia with feigned wide-eyed innocence. “Why? What’s next weekend?”
Mia screwed up her face and nudged Kat’s arm. “As far as I can tell, nothing.”
Kat laughed. “Aw, poor baby. Don’t worry, we’ll celebrate your big day. I know I don’t have to work late Friday night because my boss has other plans. What do you want to do?”
“Let’s get a few peeps together and hang out,” Mia suggested.
A small group of mutual friends from Chicago had landed in New York, but Mia also had lots of work friends, plus the studio partners. Afewmight not be possible.
“Sure,” Kat said as they made their way to a table. “We can do something low key at my place. I haven’t seen anyone in ages. Get me a guest list. Try for ten or twelve. You know the size of my apartment.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
Their order arrived, and Kat turned her attention to the food, inhaling the spices. “Oh, my gosh, this smell so good.” She hadn’t had a decent meal all week.
“I guess you’re still on with Colorado Man?” Mia asked between bites.
“I am. In fact, he texted me today that he got the HomeBuilders spot. How cool is that?”
“Very,” Mia agreed. “So, when will he be back in town?”
“No idea.”
Mia rolled her eyes. “Yeah, that sure sounds like the makings of a romantic relationship.” Her words dripped with sarcasm.
Kat nudged back under the table. “Who says I need a romance right now, anyway? Can we please get back to the topic at hand?” But Kat, herself, had trouble switching gears. Yes, Nick Summers made her heart go pitter-patter. But her brain usually intervened—and reminded her that a romance wasn’t feasible. Still, she was anxious to talk to him, to hear the pride or excitement in that deep, rich voice of his. Her cell phone pulled at her like an invisible current. She couldn’t wait to call Nick. He said he didn’t have a lot of details, but that didn’t keep her from wondering about them. Where would they film? Would he come back to New York?
She nearly choked at her next thought. How lucky for her mother. Kat had been thinking of how good the HomeBuilders opportunity would be for Nick, and that was true. But it’d be a coup for her mom as well. She could claim the carpenter on TV had done work in her house. The thought made Kat want to throw up, especially after her mother’s dismissive treatment of Nick. She almost wished the new gig would give Nick an excuse to back out of her mother’s job. He’d never do that. Besides, she loved the idea of seeing Nick’s craftsmanship in her parents’ home.
She got a few more specifics from Mia for the party, then pushed back her chair. “Not sure I’ll have any studio time this weekend, but I’ll get the invitations out for next Friday night,” Kat told Mia as they left the restaurant. Thankfully, Kat would only be responsible for the behind-the-scenes set-up. Mia would provide the party vibe.
* * *
After a celebratory dinner at his parents’ house, Nick headed back to his place. He pulled a can of sparkling water from the fridge and settled onto the couch with his tax folder. Another task to get started on. Without knowing timing details of the HomeBuilders commitment, the schedule for everything else took on a sense of urgency. Tomorrow, he planned to spend the entire day on Rebecca’s pieces.
He picked up the remote and switched the TV to the HomeBuilders channel. He’d just begun to separate receipts into various categories when his phone chimed. In one quick motion, he answered.
