Sudden Chance

Confess

Rose eats as quickly as she can before hopping off the bar stool. "I'm picking out your outfit for tomorrow." She calls out from halfway down the hall. I figured she would do something like and there is no point in arguing so I just let her continue.

Once I've eaten my gill I take a small portion of the omelet and cut it in half, giving half to Kitters who had made her way back to the kitchen and was rubbing around my ankles looking for handouts. The other half I take out to living room giving it to Moose before going back to put the dishes in the sink. I'm almost done washing them when I hear the doorbell ring.

"Coming!." I yell, snagging the dish towel to dry my hands as I walk to the front door. Moose lifts his head and gives a huff before settling back into his morning nap.

I open the door to John's cheerful smile, a small bouquet of dahlias in hand. "John, good morning!"

"Morning Evie!" He steps inside wrapping me in a bear hug while trying not to crush the dahlias he brought for Rose. It was a tradition, every time Rose stayed with me he would bring her flowers the next morning.

I shut the door once John lets go and I can breathe again. "You may have to drag Rose out of my closet, she is picking my outfit for a coffee meeting I have tomorrow."

"It's a date!" Rose's muffled voice calls from down the hall. After a series of scuffling she pops her head out the end of the hallway. "And it's with Jimmi Simpson." Rose turns the corner and her eyes light up when she sees John.

John hands her the flowers wrapping his arm around her and places a kiss on her forehead before turning to look at me again, "Jimmi Simpson huh? How did you manage that?"

"It's an apology coffee and I'm returning the umbrella that I borrowed from him in yesterday's downpour." I give Rose a pointed look, "He's a firm client so he is off limits."

Rose mouths "It's a date." To John and I let out a sigh. There is no winning with Rose.

"Do you want it to be a date?" John asks me.

I rub my brow and sigh, "It's not really like it matters what I want there are still rules in place, expectations I have to meet."

John waits a moment to answer, reading my expression. "Okay. Do what's right for you, but you are allowed to want things Evie." He doesn't push it more but instead helps usher Rose out the door so that I can have some time to myself.

With Rose and John gone I'm left to my own thoughts. And I don't like that. So I quickly start cleaning, even stripping all the linens from the bed and washing those. It's late afternoon by the time I run out of steam to do anything else. I collapse backwards onto the couch letting out a big groan.

"Moose, go cook dinner I'm too tired." I look over at the dog who doesn't even lift his head. Of course not.

Well delivery exists for a reason. I could get my groceries delivered and cook something, or I can order already cooked food. Better yet I can order groceries and I can order cooked food. Yep, that's the plan. I order groceries first before browsing through the different restaurant options. Pizza? No. Mexican? No. How about Chinese? Yep. It won't be here for over an hour so I flip on the tv and load up where I left off in Westworld.

I'm over an episode in when my groceries arrive, and I turn the volume on my tv louder so I can listen as I put everything away. By the time I've finished my dinner has arrived and I settle back into the sofa, putting what I can't hold on the small coffee table. As I'm eating my phone buzzes from the couch cushion letting me know I have a new message. I snort when I see the contact name, Rose had added Jimmi's name to my contacts but surrounded it with an obscene amount of heart emojis. I delete all the hearts from his contact name before going to read the message.

'Can we meet at 7 tomorrow instead of 10? I am so sorry to ask but I have to leave for filming earlier than I thought.'

I quickly type back, 'Yeah, no worries! I'll see you tomorrow. J"

A moment later another message comes through, 'Thanks so much! See you tomorrow.'

I smile and set down my phone turning my attention back to Westworld. By the time I can pull myself back out of the show the first season has ended and it's almost 11 at night. I yawn and stretch, dragging my body off the couch. If I expect to be able to get out of bed in time for coffee, then I need to go to sleep now instead of later. The animals both slowly toddle their way down the hall after me and into my room. I set my alarm and crash into bed, curling up in the plush comforter and quickly delving into slumber.

When the alarm goes off in the morning I hit snooze. And when it goes off the second time I hit snooze again. It isn't until the alarm goes off for the third time so I actually get up out of bed. I look at the time. Shit shit shit. I really need to get a move on. I rush myself getting ready leaving an absolute disaster in my wake. I check my phone again, I should be there now. Like right now.

"Moose!" I call out to the snoozing dog who wakes up with a snort. I throw his harness on and he grumbles his protests. No time to let him walk there. Moose is a great dog, he really is. But he is slow. Sloth would be a better name than Moose. I tuck him under arm and head out the door, locking it before setting off at a jog.

The coffee shop isn't that far but it still takes me over 15 minutes to get to the shop. As I get closer I see Jimmi sitting at a table out front and he gives a wave when he sees me.

"I am so so sorry I'm late. I was up really late last night and ended up hitting snooze one too many times this morning. But I brought Moose." I lift up Moose a bit and the dog yawns, still not happy I've dragged him out of the house.

"Oh look at you! Will he let me pet him?"  Jimmi looks at me hopefully and I nod. His lopsided grin as he pets Moose is adorable but it disappears almost as quickly as it arrived. "Everything alright?"

I blush slightly as Jimmi continues to pet Moose, "Yeah, everything is fine. I just uh I got caught up in a show and didn't really notice how much time had passed." I try to change the subject, "Do you mind watching Moose while I go in and order?" 

Jimmi gives a small laugh and rubs the back of his head, "Well I may have already ordered for us." He pulls out the chair to the table and gestures for me to sit, his voice taking on a funny tone "For you m'lady."  

I giggle and mock curtesy, changing my voice to match his, "Why thank you good sir." I sit down and set Moose on the ground. He immediately settles down underneath my chair and starts snoozing away, 

"He's not a very energetic little guy is he?" Jimmi chuckles as he slides a muffin and a coffee across the table. 

"Thank you Jimmi, you really didn't have to. And I was late on top of it." I groan and let out a sigh, "I really am sorry."

Jimmi's hand reaches across the table but he stops himself short and his fingers just graze over my own. "It's okay Evelyn. You don't have to worry about it." 

I smile, "Call me Evie, I think the only one that calls me Evelyn is my dad." 

"Evie then. Well Evie, I'm afraid I have something to confess." Jimmi grows solemn.