Chapter 2
In the morning, Mason and Livi drive me to the airport. In the passenger drop-off area, we all climb out of Mason’s tall truck and he retrieves my suitcase from the back. I’m smiling from the jokes we told on the drive, but now that I’m here, I’m a little nervous about the convention. I still worry that no one will take me seriously as a businesswoman. Visions of being mistaken for an usher or a waitress float across my worried mind.
“Call me if you need anything,” Mason says, handing over my suitcase.
“I’ll be in Arizona,” I say. “You couldn’t help me even if you wanted to.”
He frowns. “You know what I mean. Be safe. Don’t go to strange places after dark. Always keep your phone charged in case you have to call 9-1-1.”
Livi takes his arm. “Babe, she’s an adult. She can take care of herself.”
“Yeah, but she’s my baby cousin so I worry.”
“You don’t have to worry about me,” I say. I feel more confident after I say it, because it’s true. I’ve got this. I’ll just hang out at the hotel all weekend, so I don’t even need a rental car.
Livi pulls me in for a hug. “Have fun.”
“Thanks,” I say, hugging her back. “See you guys on Sunday.”
After going through security, I make it to my terminal and sit facing the window so I can watch the planes take off and land. Before long, my flight boards, and then I’m touching down in Phoenix.
I knew it would be hot here, but it’s so much hotter than back home in Texas. It’s a better kind of hot, though. The air is dry and not humid like I’m used to.
I find a taxi, and before long, I’m standing in the lobby of the massive Hilton hotel and convention center. The place is pretty luxurious and swanky and I’m surprised the room prices weren’t that expensive. It’s all a business expense for me though, and I’m excited and incredibly nervous to be on my first official business trip.
Today is just the day for signing in and getting settled. Tomorrow there’s a keynote speaker at eight in the morning, and then panels and workshops all day. In one of the rooms, there are hundreds of business service vendors set up, and I’m eager to look through them. The brochure lists everything from fancy new cash registers, to places that design stickers and postcards, to interior design places. I’m pretty in love with how I’ve decorated my bakery. It’s modern and pink and sparkly and looks like it walked right out of one of those cupcake baking shows on TV. But I’m always eager to find new resources, so I can’t wait to hit the vendor area.
For now, I check into my hotel and find my room, which is on the tenth floor. I open the curtains that look out over Phoenix and take in the view. Arizona looks vastly different from Texas. It’s more like a tan desert out there, with rugged terrain and barely any green in sight. Mable Falls is all sloping grassy hills and trees as far as you can see.
I text Livi and tell her I made it safely, before plopping onto the tightly made bedsheets and turning on the hotel TV. I’m hungry, but I’m tired from the travelling so I want to rest first.
My phone dings. I look over and see Livi’s name on the screen.
Cool beans!
That’s totally not something she would say, but it does sound familiar. Another text pops up.
This is Mason, btw. Livi is elbows deep in guacamole.
I laugh and reply: Exactly how much guacamole is she making?
He writes back: Doesn’t matter. It’ll never be enough!
I chuckle and set the phone down. Most people I know would never let their boyfriend or girlfriend play on their phone. It’s a trust thing, and I guess a lot of people don’t trust the person they’re dating. But sometimes when I’m hanging out with Mason and Livi, they’ll do things like this that are just little relationship things, and I feel myself getting that biting sting of jealousy. It’s not in a bad way, because I love my cousin and best friend. I don’t have anything against them, I just get so sad sometimes because they have something I want.
I’ve been single for so long that it’s kind of a joke now. Sure, I’ve been on the occasional date with a stranger, but it never turns into anything. The guys who meet me in the bakery and ask me out never really turn into quality guys. I don’t have a connection with anyone. And the worst part is that I live in the town I grew up in. I already know all the men in Mable Falls, and it’s not a lot. Back when I was in high school, there weren’t many cute guys to crush on, and after graduation the prospects only got worse. Now, sometimes a cute guy will walk into my shop from out of town, and occasionally I’ll get flirted with, but it’s all just for nothing.
Keesha says it’s because men are afraid of a powerful woman who owns her own business. I know she’s just a teenager, but it’s kind of a pretty good point. Guys are stupid like that. They get insecure if they feel the woman is smarter than they are. Maybe that’s why I haven’t had any meaningful relationships?
But thinking about guys being idiots doesn’t comfort me at all. I want a boyfriend. I want to get married one day and have kids and live happily ever after. I want a man who is strong enough to support that I’m independent, and confident to be my partner without letting himself feel all emasculated.
As much as I worry about myself, about how maybe I’m not pretty enough, or not good enough, or that I’m too nice or boring for a guy to like, another part of me knows that I’m not the problem. The problem is that I live in Mable Falls, a sleepy little country town with no good single men.
How can I find my true love if I never get out and meet people?
Mason was lucky. He met Livi through me. I pretty much set them up, even though I didn’t see it coming at first. I smile to myself as I consider calling him up and telling him he owes me. I introduced him to his true love, so now he needs to find someone for me.
If only love worked that way. If only it was as easy as asking someone to return a favor by bringing you a soul mate.
Every time it feels like I’m slipping back into this depression over being single, I try to cheer myself up. I’m only twenty-four. I’m still plenty young enough to find love. So what if my mom met my dad when she was nineteen. And if Grandma married Grandpa when they were twenty-two. There’s still time for me. It’s not like I’m unlovable. I’m a nice person. I have pretty long brown hair that’s naturally wavy, and Livi is always saying she’s jealous of my naturally tan skin. Sure, I’m a little overweight, but I think I carry it well. It’s all mostly in my hips and ass, and some guys like that. I just need to find those guys.
As I lay in my hotel’s surprisingly comfortable bed, I tell myself to shrug off these thoughts of men and dating and love. None of that even matters right now. I’m in a whole different state, looking to find ways to grow my business. Love can wait for another time.