Trudy's POV
"Can I have a mocha latte and two of these chocolate chip cookies, please," a female customer with straight blonde hair and cat-like eyes said as I took the cookies out of the glass-covered display.
"Here is your mocha latte, Miss," said Red as he gave it to the customer. She smiled sweetly at him as she took it from his hand, brushing her pinky on his fingers. Red just smiled back at her.
"Thank you, Red. By the way, it's Ellie," she said as she gave her credit card to him.
He gladly took it and swipe it in the machine, then took out the receipt.
"Nice to meet you, Ellie," he said as he gave the receipt to her.
She took the receipt and the pen from the counter. Then she wrote something and gave it back to Red.
"Call me," she said and winked at him as she took her coffee and cookies with her. She walked out of the bakery.
As soon as she is out of sight, Red crumpled the paper and threw it in the trash can. Ellie is not the first one to hit on Red. Ever since he took over the cashier job in the bakery, lots of women had asked for his attention by writing their numbers on a piece of paper and handing it to him. But Red never called any one of them and I wondered why.
It has been a month since we had the meeting in our apartment. After the coffee incident, we all sat in our kitchen and discussed about the future of my bakery and how it will be converted into a café in a few months. Heather informed Jane and Elisse who agreed that it is time to ugrade it. Since we haven't found a place yet, we all decided to add a variety of coffee in the bakery menu, for now, to attract more customers.
Drake helped with buying the best coffee equipment. He bought the latest model of the espresso maker and even helped out with taking down James' photo. Heather happily placed the jumpshot photo of the four of us where we went to the beach in college. It was sunset and it was the best photo we ever had so far. Although I could tell how much Drake and Heather hated each other's guts, they actually worked pretty well together.
Red took over as cashier since Eunice was gone. She used to help me a lot in the bakery since it opened. She became my cashier and the main person when I was busy baking at the back. But now, it's Red's job. There was also a dishwasher who used to work with us, but since he moved to a different state before my wedding date, I hired another one.
I was so busy that week that I totally forgot about James. I gained more customers and most of my loyal customers never asked about James but instead, Red became the focus of their attention. He became more popular with my female customers both young and old that the bakery sales went up in one day. He gained more attention than the celebrities who frequent it, too, which was both odd and interesting.
My parents arrived two days after that incident and stayed in our apartment for more than a week, extending their vacation. Heather and I slept in one room since my parents occupied my room. My parents, most especially my mom, were so ecstatic when they learned that Red and I reunited and now, as business partners.
"I always knew that you and Red will be a good match," my mom teased as we were all eating dinner at a restaurant. They didn't cancel their flight that week I'm supposed to get married and decided to spend time with me.
"Mom, please," I told her as I felt myself blushed. Red was seating beside me and was smiling.
"What? I'm just saying you're a good match in business, mamita," she said in her Mexican accent, and then added, "and pleasure,too." She winked at me and I heard Red chuckled while Dad just smiled.
I sighed in embarrassment and bit my lip. My mom had always match us up since we were kids. I remember that in school dances, we would always be partners. She even encouraged me to join the choir at our local church since Red was part of it.
Growing up in a lovely home, a mixed of Mexican and American, we still follow some Mexican traditions. I had my quinseñera party, a traditional sweet sixteen-like party, wherein girls dress up to be like princesses, ready to become young adults. Red has been given the honor to be my escort during that time.
Red has become the favorite of my whole family and I felt like my break up with James was actually a relief for everyone that they easily moved on except for me. Although there were still times I feel the pain, having Red around had somehow made it easier for me to move on...
Since he and my family were close, they have always expected us to be a couple one day.
"I would love to have a sister like you, Trudy," Alicia, Red's older sister, told me one day.
"Well, I'm kind of your sister now, am I?" I told her.
"Yeah... but you know what I mean. Trudy, you and Red are a great match, and if someday both of you realized it, I will be the first one to plan your wedding."
I just laughed about it. At that time, I was only fifteen and didn't look at Red that way. He was my best friend after all and best friends were not supposed to fall in love with each other. Or do they?
Now as I looked at Red, I can't help but think if there was anyway we could go beyond friendship. Since James and I broke off our wedding, I have become so insecure of my looks. I cannot help but compare myself to other women, most especially those attractive ones that always hit on Red.
He looks so different now than seven years ago. He got leaner and his biceps got bigger. Now with a fitted dark grey shirt, I could tell that his chest got buffed a little bit. He probably went to the gym all the time since I last saw him and I suddenly wanted to go, too. I might have gained some weight during the past few months that's why maybe James dumped me.
Maybe if I lose some weight, guys would fall head over heels over me. Is that why Red decided to do it? I always knew he struggled with his weight and maybe, during those times I was away, he probably did it so he can ask the beautiful ladies out on a date. I knew he was always insecure every time he wanted to ask somebody out. He was always conscious of what other people say about him.
I never dared to ask him. Not that I am afraid to ask, but somehow I felt awkward. I am not sure why I suddenly felt awkward around him and I cannot help but think, maybe, I am starting to realize what I really missed all those years. I felt so stupid for focusing all my attention to James all those years. If I probably focused more on Red, then maybe I wouldn't be feeling this way now. Maybe, we're still best friends and he could still tell me everything just like before.
Two weeks ago, I learned that he and Drake got a two-bedroom apartment uptown. I have also learned that he went to a community college to study Culinary Arts Management. He and Drake met in college and he asked him to work for Drake's family-owned bar and restaurant after they graduate as a Food and Beverage Manager. When Heather emailed him, he told Drake about it who somehow also wanted to start his own business away from his family, and chose New York as the best opportunity to do that.
I wanted to ask him so many things. Why didn't he even reach out since I left? Is it my fault? Did I really push him away? We've lost touch since I left. I am not sure if it was me or him. I was so busy with school work and even more when I met James that I didn't bother to call or email him. I was the worst best friend one could ever find.
"Trudy," he said, after we closed in for that day. I turned my head towards him. "It's kind of breezy today and I thought, if you don't have anything to do, maybe we can go for a walk."
Drake went ahead of us, as always, saying he has a date. Most of the time he is the one who takes the trash out only to get the crumpled receipts where the women wrote down their numbers. Sometimes we see those women in the bakery and they would flirt with Drake but others still stared at Red, hoping they would be noticed. Red was polite though. He would always say "hi" and respond to them nicely when they asked him why he never called them.
"Sure, Red. I would love to," I replied. I also wanted to spend time with him, to catch up, so I was so happy he asked.
The High Line is one of the main attractions in Chelsea. It was an old railroad converted into a public park where people can get a glimpse of the busy streets below and the boats floating on the Hudson River from afar. It has a long boardwalk that runs from Gavenspoort Street to 34th street in the west side of Manhattan, filled with different kinds of plants on the sides of it.
"It is nice here," says Red as we walked along the boardwalk. We decided to take the passageway and walked awhile before deciding to sit in one of the chaises overlooking the Hudson River. Red has stopped several times to look at the sculpture and artwork on the walls of the buildings and on the side of the path.
"Yes," I agreed, smiling.
"Do you come here often? I mean, I figured you could have since it was so close to the bakery."
"No," I replied sadly.
"Why? Is this like the perfect date for couples? You take a breath of fresh air, enjoy the art displays and admire the flowers. Then, relax on this chaise. What a good life!" he said and leaned back on the wooden chaise.
I chuckled and leaned at the wooden chaise. I looked at him as he gazed up into the sky. It was already seven o' clock at night and since it's summer, the sun is just setting. The sky turned a bit orange from the river and I saw Red took out his phone to take a photo.
"Wow! That looks amazing," he said and stood up. "C'mon, Trudy, let's take a selfie."
"Okay," I said and we walked towards the barricade. I stood up beside him as he placed his hand around my shoulders and pulled me closer beside him. Using his right hand, he lifted his phone and took a photo. Then, he set it down to look and I look over his shoulder.
"Nice shot," I said and he looked up to me, as our lips almost touched. My breath quickens as I saw his eyes dropped to my lips and back to my eyes. He swallowed as I felt my heart on my throat as it skipped a beat.
"Ummm..." Red cleared his throat as he took off his hands on my shoulders and turned to face the river. He continued taking photos while I was confused on what just happened. I felt enchanted by him that it was so hard to accept that he just brushed it off like that.
"Red..." I covered his hand with mine on the barricade.
I felt him tensed up as he placed his phone in his back pocket.
"I missed this, Trudy. I miss you," he said and looked at me as I looked at him as well.
"I miss you, too, Red," I replied. "I'm sorry-"
"Hey, don't be!" he said as he gripped my hand. "Whatever happened or didn't happen for the past years, it doesn't matter. What's important is that we're both here now... enjoying the sunset."
I smiled. Red has never changed a bit. He was still the nicest guy I have ever met and I knew that no matter how long we have been apart, our hearts were still connected in anyway. That even if we lost a lot of time, our friendship was still the same like nothing really happened.
I probably still felt guilty and there were still unanswered questions but it will be for another time. For now, I will enjoy this moment... and keep it in my album of wonderful memories to cherish forever.