Chapter 5: James

James spent his week journaling, meditating, watching Food Network, and getting dating advice from Shuri, which he regretted as soon as she called, "White Wolf is on the prowl!" He and Trixie texted a few times through the week to establish a time and place. 6:30 on Friday couldn't come soon enough.

He began to chop the fresh veggies he bought. The water was boiling and the chicken was already dressed and in the oven. He dropped the pasta into the bubbling water, cursing at himself for forgetting to salt the water first. He quickly added the salt and watched as it dissolved into the water. Suddenly there was a knock at the door. James walked towards the door, stopping to put on the sportcoat and gloves he left by the tv, and opened the door to a fidgety brunette in a floral sundress.

After making simple pleasantries at the door, Trixie walked in and blurted, "Is that pine?"

"Close," James nodded walking back towards the kitchen, "I burn a stick of sandalwood each time I meditate. I haven't found anything else that works."

"And he meditates," Trixie smiled. Or, maybe not. Didn't she say she meditates last weekend? Did she make the right call? Was this an elaborate lure to get her here? Was she really this stupid?

Trixie looked around the barebones apartment and her stomach sank. There was a couch and a tv in the living room, but nothing else. No art on the walls, nothing that made this place homey. Papers were sprawled on the couch- community college brochures. She smiled, he was taking her advice! Or, was this another carefully laid piece to get her guard down?

She walked into the kitchen where James stirred a pot of pasta, failing to keep it from boiling over as smoke billowed out of the oven.

"I think we're getting takeout instead," James said, his agitation obvious. "Thai? Mexican? I know a little place that does authentic central-African dishes."

"What was the goal?" Trixie asked, indicating the mess that would have been dinner.

"Italian," James responded, "Or maybe Italian-inspired? Chicken and spaghetti without sauce. I guess my skills are more rusty than I thought."

Trixie burst out laughing and most of her nerves faded.

By the end of the night, after ordering both African and Thai along with ice cream, they had made a lunch date for Tuesday and planned to see a minor league ball game Saturday afternoon.

For the first time in a long time, Trixie felt like she wasn't worthless.

For the first time in a long time, James felt.