Page 16 of Cole

“Both girls, but I don’t know their names.”

“They didn’t tell you?” Annie asked as she glanced over his order. When he didn’t reply, Annie looked back at her phone to see a sheepish expression on his face. “What?”

“Oh… well… they didtellme. I just forgot.”

Annie chuckled as she shook her head. “You don’t remember at all?”

“Maddy? Molly? Emily?” Cole shrugged. “I think one or both ended in a y… Is it a problem? Do you need the names?”

“It doesn’t really matter,” Annie said. “I was just curious if you knew them.”

“So you figured I wouldn’t and set me up?”

Annie grinned. “Not intentionally.”

“Well, now you know that I might not be the best with names.”

“I’m surprised you remembered mine.”

“Let me correct myself. I’m not the best with names that don’t matter to me.”

Annie froze for a moment. Was he… flirting with her? Surely not. She was well aware of the sort of woman Cole dated. And she definitely was not it.

“Do you remember my brother’s name?” Annie asked, curious, but also wanting to remind herself that Cole didn’t know her well enough for her to matter to him.

“Yep, I do,” Cole said. “Benji.”

“Not sure I buy that you’re not good with names,” Annie told him. “But we’ll leave the name discussion for now. Here’s what I think we should do.”

“I’m all ears.”

“I currently have three different patterns for baby girls.” Annie moved to pick up a sleep sack of each pattern. “If you choose the ones you want, I can then pick the other items in the same pattern.”

“I can do that. What are my options?”

Annie lifted the first sleep sack and held it close to her phone’s lens. “This one has pink and green flowers.” She set it down and picked up the next one. “Pink and yellow. And the last one is purple and green.”

She gathered all three and held them so he could see them together and compare them.

His brow furrowed. “You know, they all look good to me. But maybe the purple and green, and the pink and yellow.”

“Good choice.” Annie lowered the sleep sacks to the worktable. “So I’ll adjust your order to line up with these two patterns.”

“Will it cost more?” Cole asked. “I don’t want you to be out of pocket for these changes.”

“No. I’m just swapping the patterns, not the items. I’ll divide the order into the two patterns and bundle them together, so all you have to do is give it to them.”

“Thanks so much, Annie,” Cole said. “I’m glad you reached out to make this the best gift possible.”

“You’re welcome. I appreciate your support of my business.”

“Do you think you’ll be able to make a skating costume for Amelia?” Cole asked as he shifted, his image jolting, before he settled back in his seat.

Though the change of subject felt abrupt, it wasn’t a subject she minded discussing.

“I’m not sure.” Annie also settled into her chair, leaving the order prep for a moment. Nyla came to sit next to her, and Annie reached out to run her fingers through her fur. “I’m going to take Benji to the rink this afternoon to watch Amelia skate, so maybe I’ll have a chance to talk to Lexi about it then.”

“Is that a dog?” Cole asked, his eyes narrowing as he squinted at the screen.

---