around a bit for cute guys the entire time was definitely going to put a new shine on all of
my favorite spots. Even if I was still a bit nervous, there was no harm in browsing.
CHAPTER ONE
* Kim *
I didn’t want to tell my coworkers that I was going to be in the city for my vacation. I knew
that if it got busy, they would be calling, emailing, and texting me at all hours if they thought I was within reach. I’d spent the last two weeks giving them all the notes they could
possibly need on my files, resources, and projects.
So I implied that I was going away, by mentioning my limited access to cell service, and
they should only call if it was an emergency. That sounded a bit shady, but I was fairly
certain they would forgive me if they found me out. Everyone deserves a break, and they
did mention work-life balance at the last big meeting.
Besides, almost everyone at this particular little media company worked in the west end.
They also lived there, went to the restaurants and bars there, and pretty much never left. If
I stayed right downtown, checking out the museums and galleries and artsy restaurants on
Queen Street, they would never run into me.
It was absolute bliss waking up the first Monday morning of my vacation, and having
nowhere in particular to be. Although I had a mental list of things I would like to see and do
this week, nothing was carved in stone.
As I showered, did my makeup, and put on one of my favorite summer dresses, I thought
about how hilarious it was to leave at approximately the same time as I would to get to the
office, but to go instead to a café with a giant patio.
Coffee, Eggs Benedict, and a good book kept me company for an hour and a half. There
was just enough breeze to ruffle my hair, and just enough sunlight flickering through the tree
above me to warm my face. Then I simply strolled west and south, looking in shop
windows, popping into little gift stores, and enjoying my morning.
By one in the afternoon, I had wandered near the financial district. There was a lovely
restaurant with another big patio. It was absolutely swarmed with business people having
important lunches, but there was one tiny table in the corner free.
As soon as I got the menu, I realized I should have checked the reviews of this place before
I sat down. It was unbelievably expensive. On the other hand, it was the first day of my