“So you gave him your number?” she asked. “Why would you do that? Why not take his again?”
“Why would I take his again?” I countered as I loaded some lever-arch files in with the rest of my stuff. “He took mine. Problem solved. You said he would be the best person to help and he’s going to help.”
“Yeah, but now you’ve given up all the power already. You could have made him work for your number at the very least.”
With a shake of my head, I laughed until a woman farther down the aisle shot me an annoyed look. “It’s nothing more than him looking for a house for me, Beth. I don’t need any power in that relationship. All I need is the money to either buy or rent whatever place he comes up with. If I even like it, that is.”
Her face fell. “But you said you liked him.”
“I said I found him attractive. That doesn’t mean anything.” More than attractive actually. Having spent some more time with him, I’d also learned that he was attentive, kind, charming, and witty. All of which were qualities that I liked in a man. “Trust me. There’s nothing going on between us.”
“Could there be?” she asked, hope sparking behind her eyes. “He wasn’t the only one who couldn’t stop staring. I really thought I saw some chemistry between you two.”
“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel anything with him.” I’d felt a lot, but I was pretty sure he didn’t feel the same way. He’d been polite, friendly, and pleasant enough, but he hadn’t said or done a single thing that was flirtatious or otherwise indicated any kind of mutual attraction.
For a guy like him, I wasn’t surprised. Despite my more voluptuous shape, I didn’t have any body issues. I was really pretty confident for a bigger girl.
Did it mean that I pranced around in barely there skirts or in bikinis on beaches full of people? No, but I couldn’t imagine I’d do that even if I lost the weight.
I loved my fuller hips and breasts, and though I didn’t necessarily love the jiggling of my stomach or thighs, I didn’t really look at them often enough to hate them either. The point was, though, that despite how I felt about myself, men like Taydom didn’t look at me.
I was girl-next-door pretty. The bright emerald of my eyes and sleek black hair I’d inherited from my mother, along with the heart shape of her face and full lips, guaranteed that I got some attention, but I wasn’t a stunner, and I was perfectly happy with that.
There was no changing it anyway. My body type was what it was, and no amount of dieting or exercise when I’d been younger had changed it, so I lived healthily but had stopped obsessing about the extra weight.
“What’s the problem then?” Beth interrupted my thoughts. “You felt something with him and I’m convinced he felt it too. I was an outsider to your conversation, and as an outsider, I feel like I’m in a better position to judge body language.”
“You were a biased outsider who knew that I thought he was attractive. I love you for it, Beth, but you’re not completely objective.”
She huffed out a breath as we moved slowly down the aisle. “I might not be objective, but I’m not blind, either. There was something there. I’m telling you now. Mark my words.”
“Fine, consider them marked. It’s nothing, though. I promise. He’s just a nice guy and he’s really good at his job.”
“Sure, I can agree with you on the last part, but nothing I’ve read suggests he’s a nice guy. If anything, he’s known to be an aloof, evasive dick who gets things done. No matter what the cost.”
I rolled my eyes at her. “Are you listening to yourself? That’s what you’ve read. Isn’t the press known for embellishing and creating mystery in order to sell their stories?”
“Maybe.” She sighed and placed her hands on the handle of the cart, no longer nudging it along with her elbows. “But I don’t think that’s it. I’ve read a ton about this guy, and they’ve all reported the same things.”
“He probably just knows what to say and how to act to sell news.” Taking a bulk pack of sticky notes off the shelf, I turned to survey what we had so far. “I think we’re almost done. You want to add some ice cream before we take off?”
She gave me a bright smile. “Of course I do. Who wouldn’t want ice cream? It’s hot as hell outside.”
I laughed. “You make a good point. We’d better get some extra for our freezers too.”
Saying those words made me think of something else I’d been considering but hadn’t mentioned to her. Beth and I spent most nights these days staying over at each other’s houses, and the more I thought about it, the more I realized she’d be the perfect roommate.
“When I find a house,” I started, not really knowing how to broach the subject, “would you like to move in with me? You could save on rent and it’d be fun living together.”
“It would be fun,” she said, but her tone made her answer pretty clear. “But I’m fine in my little two-bedroom house. It’s more than enough for me, and better yet, I don’t have any responsibilities. My tiny lawn could go for a month without being mowed, and I never have to worry if I have nothing but wine in my fridge.”
I couldn’t help but feel a frisson of relief running through me. I’d been living on my own for a while now and I hadn’t really wanted to give that up. “That’s fine. I just thought I’d offer. You’ve done so much for me and—”
Her hand flew up to clamp over my mouth. “Stop it with all that already. You do just as much for me, and everything I’ve done, I’ve done because I wanted to. You don’t owe me anything, least of all a place to stay.”
“You would save on rent,” I offered.
She rolled her eyes at me. “The truck’s doing well enough that I can afford it. I appreciate the offer, babe, really. You’re welcome to stay with me whenever you like, and I expect the same privileges at your place, but you don’t have to worry about me.”
My phone chiming distracted both of us.
Beth’s eyes lit up. “Is that him?”
“I don’t know yet.” I laughed. “Give me a second to get it out of my purse.”
Practically bouncing beside me, she waited impatiently to read the message, which was from the him in question. “It’s Taydom.”
“I knew it.” She gave her butt a wiggle. “I knew he liked you.”
I turned my screen toward her so she could see for herself that there was nothing going on between us.
Unknown: See? This is what you do when people give you their number. You reach out. Are you free tomorrow sometime so I can get an idea of what you’re looking for?
“Girl, how is that not flirting?” She stared at my phone and jabbed a finger at it. “That’s totally flirting. Don’t message him back right away. Wait a day or two. Take back the power.”
“I told you I don’t care about the power.” I turned the screen back and typed a fast reply, sending it off before she could make me doubt myself.
Me: Sure. Tomorrow would be great. Since my time is flexible right now, what time works for you?