Page 63 of Reel Love

“No problem. I had a free day. I’m going to be working tomorrow and then off the island for the next four days for a job, but you caught me on a day when I had nothing planned for the afternoon.”

She smiles and extends her hands for the bags.

I walk past her, “Tell me where to set these.”

I realize my error only a beat later. “Sorry. I shouldn’t assume I can just walk into your house.”

“No. No. It’s fine. I’ll just grab the last of the stuff from the cart. Straight through to the kitchen.”

I let out a surprisingly shaky breath. What was I thinking, just walking past her like that? It’s what I would do if I were bringing groceries to anyone else. But she’s not just anyone else.

Her home is spacious and clean, with windows everywhere making it feel like the outdoors is a part of the home. The views to the east lead out her deck, over treetops and toward the ocean. The rest of the home has a private woods surrounding it.

Her kitchen is stunning. All high-end appliances. I chuckle when I remember her saying someone else cooks most of her meals for her. This space begs to be used by someone who knows how to prepare cuisine. I set the bags on the island and start to remove items and set them on the granite countertops.

“Oh! Thank you. Wow. Joel is going to have to step up his delivery game. He usually just hands me the bags at the door and heads off.”

“Oh. Sorry. I didn’t mean to intrude. I can just …” I abandon my unpacking and take a step toward the living room I just passed through.

“No. No. Stay. I’m about to eat anyway. Want to join me?”

“To eat?”

“That is what I had in mind.” She laughs lightly, that melodic laugh of hers. “After all, you fed me a sandwich yesterday.”

“Was that only yesterday?”

“I know. It feels like a lifetime. What a day. But that’s over and we’re here in my haven. Have you eaten?”

I have to admit the truth. “I haven’t.”

“Then stay. I’ll feed you and then you can get back to whatever you were going to do with your evening.”

“Reading about octopi.”

She smiles. It’s not a condescending smile. Just warm. And I’m back to seeing her as simply another woman, not Alana Graves, world-renowned actress.

EIGHTEEN

Alana

And sometimes you love a person

just because they feel like home.

~ Bridget Jones's Baby

Stevens gets back to unpacking my groceries. It should feel odd or intrusive, but he’s moving through the kitchen with such unassuming ease I nearly forget he’s never been here before. That is until he asks his next question.

“Where does this go?” He holds up a large container of plain Greek yogurt.

I laugh lightly. “The fridge. Where do you keep your yogurt?”

“I guess I meant to ask where your fridge is. All I see are cabinets.”

I laugh out loud. Not at him. Then I walk past him and open the refrigerator, which does have a cabinetry front to make the aesthetic of the kitchen more streamlined.

“Ahh. Camouflage. I’m a fan of cloaking in nature. Not so sure how I feel about it in kitchens. At least your stove is out in the open, not hiding in plain sight.” He smiles at me.

---