Page 41 of Here's to Tomorrow

“Nice to meet you, Perry. Thanks so much for meeting me today. I know this is sort of short notice, but I’m really wanting to get things going on this.”

“No problem, I can understand that. I guess let’s just dive in. I worked a little this morning after we hung up.” He takes out a red folder and slides it my way. “I checked out your current website and logo and tried to go off that. I know it’s not much, but it’s a start.”

I flip open the folder and am pleasantly surprised by what I find. This is exactly what I was wanting, and I didn’t even know it.

As a play on the name of the shop, the lettering on Jacked Up is cracked without it being too obnoxious. It’s placed over a sleek brushed metal that is also full of cracks. The name is in a bright white, the metal a dark blue with a gold inset. Along the bottom is a slogan—something we’ve never had.

“Nothing is too jacked up for us,” I read aloud.

Perry screws his face up. “Yeah, like I said, it’s just a quick draft.”

“As lame as it—no offense—it’s damn funny and probably corny enough to work.”

“Really?”

I laugh, at his shock and at myself. I didn’t want to like the dude, but I kind of do, at least for his talent. “Yeah, man. I like the entire thing. This is perfect, exactly what I was wanting. You did a damn fine job, Perry. Is this look something that can be carried over into the website and business cards?”

His mouth snaps shut then opens again. He does this once more before words manage to make it out. “Yes! Sorry.” He clears his throat. “Yes, definitely. Easily, actually. I can start on something this week if you want?”

“Yes, please. I’m really diggin’ this. I think it’s going to help give us a little extra something. If this all goes well and you’re up for it, I may have you design a few ads. Is that something you’d be interested in?”

“Oh, yeah!” he says excitedly. “Sorry, I’m kind of amped up over this. I just graduated in the spring and I have been struggling to secure a good design position somewhere, so this is kind of my first go at things. I interned at a firm for a few months but I don’t think the office thing is my strong point, so I was going to try out the freelancing thing.” He takes a deep breath. “Thanks for taking a chance on me, man. I appreciate it. I’m going to have to take Rae out to dinner for this one.”

He laughs at his own joke, but all I can muster is a strangled chuckle because he’s talking about taking the girl I’m way too interested in out to dinner.

My inner Logical Hudson tries to reason with me:They’re just close friends. Chill.

But the more inappropriate No-Bullshit Hudson sitting in the forefront of my mind disagrees:Nope, dude. They’re fucking or they have fucked. They were way too chummy for anything else.

And then there’s the Hudson who can’t keep his mouth shut: “Yeah, that Rae sure is something.”

Once my voice hits my ears, I know I sound like a total prick. My tone is angry, annoyed. I have no right to be either. An odd expression passes over Perry’s face but it’s gone before I can read into it more.

“You’re preaching to the choir. She’s a handful, that’s for sure.”

I hate how he says it, full of love and familiarity. I want to reach over and slap the love-stricken look right off his face, and it’s become clear that No-Bullshit Hudson has taken over my brain.

Somehow, I contain my violent urges and force out more polite laughter. “So, did you have anything for me to sign? Anything I need to fill out?”

He pulls a packet of papers from the binder. “I do. I have a questionnaire you can fill out. It gives me an idea of what extra stuff you’re wanting on your website, that kind of stuff. Then I have a contract for you to sign. Most designers require a down payment of sorts, and you’ll see in the contract that I put down twenty-five percent for starters and then the rest when the project is complete. If you’re okay with that, we can do that today so I can get started on things.”

I glance over the questionnaire and contract. It all seems legit to me. “You say you’re just getting started in this? This contract looks good for a newbie.”

“My dad is handy with the legal jargon. Plus, my uncle is an accountant at a law firm so he has the inside scoop on what makes a good contract.”

“Nice. Lucky you then.” I quickly fill out what I can of the questionnaire and sign the contract. “I’m gonna be straight with you, Perry, I’m not good with the creative stuff like this. I have no idea what works and what doesn’t. I know that in my profession, I hate when people try to tell me how to do my job, so I’m going to leave it all up to you. I filled in a few things I would like to see, but that’s it. I’m an easygoing guy and I have a feeling you’re not going to screw me over.” My gut is telling me to at least trust his artistic abilities, if nothing else. “So, I’m leaving a lot of this up to you. Now, who do I make the check out to?”

I pay Perry and we wrap up our meeting with a promise of seeing something by Thursday. I’m pumped. He seems to have solid ideas for the new look, and I’m hoping it’s going to be everything I’m wanting.

I’m also hoping that Logical Hudson is right, that they’re just close friends, or hell, even family. Either way, I want everything done as fast as possible, because I don’t know how long I can stomach working with him when he clearly has feelings for Rae, especially after that weird sudden urge to smash the guy’s pretty face in.

The worst part is that I have no right at all to have any sort of urges like that. I don’t own Rae. I don’t even know her that well. Hell, I’m not evenreallydating her…yet. There’s no reason for this, but I can’t help it. I have this odd feeling of protectiveness when it comes to her. I felt it the first time we locked eyes. They looked tired and sad, and it felt like she was pleading with me for some sort of help.

I know—I know—that sounds crazy considering Ijustmet the girl, but I swear it doesn’t feel that way. She seems familiar, like I’ve known her for years. Even though I haven’t, I feel like Ihaveto get to know her.

My gut is screaming at me over it, and if there’s anything I’ve learned about myself over the last several years, it’s to trust my gut.

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