Page 5 of Curvy Crush
“So you mentioned building a new hotel in town?”
He nods. “We’re in the beginning stages, but yes. The team got word that the local ski lodge here was booked solid and other than a bed and breakfast, there isn’t really any place for tourists to stay. So we figured why not?”
I take a sip of my beer. “Is it just going to be a regular hotel, or are you trying to compete with the ski resort?”
He shakes his head. “No, nothing like that. I don’t want to compete. As far as I’m concerned, this is a small town full of family businesses. This hotel will basically help support the ski resort even more. They’ll still get all the foot traffic of people coming to ski, but won’t have to worry about turning them away because they’re booked. It will be luxurious, though. I plan on having a bar, restaurant, and spa. Nothing better after a day of skiing than a massage, dinner, and drinks.” He smiles.
I laugh. “You’re right there. How’s everything else? You ever settle down?”
Shepard snorts and rolls his eyes. “Me? Are you crazy?”
I can’t hold back my laughter. “You never know.”
“Sure, and the answer is no. I date, so it’s not like I’m just keeping myself holed up in my office or something, but none of them have been special enough to stick… yet.”
“Yeah, I feel ya. I haven’t even been dating. Ihavebeen keeping myself holed up in my studio. It’s just hard to meet people in such a small town… unless, of course, it’s a tourist, and then it can’t be anything serious because they always leave and go back home.”
He grins. “Maybe that’s what you need to get over this hump you’re stuck on.”
“Yeah… maybe,” I agree without even really meaning to. Getting involved again isn’t really what I feel like I need, even if it isn’t something serious. I’m still too jaded over my last relationship. My girlfriend of six years who became my fiancée for two more years decided one day that this town wasn’t big enough for her. She wanted to see more, she didn’t want to settle down. Since I’m pretty much settled in life, I didn’t want to go. She stuck around for a while, and we both tried changing the other’s mind, but in the end neither of us gave and we went our separate ways. Well, she did. I’m still right where she left me. It’s been hard being alone all of the time, and it’s even harder to trust anyone now. I thought we were heading for marriage and kids and growing old together, but she had no plans of having children or settling down.
I realize that people grow and change and want different things, and that’s what’s led me to where I am now. Even if I did find someone I was interested in, that’s no guarantee that things would work out, that she won’t change or that I won’t. It just seems easier and less painful to live the life I was born to live. I wasn’t born with anyone. You’re born alone, you die alone. Whose idea was it to fill the spaces in between? It leads to nothing but pain and heartbreak.
“So, how long are you planning on sticking around?” I ask Shepard.
“Oh, I’m leaving first thing in the morning. I just finished my last meeting, the board has to vote on whether or not they’re going to let me build here. If they let me in, I’ll be here more frequently as we get the hotel up and running.”
“Well, make sure you get ahold of me when you’re in town. It’s been years since we got to hang out like this. Even though it won’t be anything like college.”
He laughs. “Yeah, we had some wild times, didn’t we?”
I wave him off. “We were a bunch of kids. You can’t get wild like that in this town. Everyone will talk about it for a month, or until the next big thing happens.”
He laughs and takes a drink of his beer. “Probably for the best.”
The waitress comes over to take our order, and we both select a nice juicy steak, baked potatoes, and a salad. We eat, drink, talk, and laugh like no time has passed. It doesn’t feel like we’re both adult men who have lives and jobs. It feels like we’re both just a couple of college kids trying to have a good time. For the first time in a long time, I don’t think about being alone, or work, or responsibilities. I’m just able to kick back and relax.
Shepard has always been wild and crazy. Back in college, we got into a lot of shit together. We’d hit up all the parties, end up wasted and lost in another city, and even lost our clothes a time or two from playing poker with no money. I can’t even count how many watches and sneakers this guy made me gamble on asure thing. He’s a little more chill now, but there’s one thing that hasn’t changed: we’re still just as good of friends as ever. It doesn’t matter how much time has passed. Even though we’re both adults with responsibilities now, we stay out too late, eat too much, and drink more than either of us should. We don’t call it a night until after midnight and, even then, he’sstillnot ready to leave, but morning will come early, and I have to put an end to the party.
***
In the morning, I’m feeling a little dehydrated from drinking all night, so I stop at the market for a Gatorade and grab a hot breakfast sandwich from the deli section before heading to the studio. I have several interviews today, but I spaced them all out so I wouldn’t have to worry about losing a whole day’s worth of work.
My first interview is at nine. I look at my watch and see that it’s only eight fifteen. I eat my sandwich on my walk to the studio, and I spend most of the morning drinking my Gatorade. After the first two interviews, I’m not convinced I’ll find someone. The people are okay, we seemed to get along and click well, but their photos are subpar. I need their quality of work to speak for them, since they will be speaking for me on my website. If the photos aren’t good, people will look at them and think that my work sucks, which won’t help sell anything. I need the photos to be of the highest quality. It doesn’t matter if I like the photographer or not.
After my second interview and a quick lunch, I get back to work on painting the old Victorian bed and breakfast. I wanted each picture in this series to be of a different time of year. The lake scene is in the fall, with red and orange leaves on the trees and the grass is slowly wilting and turning a brownish color. The winter scene is of the mountains with a brooding, gray sky and bright, white snow-capped peaks and trees. The drive-in diner is in the summer with a clear, blue sky and the waitresses skating around with milkshakes on their trays. The Victorian bed and breakfast will be in springtime with brightly colored, blooming flowers, green grass, and leaves filling out the tree branches.
I start adding fine detail to the bark of the tree trunks and beads of dew on the grass when I hear the door open and slam shut. It echoes through the building and cuts straight through me. I take a deep breath and tell myself that I can get back to the painting after the interview, but I feel like I’ve finally achieved the level of interest I need to make this painting good and now it’s been shattered.
With a heavy sigh, I set my things down and greet my last interviewee of the day, reminding myself that it’s not her fault I scheduled her at this time. I can’t take this out on her. She deserves a fair shot, just like the others I’ve already interviewed. I need to let go of my annoyance.
Chapter Five
LOLA
Idrive to the address that Evan gave me, since I’m not really dressed for a walk. When I arrive, I climb out of the car and hook my purse on my arm while I hold my portfolio against my chest and walk to the green, metal door. I pause, taking a deep breath.
You can do this, Lola. Just go in there, show him your work, and be yourself. Your work will speak for itself. This isn’t a date; it’s my job. Why am I so nervous?
