Page 35 of True Sight
Yeah, just tell me when you need me and I’ll be there.
I will for sure. Nothing like having a partner to look at hardware with.
I wouldn’t know personally, but I can assume looking at hardware is always more enjoyable with another person around.
Don’t worry love, I’ll show ya the ropes
16
HENRY
“Alright, so here’s the place.”
I hold the camera up so Ellie can see it through the phone. The sound of her gasping echoes through the empty studio lobby as I flip on the lights. I’d been out for a walk when she FaceTimed me and knowing she was probably sitting in some dark yet fabulous restaurant waiting for her fiancé to be done, I answered on the first ring. It’s late there, nearly midnight, so I’m not surprised when she looks utterly exhausted as I peer at her through my phone screen.
“Oh my god, it’s gorgeous, pet, itreallyis.” The twang of her voice brings me a feeling of comfort and sense of home that I’ve been missing the last few weeks. It’s more of an adjustment to go from everyone sounding like you to no one sounding like you than I expected, so hearing her thick English accent makes me smile.
“Over there is where the front desk will go, up those steps will be a second studio room, the locker rooms are over there, and then down this way”—I start down the hallway I had walked down just a few days earlier with Conrad—“is the main studio room.”
“Ohhh, I love the color you chose, it’s so…”
“Comforting?” I finish for her, using the word that comes to mind when I see it.
“Yeah, but also invigorating. I feel like it’s a nice neutral for you to add pops of color to it without it being too much.” I cannot agree with her more.
After letting the swatches dry, Conrad and I debated on the best one, slowly eliminating some of the ones I knew I hated from the get-go and whittling down our options to just a few. After a forty-five minute debate, we decided that this shade of white was the best one from the lot. It wasn’t too gray but also not too white and left a lot of room for fun artwork or lights to be added to the room later. I want this main space to feel fun without being overstimulating and this color is the perfect one for what I’m going for.
Thinking of Conrad, I minimize my FaceTime with Ellie quickly enough to send him a text. We had met yesterday for our weekly one-on-one check in, but I hadn’t mentioned getting together on Sunday in case it would make him feel weird. I figure a text now to say thanks will be acceptable andmaybea dash of flirting won’t hurt either. There’s a chance I’m reading things wrong, but a part of me feels like something shifted between us on Sunday. He didn’t pull his hand away from mine when I comforted him and he brought me tea without me even asking. Even yesterday he seemed a little brighter than he normally was as we discussed all things virtual classes and studio tech.
“S’cuse me, did you pause me?” my best friend snaps over the line and I quickly open the call back up.
“You know scowling like that will give you wrinkles,” I jest.
“I’ll send you my bill when I have to get botox,” she jokes. “Now show me around some more.”
I’m about to move around the studio room and explain to her the plans for the space when Conrad texts me back. I can’t help but smile at his response.
1 New Message: Conrad Miller
Hey Conrad. I know I saw you yesterday at our meeting but I wanted to just say that I’m really glad you came by on Sunday to help me with the studio. I had fun spending time with you
Oh, and my contractors are building out the locker rooms in the next few weeks and I need to pick the hardware for the doors. I could use your keen eye for detail if you wouldn’t mind helping me again
Yeah, just tell me when you need me and I’ll be there.
“Henry Wanker, what is going on right now? What’s that look for?” Ellie calls me the name she uses when she’s miffed at me. I type back a response quickly while I know I have him and he texts me back quickly again.
I will for sure. Nothing like having a partner to look at hardware with.
I wouldn’t know personally, but I can assume looking at hardware is always more enjoyable with another person around.
I’m sorry, but is he flirting with me? Do I flirt back?I consider my response for a moment and shoot my shot.
Don’t worry love, I’ll show ya the ropes
I hear you’re a very good teacher.
My jaw drops at his response and Ellie is nearly screeching on the other side of the phone. I quickly exit our potential flirt fest to deal with her.
