Page 3 of Costume Party Crush
It took me a moment before I grasped that Sean was talking to me. I nodded. “Yeah, just shocked.”
He chuckled. “I guess I should have warned you over the phone.”
I shook my head. “No, I might not have believed you if you did.”
His chuckles turned to full laughter. “Fair enough.”
“So what were you looking for?” I asked, trying to put my shock aside in order to be a proper businessman.
Sean smiled. “That’s kind of up to you. I want to see what you can do. We’ve got some scaffolding or ladders if you need them, or you can do shorter so that it’s all work you can do from the ground. We’d like at least half the windows done, centered from the doors out. Only real requirement is that the words ‘Happy Halloween’ are prominent.”
I took a deep breath and looked at the windows, my imagination already running wild. What could I paint on such a canvas?
“Is this something you think you can do?” Sean asked.
I nodded. “Yeah.”
“Great! When do you think you can get started?”
I briefly considered my already scheduled clients. “Next week? Should I send some sketches to you first?”
“That’s perfect. And I’d like that if possible, but only if you think there’s enough time for that. I’ve seen your work, and since this project isn’t being bid on, I think as long as it’s family-friendly it’ll be ok.”
“When do you need it done?”
“As soon as possible. Ideally I’d have had you on it several weeks ago, but this all came together last-minute.”
“Got it.”
“Great! Let’s go inside and discuss your rate.”
I pinched myself again for good measure as I followed Sean back inside and up to his office.
This was really happening, and I couldn’t be more excited.
Chapter 2 - Frankie
“Fold,” I sighed, setting down my cards.
“Damn man,” José chirped as he gathered the pile of chips. “What’s that, the tenth bad hand in a row?”
“I lost count,” I huffed.
“Well I’m not complaining,” Lowell said. “Sean will have my head if I lose as much as I did last week.”
“It wasn’t that bad, was it?” Alan asked.
Lowell sighed. “He thinks he might be pregnant again.”
“Wait, what?” Chase cut in. “I thought you started wrapping it for his heats.”
“I did,” Lowell replied. “But we slipped about a week before his last one, and well… It’s too early for a test, but he says he’s feeling it.”
“What is that? Number three?” Cam asked.
Lowell nodded. “Yes, if he really is pregnant.”
José laughed. “I bet he’s already having you draw up the plans for an addition.”
