Page 31 of Almost Him

“I think it’s cute. It just needs some paint.” A foam tile drops to the floor a few feet in front of us. “And someone to tear out that old drop ceiling,” I add.

“They don’t fix it up before taking pictures to sell it?” Tori asks.

Shrugging, I shove back the blinds on the windows to let in more light. “It depends on the property. They’re sellingas is. The buyer can have an inspection done. Honestly, they aren’t asking much. If I thought I had any chance at a loan, I’d buy it myself.” I point to the back loft area. “I could do the boudoir and pregnancy photos up there and have this whole bottom space for babies.”

Tori and I have talked about my new desire for my career. Maternity and newborn photos are getting more popular. And the thought of helping women see their beauty by capturing it in a boudoir photo is something that I find appealing. I’ve always preferred photographing people instead of landscapes or buildings.

Tori tilts her head, studying the space. “Yeah, I could see that. You don’t think you’d get approved for a loan? You make decent money.”

“I’ve had my job for a whopping three weeks. No way.”

Tori waits by the front door while I get all the shots I need. After I record a short walk- through video, we lock the place back up and head to the restaurant.

The dinner crowd hasn’t started filling the place up yet. Cedro’s is one of the best Mexican restaurants in the city. It’s a good three hour wait on the weekend if you can get in at all. We’re seated quickly and served complimentary chips with salsa and queso.

Tori watches the waitress serve drinks to the next table. “Ugh, I wish I could have a margarita, but they make them strong, and I probably shouldn’t go to work buzzed. My math is bad enough.”

“I could see you now.” I raise the pitch of my voice to imitate her. “What’s the square root of…oh, who gives a fuck, turn on some music!”

We laugh and talk while we eat. When we’ve finished, Tori drops a question on me. “Would you date someone you work with?”

“I’ve never really thought about it. You have your eye on another teacher?”

She sits back in her chair and sips her drink. “It’s not a teacher. He works as a custodian for the school system. We’ve been talking after classes.”

“It might put you in an awkward position later if things didn’t work out. What’s he look like?”

Tori whips out her phone, taps the screen, and holds it out. A man with a cocky smile and shoulders about a mile apart stands against a cinderblock wall with his arms crossed.

“Girl, he could buff my floors any day. Definitely worth the risk.”

Tori cracks up. “Right? He’s a real sweetheart too. His name is Paul. He asked me out yesterday and I haven’t given him an answer yet.” She shrugs and pulls out some money to tip. “I’m going to go out with him.”

“Find out if he has a brother,” I quip.

“You know, I honestly thought you and Alden would finally get together once you came back. He was in your bed the first night.”

I pay our check, and we walk out to my car as we talk. “It wasn’t like that. There was no sex that night, he was upset. I don’t think Alden is the relationship type. I came to terms with that a long time ago. I didn’t move back for him or because I expected anything from him.”

“I know, but you belong together. Anyone can see that. Except you two. Have you heard from him since the funeral?”

Not a peep, and I won’t pretend that doesn’t hurt. “No. Oliver says he’s doing okay, working a lot. He doesn’t answer if I call.”

“Men suck,” Tori sighs. She lays a hand on her stomach. “And I ate way too much. I don’t want to go to work.”

“Not even for Mr. Buff and Shine?”

A smile darts to her lips. “Okay, I want to go to work.”

An hour after she leaves, it starts to snow. I throw on my coat and brave the bitter cold long enough to salt our driveway and steps. I’m glad I don’t have to work tomorrow because it’s really coming down and doesn’t look like it’ll be stopping anytime soon.

With that done, I take a hot shower, taking my time to shave and moisturize. It’s a nice quiet night and my only plan is to curl up on the couch and read.

A knock at the door changes my mind.

Bundled in a coat with a beanie pulled down over his ears, Alden looks down at me when I open the door. “Is your window still unlocked?”

Of course, it is. I can’t help it. He needs me. Wordlessly, I step back and let him come inside. He shucks off his coat and whips the beanie off, tucking it into his pocket. They get tossed onto the rack beside the door and his hands land softly on my shoulders.

---