I jump up and down, not making any progress, until he finally finishes and hands me my phone back. “Why are you doing that?”
He shrugs, taking a long swig from his beer. “Because they’re beautiful and I might want to look at them again.”
The words zing me. Right in the heart.
It’s a better compliment than if he told me I was beautiful.
That’s something I kind of already know.
But his validation of my work means something else entirely. It hits me right in the center of all my feelings. Hard.
“Thanks, Jack-o’-Lantern.” I make a concerted effort to remove all traces of sarcasm from my voice, because I mean it, and it’s suddenly important he know that.
He clears his throat, pulling his gaze from mine. “You okay with an early dinner? I’ll order the pizza if you go cue up the DVR.”
“Sure thing.” Grabbing my beer, I head to the basement, plopping down in my corner seat and turning on the TV.
Jack comes down a minute later, a second round of beers in his hand. He doesn’t sit right next to me, but he also doesn’t slide to the opposite end of the couch like he has in the past.
I bite my lip to keep from grinning and turn my attention to Bravo. Where it belongs.
ME:I’m going to need you to not use the main-floor bathroom, if that’s okay.
JACK:And why am I not allowed to use the one bathroom on the main floor of my house?
ME:It’s become my floral storage room. I know it’s a pain in the ass but it’s the coldest room and it’s starting to get hot as balls.
ME:Besides, there’s a bathroom in the basement, which is where you spend 99% of your time anyway.
JACK:Fine. But I require one free beer the next time I come to the bar.
ME:Fuck off.
ME:
GEMMA:Shit, Sade, your Instagram is going off the charts! Are you getting tons of orders?
ME:Honestly? No. My IG is killing it but the likes aren’t translating to sales unfortunately.
HARLEY:I’m sure things will pick up soon!
ME:Hope so.
NICK:Hi, some of us have real jobs and would prefer to not have our phones going off every five seconds.
GEMMA:Harley has a real job.
ME:Gemma definitely has a real job.
GEMMA:Sadie is building a prosperous business.
ME:Aww, thanks, friend.
NICK:Seriously?
ME:
GEMMA:
