“So, your boss seems cool,” he says, changing the subject as if he already understands how uncomfortable I am with compliments.
“She is. I’ve only known her two weeks but she’s great. Really smart and good at her job, but also kind and intuitive. She’s bent over backwards to show me the ropes even though there isn’t that much to do.”
“How come?” he asks curiously. “The place is huge. You must have a lot of people coming and going?”
I shake my head. “Not as many as you’d think. This is an affluent area. Most women here, based on demographics Kelly showed me, can afford to just buy books they want. Kids are in school all day, even the little ones go to daycare or preschool, so it’s quiet. Saturdays are a little busier but not a lot. And they have six paid employees, so the work is done quickly. They really don’t need an intern but they were kind enough to take me on anyway since I need it to graduate and it doesn’t cost them anything.”
“But then why open the library here? Why not combine a couple of local cities to save money?”
I chuckle. “That’s not how it works in rich areas like this one. The people want their own library, free of the riff raff. So to speak.”
He grimaces. “That’s kind of shitty.”
“But you live here too,” I protest. “I mean, why did you pick Peachtree Heights if you didn’t want to live in an exclusive suburb?”
“I didn’t know anything about the area,” he admits. “My employer moved me here, and they hooked me up with another guy who works for my company, who bought a house and was looking for a roommate or two. So, I really had no idea what kind of town this was.”
“I see. Do you think you’ll buy your own place or are you just here temporarily?”
He hesitates, and I’m not sure why.
“I guess it depends on what happens in the next year,” he says after a moment. “This is the first time I’ve had a job making real money, so I’m trying to be frugal until I know what the future holds.”
“That’s understandable.”
“What about you?” he asks, shifting the conversation. “What are your plans after graduation? Will you stay here or go back to New York?”
I laugh. “New York? I doubt I can afford to move back. I’ll probably stay here. Assuming I can find a job, of course.”
“Your parents won’t help you?”
“I never know with my dad anymore. One minute he’s putting money in my checking account so I have cash on hand. and the next he’s telling me I better have a job lined up after graduation. It’s exhausting. Which is why my plan is to get a job and move out as soon as possible.”
“Will you be able to afford it?” he asks quietly.
“I don’t know what I’m doing yet,” I hedge, unwilling to expose too much of myself. It probably sounds ridiculous to him that I don’t know much about adulting. I feel silly admitting it to myself, much less out loud.
“You’ll figure it out. Sometimes you have to jump into the deep end and learn as you go.”
“Yeah, I’ve been doing some research. An apartment in this area is probably out of my price range but there are options.”
“Think about renting a room or basement in someone’s house. Those are usually cheaper.”
I grimace. “That makes me nervous.”
“Well, you’d have to feel comfortable, for sure. I mean, my rent at my buddy’s house is so low it’s almost embarrassing. He came from L.A. though, and had a ton of equity from that house, so he bought this one outright. I’ve never seen the kind of money he paid for his house.”
That makes me feel better.
I don’t like sounding as naïve as I guess I am, but maybe Bodi can help me change that.
“Look,” I say once the waitress is gone. “Here’s the deal. My dad is kind of a celebrity, so I’ve always been told to be…cautious. With who I date, who I’m friends with, all of it. Because of that, I’ve been sheltered. And you appear to be a guy who’s been around the block a few times. I’m just starting out in life and you’ve been at it a while. So, I may not be the type of woman you’re looking for.”
He stares at me for a moment, a curious look on his face.
“Well, here’s some brutal honesty on my end,” he says. “I have no idea what I’m looking for, so I don’t know if it’s you or not. And I’m also a bit of a celebrity. It’s hard for me to meet women who are interested in just Bodi, the man, as opposed to Bodi, the celebrity. So, I understand where you’re coming from.”
He pauses again before continuing. “How about we keep things simple? Start with a few lunches or coffee dates and work our way up. If something happens, great. If it burns itself out, then no harm, no foul. Deal?”
