CLARICE
Clarice had already convinced herself that Hot Guy with the (maybe) teleporting son was never coming back when he actually did, two days later.
She looked up in surprise at his entrance, but was on the phone with a house inspector trying to convince him not to drop their job because Veronica had tried to get him to do something that wasn’treallyunethical, but was soundly in a gray area.
He was ranting in one ear while she gave Hot Guy a sheepish wave and pointed to her earpiece. “No, I understand. No one is expecting you to do that, of course—. I’m sure it was just a misunderstanding—. You areabsolutelyright—. Yes. I’m so sorry—. I would feel— Thank you, I appreciate—. I’ll let her know—. Thank you so much, that’s wonderful—. I’ll watch for it. Thank you so—much?” He hung up.
Clarice stood up and took her earbud out. “I’m sorry to keep you waiting. How can I help you?”
Hot Guy put down the pamphlet titledHome Ownershipand You!and smiled across the counter. “I never did actually thank you properly for bringing Gil back.”
A normal person would have just saidYou’re welcomeorNo worries!Clarice, on the other hand, blurted, “Oh, it was nothing. Just a naked kidteleportinginto my car in broad daylight. What else would I do with him?”
Hot Guy glanced at Veronica’s closed door and laughed nervously.
“Sorry,” Clarice said, lowering her voice. If his kid actually could teleport, he probably didn’t want the world knowing about it.
“No,I’msorry. I bet it was a big shock, and Gil said you were really nice about it and that you were pretty and funny.”
Clarice was at a point in her life where compliments from a five-year old were as much as she could ask for. “That’s sweet of him.” She couldn’t help smiling and flushing a little.
“I’d like to make it up to you somehow.” Did he sound nervous or was Clarice just projecting her own insecurities on him?
“You could buy a house from me,” Clarice suggested. “That would go a long way, actually.”
Hot Guy laughed again, more naturally. “There were a few I’d like to see in person, actually.” He had the folder that Clarice had given him, and he listed out two of her favorite addresses.
“Those are both vacant. Let me just check in with Veronica and get the keys,” Clarice said, without having to look them up.
She knocked at Veronica’s door with her usual two taps. “Ms. Chase?”
“Come!”
Clarice was very conscious of Hot Guy in earshotbehind her. “There’s a client here who would like to see two of the properties off of Oak Street. I was going to go show them. If that’s okay with you. We can transfer calls to my phone if you’d prefer not to take them.”
Veronica had been doing something on her laptop to the side and she lowered the lid and frowned. “What client?”
Clarice still didn’t know his name. “He’s a new one. He was in a few days ago looking for a three-bedroom near an elementary school.”
“You didn’t get his name?” Veronica had a gift for making her voice sound kind and disparaging at the same time.
“He wasn’t here very long,” Clarice said meekly. She’d clearly screwed that up.
Veronica stood and Clarice’s heart sank. She didn’t want to lose this sale to Veronica for a number of reasons.
Veronica straightened her suit jacket and walked out from around the desk. She always looked so put together, and when she turned on the charm…
“Hi, ya’ll!” she called as she went out to shake Hot Guy’s hand. “Welcome to Chase Realty. I’m Veronica Chase, you are…?”
Hot Guy glanced at Clarice and she felt a bit bad for him being under Veronica’s complete attention. Veronica was a lot.
“I’m Bruno,” he said, but he was still looking past her at Clarice. He didn’t offer a last name.
“Oh, what a fabulous name!” Veronica gushed. “Very…strong.”
Bruno looked back at her, his expression neutral. “It meansarmorin Old German.”
“Aren’t name originsfascinating?” Veronica said. “My name meansvictoryin Greek.”
