We chat the whole way down, and I love hearing more about his experience with the company and the team. Honestly, I’ll love working here, despite some unforeseen circumstances.
“Are you taking the bus?” Oliver asks once we’re out of the building. We’re two blocks from Pike Street, where I have a direct bus line to my neighborhood.
“Yes, to Ballard.”
“Ah, I’m heading south. I get off at Lincoln Park. At least we get to walk to the station together.”
Okay, now he has to be flirting, just a bit. It isn’t so far-fetched that someone would be interested in me like this, but it isn’t common. I’m agreeable to look at, from what I’ve been told—and not only by my mother. But I’m not breaking necks when I pass people in the streets, either.
Oliver is alluring, sweet, and funny, which is quite an irresistible combination. If I were looking for someone, a guy like him would be high on my list.
I’m taken out of my thoughts when Oliver clears his throat, still waiting for my answer. “Yes! Sorry, of course. We’ll walk together to the stop.”
As we walk, we talk about anything and everything. Turns out we have many of the same interests, from video games to movies, and a passion for old science fiction shows. We stop at a crossing, and it’s already time to part. His body leans forward for a fraction of a second before he eventually extends his hand. I shake it, and we part with friendly grins.
I reach my platform and see him step on his at the same time. Our eyes meet, and we smile at each other one last time.
My excellent mood hasn’t faded by the time I arrive home. A little out of breath, I get to my door on the third floor. I wrestle with it, only to be greeted by my very unfamiliar living room, which also serves as a bedroom and a kitchen. I also have a single window overlooking the building’s pitiful courtyard.
The piles of boxes have me sighing, and I wonder if I’ll have the strength and courage to take care of them tonight. I haven’t unpacked anything yet and only opened boxes to take what I need as I go. Today has been tiring enough, though, so I’m not starting the unpacking now.
I drop my bag, pop open the button of my jeans, pull my shirt out of it, and unhook my bra before removing it with practiced ease. When the cumbersome accessory is taken care of, I throw it on a chair where clothes are already piling up. I drop on the couch, which unpleasantly reminds me of the presence of my phone in my back pocket. There’s a message from Kate when I pull it out.
Kate
I’m waiting!
With a smile, I open our conversation and tap the camera icon to call her. It rings twice before she picks up. My smile widens when her familiar face appears on the screen. “Oh, hello, Jabba the Hutt,” she greets me.
My face in the upper corner of the screen easily explains the insult. “You nasty bitch! You know I’m not to be teased about my double chin.”
“You don’t have a double chin.”
“I do.”
“You don’t.”
“I do when I do that,” I insist, shoving my head into my shoulders.
“Everyone has a double chin when they do that, you idiot.”
“Not everyone.”
“Yeah, you’re right. Chris Hemsworth probably doesn’t.” No need to even try arguing about this one. “You’re back at your studio, I see?”
“Yeah, just got here.”
“So, how was your first day, babe?”
“It went great. It’s like I was born for this job and this team. The guys are total nerds like me, so it’s been awesome so far.” I tell her about everything—the company, the office, the “dream team,” even about Dakota and Tami. When I’m done, I stop talking, searching for what else to tell her, staring at the ceiling. A few seconds pass before I notice that the paint is peeling. This apartment is truly horrible, but it’s the only one I could find on such short notice.
“Now that you’ve told me all about the uninteresting things,” Kate eventually says, “on to the good stuff. How about that sexy boss of yours?”
I wince and look away from the screen, not knowing how to explain it to Kate without her getting any weird ideas. “He’s strange,” I eventually say. “Apparently, he is some sort of asocial genius, so he’s super rude.”
“But he’s hot.”
“It doesn’t make up for being an asshole. He thought I cheated to get in. He couldn’t believe I did it without the help of amalefriend.”
