My eyes traveled lower to his backside in those jeans. Really, did they need to be so tight? They looked glued to his ass, showing off how round and firm it was. I briefly thought about how it would feel if I touched it, but shoved that away. That was a highly inappropriate train of thought, one I didn’t need to be riding on right now.
I’m glad I looked up just as he stopped, or I would’ve run right into him. I didn’t need any additional accidental touching today.
Brooks took Matilda’s key and helped her open her door. I turned to mine and slid the key in. I tried to open it–I twisted it both ways–but nothing happened.
I rattled the handle and by now was considering attempting to force it open when I noticed the light had disappeared and a shadow loomed over the door.
“Do you need some help?” Brooks asked, now standing much closer to me.
“I’m fine,” I responded. I jiggled the handle again to no avail. “Maybe not,” I mumbled as I stepped away and he took my place.
Brooks turned it once, and the door easily swung open. My jaw was on the floor. “How did you do that?” I asked.
“Trade secret,” he said with a wink.
I could feel my face getting hot but ignored it as I followed him into the room. It was simple, with a single queen bed with a floral bedspread and floral-covered walls with a clashing print. There was no TV, but it had a dresser and a small desk. The bathroom was to the side, and after the day I’d had, I couldn’t wait to shower and unwind.
Brooks set my bags down next to the bed and turned back to me.
“What time did you plan on coming to the farm tomorrow?”
I crossed my arms. “Early. Why?”
He raised a brow at me. “I’ll get the tow truck to get your car, so I’m assuming you’ll need a ride. Even when it’s ready, I think trying to take it through there again would be a mistake.”
“Oh,” I said, shifting on my feet. I had totally forgotten about it. “Thank you. Is eight too early?” I asked.
“Eight is perfect. I’m up with the sun.”
“Me too,” I said, though I wasn’t sure why. He probably didn’t care. “Always been an early riser.”
He grinned. We both stood there for way too long. I wasn’t sure what we were doing, but it felt like I was stuck in a spell until he broke it. “Anyway, I should go, but I’ll see you both tomorrow.”
I nodded, and he left, clicking the door shut behind him.
As soon as he was gone, I locked the door, toed off my muddy heels, and rummaged through my things to grab something comfortable.
I turned on the water to the right setting before standing in front of the mirror and sliding out my contacts, essentially blinding me.
As soon as I stepped under the warm running water, I felt better. I kept my hair up and out of the way, hoping I wouldn’t need to wash it while I was here. At home I had a hot tool that easily let me achieve this blowout, but I didn’t know how to do it without. And I needed it to stay nice. Not only was this my opportunity to get ahead, and I wanted to look good and impress, but I also felt my best when I looked my best.
When I was young, we couldn’t afford nice clothes or makeup, and while I was still conservative, I always did my best to look nice. Plus, being poor in high school–at peak insecurity time, made it easier for me to make cheap look expensive, and had honed the skill into adulthood, though I couldn’t always help but pick up a nice perfume or dress every once in a while.
Once I was thoroughly exfoliated and washed, I hopped out, did my full skincare routine, moisturized, and put my glasses on. I didn’t wear them much. They were chunky, black plastic frames. I couldn’t wear cute, dainty ones because my lenses were so thick, and my face looked so different to me with them on.
I planned to go over the paperwork once more before bed, but I looked out the window, and the entire sky was bathed in oranges and purples. I knew I needed to get a photo.
I took my camera out, secured the lens, and went out to the back. Normally, I would have bothered getting redressed so as not to be caught in my sweats, but there were so few people milling around I was sure I wouldn’t be seen.
From there, I could see the water a bit, so I put my camera to my face and snapped a few in that direction. I was sure to catch the last few sparkles of the sun against the surface of the pond.
I kept my eye in the viewfinder as I swept around, looking for another interesting shot. There was also a building directly across that looked old and official that I had to capture. I realized there were people talking in front of it, and when I zoomed slightly, I realized it was Brooks and a man with small ears poking from dark hair and a tail that was ringed like a raccoon. He was shorter than Brooks, but I couldn’t imagine many were taller.
I knew I should move my camera away, that I should look somewhere else, anywhere else, but my lens stayed focused on the farmer I’d met this morning.
He was smiling at whoever he was talking to. It was as if he radiated sunshine.
In a moment only to be described as sheer insanity, I clicked my shutter, capturing his smile, just for me.
