“Given that I just clipped tassels off your shoes, I’d say yes, I trust you with a wine list.”
“Good.”
Just then the waitress comes up to us and we take a moment to put in our food and wine order, the waitress telling me what a great pairing it will be with our short rib—yes, I got it too, because I need to see what the talk is all about.
When she returns with our wine and I taste it, telling her it’s perfect, I pour us each a quarter of a glass and hold mine up to Renley. “To infinite visitations.”
She eyes my glass, not clinking, but I wiggle mine, encouraging her, which causes her to give in.
After I take a sip, I say, “Glad we could agree on infinite visitations. I know for a fact that you won’t regret it.”
“How do you know that for a fact?”
“Because I have given myself infinite visitations with myself in front of a mirror, and every time I have a meetup, my world is rocked.”
“You know, when you say things like that, it makes me not like you.”
“You’re such a liar, it makes you like me even more.”
She smirks over her glass and takes a sip, neither confirming nor denying my statement, but I know how she truly feels, even if she decides to hide it from me.
After she’s done sipping, she kicks her sandals off and digs her feet into the sand, so I do the same. “So how did the staining go? Did you finish?”
“I did,” she says.
“Really? That’s impressive. Did you take a picture?”
“Do you really want to see it?” Her face scrunches up in a cute way.
“Of course I do. I want to see how my expert vacuuming aided in your success today.”
I’m shocked she doesn’t roll her eyes, but she picks up her phone and goes to her pictures, then turns her screen toward me, showing off the freshly stained floors.
And they’re stunning.
“Holy shit,” I say, taking her phone. “This looks incredible. Such an enormous difference from what they used to be. And I really like that they match the shelves now, rather than how they were so different before with the lighter floors compared to the darker shelves.” I stare at the picture a little bit longer and then hand her phone back. “I’m really impressed, Renley. Genuinely. And not just because I’m completely inept when it comes to things like this. That was a substantial undertaking and you did it in a few days.”
She smiles softly. “Well, I did have a little help.”
“Little at best. That was all you.”
“Thank you.” Even with the sun setting, I can see that slight blush in her cheeks.
“So what’s next?” I ask.
She turns the stem of her glass as she focuses on the dark liquid. “I ordered the new windows, so those will be coming in the next few weeks. I have to clean up the shelves and touchthem up. I also need to clean all the jars and canisters. Then there’s some light fixtures I need to change, and the bathroom needs an overhaul. According to the business society, it’s not up to code.”
“Is it really not up to code, or is that something they’re trying to hold over your head because they’re shady and judgmental?”
She chuckles. “Can’t be sure, but either way, I’m going to do it because it is kind of gross in there.”
“Is it just a unisex, single-toilet bathroom?”
“Yeah.”
I nod. “Are you going to do something fun with it? Like put up a unique, incredibly unexpected wallpaper that creates a marketable moment all on its own?”
She pauses the twirling of her glass and slowly looks over at me. “I actually haven’t thought about it, but that seems like it could be a good idea.”
