Chapter Three
Grayson
To say my apartment was cramped would be, perhaps, understating things. But considering I was running my very own small craft business out of the place while also living there, you could almost squint and say it was surprisingly spacious.
Airy, even.
Or at least that’s what I told myself while I stepped over bags of clay, jugs of slip, and a few boxes of half-empty paint tubes. My old pottery wheel was shoved in a corner, right by the little table I used as a work bench and a dining surface. There were ceramic tiles in all stages of production scattered about, leaning in small piles by my house plants and propped up on the windowsill by some old, empty vases. A large plastic tarp was folded in the corner, ready for me to drag it out in an attempt to catch the dust and grime that my work made.
That afternoon, though, I was only concerned with one very large set of tiles, a special order that was ready for its second firing in the kiln.
I hefted the box of the rectangular tiles, each one painted with intricate crosshatches of pink and blue lines. In a smaller box were the center pieces, thick square tiles that I had sculpted three-dimensional flowers into. With one box under each arm, I gave my cat Lou a quick kiss on the top of his head, then shuffled my way out to my car.
When Zoe and I lived together, I had a little studio behind the house we rented. I still had to haul myself to a local artist space to fire my work in the kiln, but at least the mess was contained in the studio.
Lately, though, it felt more like I was eating and breathing ceramic tiles.
When I got to the artist space, I was glad to see Alyssa’s Subaru parked out front. We were both reserving spots in the kiln for months before we happened to cross paths, but since then, she’d become one of my only true friends here in Philly.
“Grayson!” She called my name from the back as soon as I walked in. “Let me help you with those boxes!”
Alyssa joined me, taking the smaller box and walking by my side as we passed the studios filled with painters and jewelry makers. She was quite a bit taller than me, especially with the couple inches her heels added, and I hurried a bit to keep up.
“I haven’t seen you in a while,” I said, depositing the box on the table in the rear. The kiln was in its own small room nearby, and I was going to need to prep the job a little more before I fired the tiles for the last time. “Have you been holed up with your new girlfriend?”
“Very much,” Alyssa laughed, crossing her arms over her chest. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and the overhead lighting reflected off her round glasses. “But I would have come in to the studio more if I had the work. It’s been a slow month in upholstery restoration, but the summer always is the quiet time of year, so I’m not worried. How’s the world of custom ceramic tiles treating you?”
“Nicely, actually,” I said. “I’ve got more jobs coming in than ever before.” I was proud of all I had accomplished in the business, especially considering my age and the detours life had given me.
“Enough to get your own studio?”
“Not quite,” I sighed. “Although I think Lou is finally adjusting to the chaos, two years after meltdown.”
“Just remember what I said. Once you do decide to date and bring someone new home, you might want to find a way to tidy the place up first.”
“About that…”
Alyssa’s eyes got wide, and her mouth popped open. “Really?”
“I didn’t bring them home,” I said quickly. “But kind of?”
“Them as in…”
I scrunched up my face. “As in two guys?”
“At the same time?” she practically yelped, and I threw my hand over her mouth, laughing.
“Shush!”
Alyssa stuck her hand on her hip and shot me a grin when I pulled my hand away. “Well Grayson Reis,” she said. “You greedy boy, I never would have guessed you had it in you!”
I covered my face with my hands. “I still can’t believe it either.”
“But you did, didn’t you?”
I peeked through my fingers. “I did what?”
She ran a hand across her mouth, stifling a laugh. “Had it in you.”
