decide to come down and say
hi.” His glasses fogged with steam. “Let’s start over. Hi, I’m Wilson and I
live in this apartment which is down stairs from your apartment. I am assuming
that your fancy employer didn’t tell you that it was an apartment.”
“No, they did.” I can feel the red creep
up my face with embarrassment. “I just thought it was a mistake. I thought the
basement door was a pantry.”
“Didn’t the refrigerator and pantry full
of food give it away?” He walks over to the coffee pot. “Would you like a cup?”
he asks.
“Yes, please.” Apartment? I’m
trying to wrap my head around what’s happening. “I, I’m, um, sorry for yelling
at you.”
“It’s okay. I was going to say hello
last night, but I didn’t think you were dressed properly for the occasion.” He
smiles.
Oh, my God! I’m not shocked
by his beautiful white teeth, I’m shocked because he saw me in my panties and
t-shirt when I went down to get a drink of water. I cross my arms over myself,
trying to hide what he saw last night.
“So you were spying on me?” I have to
wonder.
“I was going to come and introduce
myself to clothes-wearing Hallie, not t-shirt Hallie. Though I might like
t-shirt Hallie better.” He laughs handing me the cup. “Sugar or cream?”
I pick up the creamer and avoid eye
contact. With sarcasm dripping in my voice, I say, “You’re a funny guy. We
might just have a lot of fun for the next three months.”
“Who might have fun, clothed or
unclothed Hallie? If you’re asking me, I think I will try out unclothed Hallie
first.” He held his coffee cup up to toast me. I oblige.
“First off, the place was so hot, I
could’ve fried an egg on the radiator and I couldn’t find the thermostat. Why
were you up so late? Don’t tell me you’re some perv.” I stand at the edge of
the steps ready to bolt.
“I was coming home from work and I heard
the faucet turn on.” He pretends to twirl the edges of a fake mustache. “Watch
it or I could mess with your bagua.”
Wilson is not like any other man I’ve
met. He’s direct, and I like that about him.
“Okay joker. Show me around since you
know my place like the back of your hand.” He obviously knows what a bagua is.
“This is my office.” He points to the
coffee table. “That’s my bedroom and bath.” He points to the only door off the
room. “Last on the big tour, my dining room.” He nods towards the bar with four
black bar chairs. It’s not big, but it’s perfect for one person.
I notice the Persian rugs, and I feel a
twinge of envy. His apartment is nice, especially for a guy.
“So where do you work?” He must have a
pretty good job to afford some of these luxuries. “Procter and Gamble
downtown.”
I should’ve guessed. Half of Cincinnati
works there.
“Cool. I work at the Gucci boutique in
Saks.”
“Oh, la-la.” He flashes his irresistible
devastating grin.
He certainly doesn’t look like an
executive in his Ohio State pajama pants. The hint of ginger in his blonde
crew-cut, stands out against his tan skin.
“Again, Wilson, I am sorry for freaking
out on you. I have to say you’re lucky I didn’t go all Karate Kid on you.” I demonstrate
my best karate chop in the air. “See you later?”
“Absolutely,” he says. “Bring my mug back
when you’re finished.”
This isn’t going to be so bad, I smile.
Wilson’s sense of humor really isn’t my type, but he is definitely someone I
can see myself hanging out with having a few beers.
The rest of the afternoon I tiptoe
around so Wilson won’t hear me. With each box I unpack, I’m finding myself
getting into a funk. It takes all the energy I have to finish unpacking all
the boxes. I’m so mentally exhausted.I
close my eyes, just to take a break.
Chapter Thirteen
Shit! The ringing phone makes me jump
from the perfect slumber. For a brief moment I’d forgotten I’m back in
Cincinnati.
“Hello, Aunt Grace.” I
hi.” His glasses fogged with steam. “Let’s start over. Hi, I’m Wilson and I
live in this apartment which is down stairs from your apartment. I am assuming
that your fancy employer didn’t tell you that it was an apartment.”
“No, they did.” I can feel the red creep
up my face with embarrassment. “I just thought it was a mistake. I thought the
basement door was a pantry.”
“Didn’t the refrigerator and pantry full
of food give it away?” He walks over to the coffee pot. “Would you like a cup?”
he asks.
“Yes, please.” Apartment? I’m
trying to wrap my head around what’s happening. “I, I’m, um, sorry for yelling
at you.”
“It’s okay. I was going to say hello
last night, but I didn’t think you were dressed properly for the occasion.” He
smiles.
Oh, my God! I’m not shocked
by his beautiful white teeth, I’m shocked because he saw me in my panties and
t-shirt when I went down to get a drink of water. I cross my arms over myself,
trying to hide what he saw last night.
“So you were spying on me?” I have to
wonder.
“I was going to come and introduce
myself to clothes-wearing Hallie, not t-shirt Hallie. Though I might like
t-shirt Hallie better.” He laughs handing me the cup. “Sugar or cream?”
I pick up the creamer and avoid eye
contact. With sarcasm dripping in my voice, I say, “You’re a funny guy. We
might just have a lot of fun for the next three months.”
“Who might have fun, clothed or
unclothed Hallie? If you’re asking me, I think I will try out unclothed Hallie
first.” He held his coffee cup up to toast me. I oblige.
“First off, the place was so hot, I
could’ve fried an egg on the radiator and I couldn’t find the thermostat. Why
were you up so late? Don’t tell me you’re some perv.” I stand at the edge of
the steps ready to bolt.
“I was coming home from work and I heard
the faucet turn on.” He pretends to twirl the edges of a fake mustache. “Watch
it or I could mess with your bagua.”
Wilson is not like any other man I’ve
met. He’s direct, and I like that about him.
“Okay joker. Show me around since you
know my place like the back of your hand.” He obviously knows what a bagua is.
“This is my office.” He points to the
coffee table. “That’s my bedroom and bath.” He points to the only door off the
room. “Last on the big tour, my dining room.” He nods towards the bar with four
black bar chairs. It’s not big, but it’s perfect for one person.
I notice the Persian rugs, and I feel a
twinge of envy. His apartment is nice, especially for a guy.
“So where do you work?” He must have a
pretty good job to afford some of these luxuries. “Procter and Gamble
downtown.”
I should’ve guessed. Half of Cincinnati
works there.
“Cool. I work at the Gucci boutique in
Saks.”
“Oh, la-la.” He flashes his irresistible
devastating grin.
He certainly doesn’t look like an
executive in his Ohio State pajama pants. The hint of ginger in his blonde
crew-cut, stands out against his tan skin.
“Again, Wilson, I am sorry for freaking
out on you. I have to say you’re lucky I didn’t go all Karate Kid on you.” I demonstrate
my best karate chop in the air. “See you later?”
“Absolutely,” he says. “Bring my mug back
when you’re finished.”
This isn’t going to be so bad, I smile.
Wilson’s sense of humor really isn’t my type, but he is definitely someone I
can see myself hanging out with having a few beers.
The rest of the afternoon I tiptoe
around so Wilson won’t hear me. With each box I unpack, I’m finding myself
getting into a funk. It takes all the energy I have to finish unpacking all
the boxes. I’m so mentally exhausted.I
close my eyes, just to take a break.
Chapter Thirteen
Shit! The ringing phone makes me jump
from the perfect slumber. For a brief moment I’d forgotten I’m back in
Cincinnati.
“Hello, Aunt Grace.” I
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