Chapter 12
After the lucid dream, Haley and I left the studio and headed our separate ways. We didn’t have any early clients, so I told her to take the morning off. Once I arrived home, I slept reasonably peacefully, considering everything that had happened. Even though the sensations in my dream were stronger this time, I wondered if the entire experience was a product of sleep deprivation.
Now that I was fully rested and no longer zombie-like, I decided to focus on something that was within my control—like my proposal to get a queer community of creatives together. Aria popped into my mind as I was trying to think of potential classes to offer and people to reach out to. She said she was an artist, and she had also given me her number. But would that be weird?
It wasn’t that we didn’t have a good time, but would seeing her again after a sexual encounter make her assume I wanted to have a repeat performance? I didn’t make a habit out of turning a one-nighter into something longer. Relationships required me to give parts of myself that I wasn’t capable of at the moment. I wanted to focus on my future, and right now, I didn’t see another person in it.
I’d revisit the Aria thing later. Since I didn’t have a starting point yet, getting her involved was unnecessary. I first needed clear-cut goals and budget information before I could even begin searching for potential grants.
I checked the time, and I had slept so late that this project would need to take a backseat for now. I had to get ready and head into the studio. Luckily, my just-out-of-bed look was my go-to, so I was fairly low-maintenance. I grabbed a black V-neck and a pair of light-colored skinny jeans. I was out the door after brushing my teeth and running my hand through my hair.
While walking to the studio, I tried not to let my mind wander and see if I could find the green-eyed beauty from my dreams, but it was challenging considering it had been in this vicinity when we first met. But as I got closer, my phone rang, distracting me from my thoughts.
“Hey, what are you doing?” Shanny’s voice rang through the speaker, and it was odd she called in the middle of the day.
“I’m on my way to work. What are you doing? Don’t you have to work today?” Shanny had a stressful job as a public relations executive, so I found it odd she would have time to chitchat.
“I’m on my way to meet a client, but it’s about a thirty-minute drive, and I wanted to check in with my bestie and see how the other night went. I saw you sneak out with some redhead, but when you didn’t fill me in yesterday, I was wondering what happened.”
Of course, that was the question of the hour for her. Shannon and I had similar lives, but we focused on different aspects. I was concerned with my job and doing things that would make an impact on the world, and she loved her job but loved the ladies more—especially the younger ones. But to be fair, they seemed very keen about her, too, so it wasn’t an issue.
“I don’t kiss and tell.” I rolled my eyes as if she could see me.
“You realize you just did, right? But I won’t press. I just wanted to see if you would be up for drinks tonight. I met someone on Flirt Magnet, and wanted to see if you’d come and make sure she doesn’t cut my skin off and wear it as a bodysuit.” She laughed, but she was always a little nervous using dating apps. She was more old school, but the younger women weren’t always cruising bars for hookups, so she had to get with the times.
“I’m certain you’ll be fine, but if it will ease your mind to have a bodyguard, I’ll try to get off at a reasonable time. Can I message you when I’m finished for the day?” As much as I didn’t think my assistance would be needed, I did feel a night out sounded like a good idea to give myself a break from everything.
“Thanks, Lay. I’ll catch you later.”
“Adios.” I ended the call and had a chuckle. “She is something else.” I shook my head as I entered the studio.
“Who is?”
“Fucking hell!” I clutched my phone to my chest as Haley popped around the corner. “You scared the hell out of me.”
“I scared the hell out of you? You came into the studio, talking to yourself, when you don’t even have an appointment for another,” she glanced down at her watch, “hour. I fail to see how it was me who did the scaring.”
“Right, but I had told you to take the morning off.”
“It’s eleven o’clock, boss. I did take the morning off.” She continued setting up the camera for our shoot later. “But are you okay after your dream? Is it that girl you were talking about?” She seemed much more candid, and I wasn’t sure if it was good or bad.
“No. I don’t even know if that woman is real. I was talking about Shanny.”
“That girl is one hundred percent real. You didn’t make her up in your mind. You had a physical run-in with her. She probably lives in New York. You’re going to find her.” She did live in a dream world.
“Okay. Let’s take this optimism down a notch. I’m not sure if I want to find her. What am I supposed to do if I did? It’s not like I’m in the market for a relationship. Maybe we would have a great night together, but then what? I would keep dreaming about her for the rest of my life? It would be better if I washed my hands of this and moved on.”
“Just remember this: there are no accidents in life. Your canvas is being painted as we speak, and you have to trust that a masterpiece is unfolding.”
“I’m going out on a limb here. Did you make up with Adam?” She was far too upbeat about my love life not to have a fairy tale of her own.
“As a matter of fact, we did. And you were right. I might have overreacted. When I asked him about it, he said he was watching for ideas for us. He worried I wasn’t getting as much out of sex as he was, and he wanted to see if different positions might work better. So, it was kinda sweet.”
That sounded like a lie, but I wouldn’t be the one to burst her happiness bubble. “See, I told you. You just needed to talk.”
“I’m not going to go into detail, but let’s say I did much more than talk.” She appeared flush from telling me this secret or remembering the event.
“Yes, definitely keep the specifics to yourself. But I do care about you, Hales. And I want the best for you.” I strolled over, hugged her around the shoulder, and squeezed her tight like I would my kid sister.
“And I care about you. That’s why I’ll pray your dream woman becomes a reality.” Her sincerity was heartwarming, but I didn’t need any manifestation on my part.
I was more than capable of creating my own happy ending. “Do whatever floats your boat. I’m going to grab the lenses I need for the first shoot. Is there anything else you want me to bring up?”
“Nope, I got it under control. I pulled the outfits Mrs. Wilson said she wanted to use for her husband’s calendar.”
I picked up the scantily clad Game-of-Thrones-type costume. “Well, this should be interesting.”
“I wish I had the confidence to do something like this for Adam. He would love it.”
I stared quizzically at Haley. She was in her early thirties at the latest and drop-dead gorgeous. I couldn’t imagine why she wouldn’t have the confidence.
“Hales, you need to be more self-assured. You could have any man or woman you wanted.” I wasn’t sure why I threw that in there, but she appeared offended.
“First of all, I’m 100% straight. And secondly, the only person I want is Adam.”
“Okay. But no one is 100% anything. Sexuality is fluid. Definitives are lies we tell ourselves.” I tapped my finger to my temple as if I’d dropped a nugget of knowledge.
“So you’d sleep with a man, then?” Damn, she got me there.
“Touche. But you have to admit, women are like works of art.”
“I can admit if a woman is attractive, but that doesn’t mean I’m attracted to her. Therefore, I’m not fluid.” She seemed certain of that, and I dropped it because I could admit when I was uncertain. “Now, why don’t you check your lighting because the client will be here shortly.” She spun on her heel and headed toward the desk.
I engaged my filters and strategically positioned the reflector to create the perfect ambiance for the shoot.By the time I finished, the bells rang out over the door as who I assumed was Mrs. Wilson walked in. She was probably in her midsixties, wearing a trench coat. I smiled to myself because this would be a fun session.
After twelve costume changes, including wigs, we had over a thousand pictures for her to choose from. As one of my more mature subjects, she sure was up for anything and flexible enough for many different poses. I was excited to go through and edit these pictures and get the perfect calendar put together.
“Mrs. Wilson, I had a great time. I hope you’re as happy with how they turn out as I have been taking them. I’ll get them edited and have a spread for you to choose from in two weeks. Is there anything else I can assist you with today?”
“Honey, after what we’ve been through, Mrs. Wilson is way too formal. Please call me Joan. I’m so excited to see Johnny’s face when he looks at what we did. I hope it doesn’t send him to the hospital.” She cackled as she batted my arm. She was a feisty little thing.
“Well, I hope they’re everything you wanted and more. I can’t wait to start reviewing them. Haley will call when they’re done, and we can schedule a time for you to review them.” I ushered her toward the door because I was running a little late with her session going an hour over schedule, but I couldn’t stop when we were in the groove. Even though this was a job, I was still an artist at heart, and I couldn’t rush that.
She tied her trench coat tightly and waved on her way out the door, smiling brightly. I was going to remember Mrs. Wilson for a long time coming.