Chapter 11
11
Opal
A soft knock at the door of my bar sends me off in that direction in a sprint. I’m anxiously awaiting a big box of used board games that I bought during an online auction. I’ve stocked this bar with hundreds of games that I found online, in vintage shops, and at estate sales. I can also attribute a handful of the ones already on a shelf in the corner to my personal collection.
I swing open the door expecting to see the same delivery guy who has visited me almost every day this week. I know him by name, and I also know that a five dollar tip always earns me a smile.
He’s not standing there, though. William Knight is and as usual, he’s dressed to perfection in a dark blue suit and violet tie. I, on the other hand, have on a pair of red jeans and a white T-shirt with the name of Posey’s brother’s restaurant stamped across the chest. She ordered pizza from Franzini’s one night while working on the mural. Elio, her oldest brother, sent a T-shirt along with the delivery. Posey gave it to me, and I’ve been wearing it at least a couple of times a week since then.
Why not help a fellow small business owner out with free marketing whenever I can?
“Franzini’s,” William reads the front of my shirt. “I can vouch for their pepperoni pie. It’s the best in Brooklyn.”
“The best in all of New York City,” I correct him because Posey made the claim and followed it up with a vow that she was speaking the truth.
“I make a killer pepperoni pie,” he boasts.
I’m tempted to ask if I can sample it, but I don’t want to put my foot in my mouth. I’ve made a move on a man before that landed flat. I can deal with the embarrassment, but I’d rather bypass it if possible.
Still standing in the doorway, I look past him toward the street, hoping to see the delivery truck since I need to leave within the next ten minutes to meet Aunt Hildy for lunch.
William’s gaze drifts over his shoulder. “Are you expecting someone?”
I nod. “I am. He should have been here by now.”
“Who?”
Surprised by the question, I laugh. “No one you know.”
I can tell that he finds it at least somewhat funny because the corners of his lips quirk up to a lazy smile. “I know a lot of people in this town, Opal.”
“So do I,” I bite back as if it’s a challenge.
“Have you always lived in New York?” he asks as he steps closer to me before leaning his shoulder against the doorjamb.
The proximity feels intimate in a way, but I don’t move a muscle. I like being this close to him. He’s not only attractive, but he’s nice to talk to. I’ve met a lot of people in this city, and it’s rare to have a conversation with someone who doesn’t glance around repeatedly or check their phone every thirty seconds. I noticed the same thing about him during the soft launch. Whenever I glanced in his direction, his gaze was on his brother or the chessboard between them.
Focused attention may not seem like an important quality in a man, but it is to me.
As if to punctuate my point, a phone starts ringing. I know it’s not mine since I changed my ringtone to one of my favorite songs this morning. I do that whenever I need a reminder that taking a few seconds for a dance break during the day is okay.
I may have danced around the empty bar earlier when Aunt Hildy called to firm up our lunch plans. When I finally answered after singing along to the song for at least twenty seconds, she asked if I was all right since it took me so long to pick up.
“That’s your phone,” I tell William as if he isn’t aware. “You should answer it.”
He keeps his eyes locked on my face. “It can wait.”
“It might be about work,” I point out, hoping that opens the door for me to probe deeper into that subject.
In my mind I’ve already labeled him as an attorney, or someone who works in finance. He has a commanding presence and is always dressed in what appears to be his business best, so I think he’s killing it in either a courtroom or a conference room.
“It likely is.” He smiles.
That tells me nothing, so I make an assumption based on that. “You’re a lawyer, aren’t you?”
He chuckles as the ringing stops. “Hell, no.”
Slightly surprised, I go with my other guess, “You work in finance.”
“Never have. Never will.”
I purse my lips together as I study him from head to toe. “You dress very well. You’re incredibly polished. Do you own a business nearby?”
I don’t know if it’s hesitation or for dramatic effect, but he takes a deep breath. “I’m an advisor. Not in a legal or financial sense. I help people become the best version of themselves they can be.”
That’s vague, but it’s enough to satisfy my curiosity for now because I spot the delivery truck pulling up next to the curb.
William’s gaze darts over his shoulder to follow the same path as mine. “Is that the man you’ve been expecting?”
I nod. “That’s him. He comes bearing board games.”
William steps away from me to approach the truck. He greets Chuck, the driver, with a handshake and an introduction before he offers to help with my delivery.
William slides some cash out of the front pocket of his pants. He peels three twenty dollar bills free before he hands them to Chuck in exchange for the large cardboard box I’ve been waiting for. The broad smile on Chuck’s face is evident when he finally looks my way. “I’ll see you soon, Opal.”
“You know you will,” I say before he steps back into the truck.
With the box tucked under one of his arms, William walks toward me. “Where do you want this?”
“On any of the tables is fine,” I say as I trail him into my bar. “Thank you for carrying it in.”
“My pleasure.” He sets the box down. “I can help you unpack it.”
“I’mmeeting my Aunt for lunch. I should leave now to make it there on time.”
He buttons his suit jacket, again ignoring his phone when it starts ringing.
Misplaced anxiety gnaws at me. “You should answer the phone, William.”
“I’ll call whoever it is back soon,” he says calmly. “In which direction are you headed?”
As his phone quiets down, I glance at my own to see a missed text message from Malvie telling me she’ll be stopping by later this afternoon. The temptation to text her back immediately is strong, but I resist that since William ignored his ringing phone twice for me.
I’ve struggled to set that boundary for myself. I should ask him for some pointers on how to stop prioritizing my phone over everything else.
“Uptown.” I smile, keeping it vague.
I don’t think he’s a serial killer, but we barely know each other, and I’m a single woman living in a big city. He already knows a hell of a lot more about me than I know about him.
He nods. “You didn’t answer my question about whether you’re a lifelong New Yorker.”
I don’t see the harm in confirming that, so I do. “I am. Are you?”
“I’ve always lived here, although I did take a few years away to study at Harvard.”
That’s a humble brag I can’t top. I went to NYU. I barely scraped by to earn a business degree, but I did it. It’s one of the greatest accomplishments of my life. That and watching almost every episode of every sitcom ever produced. I like to laugh, so that was an easy feat for me.
Since I don’t wear a watch, I glance at my phone’s screen to see how much time I have until Aunt Hildy starts calling, wondering if I got lost on my way to the restaurant.
“I’ll walk you out,” William offers.
Okay.” I nod, glad he picked up on my silent cue that I need to leave. “I’ll grab my sweater and my keys.”
I do just that, scooping both up from the bar, along with the small brown leather crossbody bag I keep my wallet, lip balm, and everything else I deem essential in.
After shoving one arm into my navy blue cardigan, I do the same with the other. By the time I’m at the door, I have my keys in my hand, ready to lock up.
“You didn’t mention why you stopped by today,” I say to William as he crosses the threshold to exit the bar.
I can’t read him at all, so I’m not sure if he’s interested in me or if the reason he keeps landing in my orbit has more to do with my business.
“I have a question.”
I jingle my keys in my hand. “Ask away.”
“Are you planning on renting out the bar for private functions?”
I lock the door and then turn back to face him. “Private functions?”
“I have a friend that I think might be interested in renting out Turquoise Crown for a retirement party for one of his employees. The party would be three or four months from now, but planning ahead can’t hurt.”
There’s the answer to my question. He dropped by to talk business, and since that business is mine, I answer with an eager nod. “Absolutely. You can have him call me.”
“I’d need your number to do that.”
As much as I’d like to believe this is a very roundabout way for him to score my number, I don’t think that’s it at all. I motion at his jacket, and the pocket I suspect is holding his phone. “I’ll give it to you to pass on to him and anyone else you know who might want to rent out the bar.”
He slides out his phone and enters the ten numbers I call out into his contact list next to my name as I watch. “Thanks, Opal. I’ll get him to call you.”
You can, too.
I keep that to myself because the fear of rejection is too much, and I need to focus all my attention on my bar right now.
I look down the sidewalk in the direction I’ll be headed soon. “Time for me to take off. Thanks for stopping by, William.”
His gaze catches mine. “I’ll be back once Turquoise Crown opens.”
I want it to be a promise, but even if it’s not, I’m glad we met. It sounds like I’ll at least book a private party for one night because of him. That’s a big plus in my books because I wasn’t planning on exploring that aspect of the business until a few months from now once I had a group of regular customers I could pitch the idea to.
If William’s client’s party goes smoothly, I’ll start advertising. It’s another revenue stream, and that can’t hurt.
“I’ll see you then,” I say. “Take care.”
He looks directly into my eyes as a ghost of a smile plays on his lips. “You too, Opal.”