Chapter 23 #2
“I think he’d take that as a compliment.”
“You two are so weird.”
“True.” She’s not wrong. Finding a friend that I can still do stupid shit with at this stage in our lives is rare.
All throughout our years of friendship, I’ve never felt judged by Rupert, so it’s always been easy to simply be myself.
Well, the irresponsible self that the world never sees.
And yet, I’ve shown more of that version of Theodore to Renley than to others.
Interesting. I pick up the wine list and move it between the both of us.
“Care to share a bottle with me?” I meet her eyes with mine.
“It’s not homemade so will probably be gentler on the stomach. ”
“I think a red would pair nicely with my short rib.”
“Sounds great. Do you trust me to pick one?”
“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 touch them 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.”
“In a lot of the pubs back home, they have these loos that look like holes in the wall. From the outside, you’re scared you might be eaten by a toilet snake, but when you go inside, the walls are coated in a unique wallpaper, the sinks are porcelain with gold pipes attached to the wall, and there is always something odd and different about the toilet. ”
“Really?”
“Well, I might have made that last part up, but the first two are correct.”
“Interesting. I really like the idea of making it a place where people can take pictures, because I know that’s a big thing in today’s culture: bathroom selfies.”
“Unfortunately, you’re correct. Personally, I like to keep the sanctity of the toilets a private thing, but you know how the youth like to mess around with our holy grails.”
“Okay, Grandpa.”
“Not a grandpa, just mature enough to recognize that taking a picture in a bathroom violates privacy on a whole other level.”
“Not if it’s just a single bathroom.”
“True.” I look her up and down. “Do you take bathroom selfies?”
“Do I look like someone who takes bathroom selfies?”
“Is there a certain look for that?”
She shakes her head. “I don’t.”
“Rupert has been known to take them, but mainly in the gym when he’s showing off what little progress he’s made on his triceps.”
She chuckles. “Does he know how you feel about his triceps?”
“Yes, I’m the reason he’s training harder.”
“Theo.” She presses her hand to her chest. “Are you body shaming your butler?”
“He’s body shaming himself. He caught sight of my triceps and got jealous.” I shrug. “I’m not about to hide my superiority so that he can shine. If he wants the same definition, then he needs to rise to the occasion.”
“Why did that feel like something a Peloton instructor would say? Also, lucky Rupert.”
“He’s very lucky, although…” I lean in closer and say, “What’s going on with him and your aunt? Is there something there? I see them exchange glances all the time.”
Renley shakes her head and then crosses one leg over the other. “I have no idea, but I heard him saying he was going to help her with her training since he knows a lot about horses.”
“He knows nothing. I know everything.” I pause and then say, “Jesus Christ, is that why he’s been asking me all those horse questions lately? He said he was watching some videos on YouTube and some things didn’t make sense.”
“I bet you that’s exactly what he was doing.”
“My butler is running wild. I need to rein him back in.”
“Yeah, before he starts hitting on my aunt.”
“You don’t think he has already?” I ask.
Renley winces. “Please don’t tell me that’s the truth. I couldn’t handle it.”
“Does she not deserve some romantic attention?” I take a sip of my wine.
“She could be Rupert’s mom.”
“Don’t hate on an age gap,” I say. “For all we know, this non-marriage could be an age gap.” I motion between the two of us.
“This is not a non-marriage. This is nothing. This is just one person dealing with another to get some free short rib.”
“Dealing with?” I ask. “Eh, I’d say that’s not giving me enough credit. I’ve made you laugh, and we’ve talked about interesting things like my butler and your gelding finding love.”
“Oh, I forgot we called her that.”
I tap the side of my head. “I didn’t. I remember everything we do together, and everything we say.”
“Uh-huh, besides the no-flirting rule we both agreed on.”
“I wouldn’t say I really agreed with it. I just signed the contract to spend more time with you.”
“Flattery won’t get you far with me.”
“Eh, I beg to differ.” I wink and then bring my glass of wine to my lips, catching the smirk on her face before she turns away.
“Shit, this is good,” I say, before sliding my knife and fork over the short rib that melts on my plate like butter. Christ. Guess I know where I’ll be eating often.
“I know.” She sighs, dipping her short rib in her mashed potatoes.
“I dream about eating here all the time, but it’s such a luxury to do so.
Everything in this town is expensive. There was talk of giving the locals a discount card or something that would slash 20 percent off their final bill, but nothing came from that. ”
“Why not?”
“Not sure, but Aunt Kitty seems to think that behind closed doors the businesses put up a stink about it.”
“Jesus, this town really isn’t the small town I’m used to. Whatever happened to community and helping each other out?”
“We are one expensive shoe store from extinguishing any sense of community here. It’s one of the reasons Tilly moved here, because she knew she’d be able to sell her art in Cape Meril for a ridiculous price.
Not saying that her art is not worth it, but there’s a certain air about this town that says… wealthy.”
“Yeah, I could sense that.”
“Maybe it’s why you fit right in.”
“You think I fit in?”
She eyes me. “Need I bring up the tassel again?”
“No, that would be beating a dead horse at this point, for lack of a better term.” I stare out at the ocean, considering her words.
“Can’t deny that I probably fit into the vibe of this town.
It resembles the luxury and refinement I grew up in, but that doesn’t mean that I want to be considered within the same mold, if that makes sense. ”
“Why not? I think a lot of people in your shoes would enjoy being classified as wealthy.”