23. Chapter Twenty-Three
And the barista at the coffee shop texts her friend, “Christina Malloy just bought two coffees. I’ll die if Graham Crowley is drinking a drink that I made.”
* * *
I don’t remember when I’ve had such an enjoyable night.
Loki fell asleep with his head on my lap as we watched Avengers: Infinity War. I guess that Graham wanted to see if I could keep up.
Milo is funny and kind, and it was nice to just have a conversation with someone who isn’t in the industry.
I ate three pieces of pizza and drank a beer. And, admittedly, for the first time in a very long time, I feel good.
Opening my front door, I step into my condo with Graham right behind me. I turn on the lamp, and it only slightly brightens the space.
I think about how much character his house has, and how dull and sterile my place is.
“Thanks for the ride home,” I say, setting my purse on the couch, and draping my dress over the back of it.
“My pleasure. I had a nice day.”
“So did I. I can’t remember the last time I had pizza.”
He grins. “I knew you’d cave.”
I wrinkle up my nose at that. “I’ll get your clothes back to you as soon as I can.”
“No hurry. I’ll see you plenty.”
I step out of my heels. I’m sure I’m a sight in high heels and sweatpants.
Kicking them to the side, I look up at Graham, who is standing there, looking down at me. It’s amazing how much shorter I am when I eliminate those extra three inches.
“What is your schedule like this week?” he asks.
“I have fittings tomorrow,” I say.
“Mine are on Wednesday.”
Awkward silence falls between us for a moment before he steps closer to me. “Can I interest you in dinner tomorrow? I’ll bring groceries and we can cook in your fancy kitchen,” he offers.
I turn to look toward the dark kitchen and then back up at him. “We could go to your house. Loki will be lonely.”
“I can bring him with me, if you don’t mind him in your house.”
Thinking about having a dog in the house thrills me and makes me nervous all at the same time. But, then too, looking around, there certainly isn’t anything Loki can mess up. Hell, it’s so impersonal around here, all I need is some cleaner and paper towels to clean up any mess he could possibly make.
I wonder what it would be like if I added some area rugs, and maybe got a TV for the living room. It would probably help if I entertained occasionally, too.
Graham touches my arm. “Are you okay? You’re quiet.”
I chuckle. “I was just thinking.” I draw in a breath. “I would love to have you and Loki over for dinner.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow then,” he says, and we stand there in an awkward silence for a moment before he leans in and kisses me on the cheek. “Have a good night.”
It’s hard to fall asleep. I have white noise playing. I have the room cool and dark, but my mind wanders.
This thing with me and Graham isn’t real, and though we’re working toward being friends, I feel something for him. But then I’m just not sure what it is.
My phone buzzes on my nightstand. I pick it up and grin down at his name.
I think Loki misses you, his text says, and it’s followed by a photo of Loki’s sad eyes looking up into the phone.
I’m grinning at the picture. I sit up in my bed and text back. I’m not sure he had enough time with me to miss me.
Sure he did. He’s a good judge of character.
I gasp aloud when I read that. Is Graham Crowley saying nice things about me—to me?
Tell him I’ll see him tomorrow.
I did. He said he can’t wait. A moment passes before his next text comes through. I can’t wait either.
My heart is racing, and I press my fingers to my lips.
This goes beyond the fake relationship we agreed on. Is this the friendship he said he wanted? God, I am so pathetic I don’t even know if this is only friendship or if it’s more.
I’ll let you know when I’m done at the studio tomorrow, I text.
He sends a smiling emoji. Loki and I will wait for your text. Have a good night. Loki says sweet dreams.
I hold my phone to my chest and lie back down. I’m sure to have sweet dreams now.
* * *
Penny meets me in the parking lot. Before I’ve even climbed from my car, she’s standing there waiting for me.
It wasn’t until recently that I really started to take note of how much Penny does for me. She’s always got my back, and I don’t think I ever appreciated her enough.
This morning I stopped and got her a cup of coffee.
When I hand it to her, her eyes go wide, and I swear that they mist.
“Thank you,” she says and her voice shakes.
“It’s my pleasure. Thank you for all you do. I appreciate you always being here for me.”
Penny blinks hard. “Um, they’re ready for you inside. Can I carry your bag?”
I look at her. She has her own bag over her shoulder, her iPad pressed to her chest, and her coffee in the other hand.
“I’m good,” I say, hiking my bag up over my shoulder and shutting my car door.
The alarm engages as we walk toward the building.
“How was your evening?” I ask her, and by her reaction, I realize I never ask her these kinds of questions. That’s not how I want to work anymore. I’m not my parents, and I refuse to be so oblivious to others from here on out.
“It was nice. I just watched TV and vegged,” she said.
“What do you watch on TV? I’m always looking for something new.”
Penny’s shoulders soften. “Well, I like anything on the Food Network. I’m a bit of a foodie,” she admits.
I laugh. “I tend to watch Food Network a lot, but I’m realizing I’m not a foodie at all.”
She smiles as we reach the door, and she pulls it open for me. “What did you do last night?” she asks, but then stiffens as I walk past her and into the building as if she shouldn’t have asked such a thing.
“I went to Graham’s for dinner. We had pizza and beer with his roommate.”
Penny blinks hard as she catches up with me. “You’re spending time with him? I mean, I know...” She lets her sentence hang there. “Sorry. It’s not really my business.”
“It’s okay. We’re spending time together.”
“That’s good, right?”
“It has been,” I say as we walk toward the room where the fittings will take place.
When Penny opens the door for me this time, and I pass through and say thank you, her face brightens.
Maybe this relationship that I’m sorta having with a guy, who I thought I’d have to force myself to be around, is a good thing.
I find myself looking forward to getting home to spend the evening with that guy and his dog.