“Let me know what you find. I’m going home for the night. This day has been a cluster fuck, and I’m ready for a beer and some pizza,” I grumble out.
“Sure you aren’t going to see a certain brunette you can’t keep your eyes off?” he questions.
“Maybe, but that’s between me and a certain brunette,” I tell him as I escort him out of my office. Turning around to lock my door, I take a deep breath as I look out on the floor. The restaurant is running smoothly, and without looking at my watch I know Harlow isn’t here. I rush out the door. I’m running home, grabbing a shower, and then heading to the pizza joint on my way to her place.
I call her as I’m sliding into my Tahoe, “Hey” she responds on the other end of the line as if she’s out of breath.
“Hey, Baby. You okay?” I ask her.
“Yes, just running around the house. It was kind of a mess from the week,” she tells me and I chuckle. She always looks so put together. I can envision her now, franticly picking up her house.
“I’m heading home to grab a quick shower and pick up pizza. Anything particular you want?” I ask her.
“Oh, I’d love a white pizza with chicken, tomato, and spinach on thin crust,” she says dreamily.
“Can’t say I ever had that, but I’ll pick it up. See you soon, ‘Lo,”
“See you soon, Evan. I can’t wait,” she whispers through the phone.
I hang up and head towards my destination. Who would have thought she’d like that kind of pizza. She may like that and it’s fine, but I’m damn sure picking up a real pizza, something with red sauce, meat, and definitely not thin crust. It’s Friday and I plan on relaxing with my girl.
11
Harlow
I finally got my house picked up. I even had time to sweep the hardwood floors. My house is a small three bedroom beach bungalow but the hardwood floors are throughout and original to the 1940’s home. It’s not an open floor plan like most homes are now. It has a galley kitchen, and I have to say, I really love it. Sure, I’ve updated a few things here and there. Last summer I painted the walls all one color, the beige had to go. I did a soft pale grey. It really popped with the dark hardwood floors. My furniture is definitely garage sale finds that I painstakingly sanded and painted. Aunt Dot’s furniture wasn’t my style and with wanting a new fresh start, I donated a lot of it to a woman’s outreach program and started sifting my way through sales and made what was once her style of a house, into a home. My home holds so much joy for me now. It holds memories and I hope one day will hold my husband and children.
I sit down on my couch and close my eyes. The air conditioner is humming in the background and the television is on the local channel. I’m not even sure what it’s playing, background noise is mainly all I use it for.
The knock on the front door startles me and I jump up. I try to remain calm as I make my way to the door. This is the first time Evan has been to my place and it’s making me nervous. I know he’s an entrepreneur and is making a name for himself and the Ocean Breeze, but I’m just a small town girl in love with her small town life.
I open the door and smile. Evan is standing in my doorway with two pizza boxes in his hand.
“Hey, come on in,” I tell him and grab a bag he has in one of his hands. I look inside and see its ice cream. I sigh out loud at the thought of pizza and ice cream on a Friday night. It’s the best first date I could ask for.
“Hey Baby. I take it that’s a good sigh with the way you were looking inside the bag?”
“Best ever,” I squeal as he sets the pizza down on the kitchen counter when he followed me into the house. He’s laughing as he brings me into his arms. I lay my head on his chest and settle into his body.
“Glad I could make you happy ‘Lo,” he murmurs as he kisses my forehead. We pull apart and I grab some plates and set them out.
“We can eat at the table or on the couch. Which do you prefer?” I ask him.
“Couch, I’m beat. Today was rough,” Evan says as he plops four huge slices of pizza on his plate. I grab two slices for myself and ask, “Coke okay with you?”
“Yeah,” he says already taking a bite of his pizza. He looks comfortable in my small space and it makes me smile. I take a seat next to him and place our Cokes on the coffee table before asking, “What happened? It didn’t seem bad when I left.”