Without another word, he turns and starts heading into the squat gray commercial building and I dutifully follow behind. When we step inside, he warmly greets a man named Ray. I take in the interior and am surprised by how large it seems on the inside. They lined the walls with large shelving units filled with everything from cases of paper to filing cabinets. The center of the room is crammed with different pieces of office furniture in every style you could imagine. We start making our way through the throngs of desks pushed together on the floor.
“This isn’t what I expected,” I say.
“No? What did you expect?”
“I just figured we’d be going to one of those chain stores.”
He glances at me over his shoulder while making his way deeper into the building. “Nah, I try to buy from local small businesses whenever possible. I’m a small business so I know how much it means to be supported. A purchase from me can make Ray’s day, where it’s not even a drop in the bucket to a big box store. It may be a little more expensive sometimes but it’s worth it.”
“I like that.” And I really do. I’ve never thought about the consequences of where I purchase things before. When I was with my parents, I never bought anything. Everything was purchased for me either by them or our housekeeper Martha. When I moved out on my own, there was never really much that I needed anyway.
“Why don’t you go ahead and pick out whatever you want. We’ll get a desk and chair here and then we’ll go down the street and get a laptop.”
I glance around the room again, taking in all the choices. “Don’t you want to choose? It’s going to be in your house after all.”
“You’re the one that’s going to be sitting there, whatever you want will be fine.”
Not knowing where to start, I walk ahead of him and run my hand over the smooth surfaces of the desks. I can feel Dante’s eyes on me and I wonder what he’s thinking. I spot a desk to my left that looks like it would match the furniture he currently has in his office and point to it. “How about that one?” He looks the desk over and frowns, and I get a sinking feeling in my stomach. “What’s wrong with it?”
“You want this one?” He stands beside me and eyes the large, boxy, dark wooden desk that I’ve pointed out.
“Don’t you like it?” I ask, suddenly unsure. I really wish he had just picked out what he wanted himself.
“Well, I like it but it doesn’t seem like your style. Did you pick this just to match my other pieces?” I know that I’m blushing at getting called out. I really don’t like being put on the spot like this. I thought the desk would make him happy and now I’m just confused.
“Isn’t that a good thing?”
“I want you to pick out whatyouwant, Violet. Not what you think I’ll like.”
I look away from him when I say, “I don’t really know what I like. I’ve never picked out my own furniture before.”
“What are you talking about? Never?” He comes closer to me, filling my vision, ensuring I can’t look away. “How is that possible?”
“When I lived at home either my parents or the housekeeper picked out everything for my room. After that, I went to the dorm and they already had furniture. When we moved into the house, I just picked up whatever I could afford from garage sales or thrift stores for my bedroom.”
His frown deepens like he’s troubled by what I’m telling him. “Bianca must have redecorated her room twenty times as a teenager. I have the credit card bills to prove it.” It doesn’t seem like that big of a deal but suddenly I’m embarrassed by the fact that I’ve never done that myself. Life would have been so different if I had someone in my life like Dante. Not for the first time, I feel a little jealous of Bianca’s upbringing. “Well, now’s your chance. Whatever you want, it’s yours. Go ahead.”
He spends the next thirty minutes dutifully following me around the packed warehouse and chatting while I examine one desk after another. I think I sit in every chair they have, testing it for comfort. One chair seems to swallow my slight frame whole and Dante just laughs and gives the chair a spin, causing me to burst out into laughter and hold on for dear life. I’m having more fun just hanging out here with Dante than I’ve had in months.
Once I’ve picked a delicate writing desk with cabriole legs that I know for a fact they wouldn’t have in a big box store and what has to be the most comfortable chair I’ve ever sat in, Dante pays but won’t let me see the total. I start to get nervous thinking maybe I’ve picked things that were too expensive but he sees the look on my face and tells me to cut it out and meet him outside. I’m happy to oblige. I could use a few minutes away from him.
Once I’m outside on my own, it feels like I have a moment to breathe. Spending so much time alone with Dante is a heady thing. I’m supposed to be getting rid of my crush, not feeding into it. As if to remind me just how off-limits he is to me my phone buzzes with a text from Bianca in our group chat.
Bianca:I’ve decided I want a birthday party ladies!
Hollie:Isn’t your birthday like, soon?
Bianca:Yup so we better get planning.
Hollie:How big are you expecting this thing to be, you know we don’t have a lot of room...
Bianca:Don’t worry, I’ve got it covered. I’m pretty sure Dad will let me have it at his place.
Well, it’s true, there may be three of us living there but Dante’s house is much larger than ours.
Me:Does he know that he’s throwing this party yet?
Bianca:Not yet but he will. It won’t be a problem. You know he can’t say no to me. I’m bringing wine home tonight and we can plan!