exude confidence.
“My last serious boyfriend, he would drift off when I would talk,” I say, having never told this to anyone before. I look down, as I’m too embarrassed to look at Harrison as I say it. “I could see it in his eyes. That he was going somewhere else in his head, that he didn’t get me or what I was talking about. I . . . I thought it was him just being a guy. Or that I was boring him,” I admit.
Suddenly I feel Harrison’s fingertips on my chin, and he gently tilts my face up so I’m looking at him. “Your ex wasn’t being a guy,” Harrison says, looking me firmly in the eyes. “He was being an idiot . Because you’re endlessly fascinating to me. And I pity anyone who doesn’t think so.”
Could he make me fall for him any more than I have?
Harrison smiles at me, the full on, flashing-grin smile. “Now, because I find you endlessly fascinating, I want to see what you think of my new acquisition.”
Harrison puts the key in the lock and opens the door, letting me inside.
I step in and he flips on the lights, and I’m immediately stunned at the beauty of the old home.
“Harrison,” I breathe, walking across the hardwood floors, “this . . . this home . . . it’s beautiful .”
I instantly begin investigating it, moving around the living room, examining the fireplace, the detailed crown molding . . .
“The family that lived here has not updated since the 70’s,” Harrison says, following me. “The floors need work, and obviously the dark paneling needs to go. There are places where the walls could be knocked out to expand the living space, stuff like that. But I want to stay true to the original home in every other way.”
I smile happily at him. “I’m so glad you’re going to do that. This home has so much history and charm, and I’d hate to lose it.”
Harrison rubs his fingertips along his jaw. “No, no, we’ll stay true to that vision.”
We. He just said “we.”
“Anyway, let me show you the whole house,” Harrison says.
So we go through every room, talking about what could be updated, modified, or changed. Finally we end up back in the kitchen, which right now has dated dark cabinets, older appliances, and a floor that has seen better days.
“I have a whole folder of kitchen ideas,” I say, running my hand across the countertop, which will be ripped out. “I have a zillion different ideas for this room alone. Like countertops, backsplashes, reclaimed hardwoods for the floor, brightening up the nook—”
“You have a folder of kitchen ideas?” Harrison asks, interrupting me. He leans across the countertop from me, folding his arms across it. “How come?”
I feel my face go warm, and I anxiously run my hand through my hair. “Um, I have all kinds of folders for the future. You know, like how I want to decorate when I have a house.”
“Do you implement any of those ideas now?”
“Are you analyzing me?”
Harrison bursts out laughing. “Maybe.”
I laugh. Then I decide to tease him. “I know you claim to listen to me, but I did just say folders for the future . Not now.”
“Oh, touché ,” Harrison says, flashing me a smile. “However, why are you waiting for the future? Why not decorate your apartment kitchen now ?”
“Because I won’t be there forever,” I say.
“So what? Why not live in the now?”
“Why not wait for the future?”
Harrison chuckles. “You’re going to cling to that future premise, aren’t you?”
“Yes,” I admit, laughing with him.
“I think I might have to get you to change your mind on that,” Harrison says, tugging on his baseball hat. “But speaking of the future, we should probably go. It’s late now.”
Oh God, I didn’t even realize the sun had completely set. I peer outside and it is dark. Then I glance down at my watch and it is already past ten o’clock.
I nod, although my heart feels like I could stay here talking to him until the sun came up again.
I decide to tease him.
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