“Any other time I’d love to help you, but I’ve got a list of honey-dos longer than my dick.”

“So only a couple of things, you’re saying?”

“It’s a massive list.”

“If lying makes you feel better about yourself, go on.”

“You’re an asshole.”

It’s said fondly. I grin at the phone. “I’m not the one who brought up dick size.”

“Fine, but I am busy.” He sounds genuinely apologetic, which means he might be backing out on me.

“I heard you got married.”

“Yeah! You need to meet her. Best woman ever. Hand to God. When are you free?”

“After my apartment gets finished.”

“Dude. Did you not just hear what I said?”

“I heard, but I’m not interested in that answer.” I heard through the grapevine that not only had Abel tripped over his dick in love with some woman, but that he’s turned into a big romantic sap. I pull out the big guns. “How am I going to get my own woman if you make me live in a hovel?”

“Oh? Tell me more.”

“Don’t stand in the way of true love, Abel. That’s all I’m saying.” I hang up before Abel can interrogate me further. An old man with a walker appears on the walk. Beside him, a young girl is excitedly hopping up and down. Her pigtails bounce in rhythm. I grab my camera and start shooting. They must live together, and he’s taking her to the convenience store to buy a treat. Maybe ice cream. Maybe candy. She holds up a hand, and he stops immediately. She falls to her knees and reaches for his feet. I zoom in and see her tying his shoes. When she’s done, she gives the toes of his shoes a pat and then pushes to her feet. The old man rubs a hand over his granddaughter’s head. You can’t see either of their faces, but you can tell the whole story from the way his liver-speckled hand is curved around her small head. There’s a lot of tenderness there. Long-time care. I snap a few more frames, but none is as good as that one.

I’ve spent months in the wild capturing images of animals and then of spaces—old ruins, long forgotten caves, endless plains. It’s good to be back among people. I didn’t realize how much I’d missed the connection until I was back. I swing around and tap a few keys on my computer to bring up the photos I took two weeks ago of a plump, gorgeous brunette. She was standing in front of a law office licking an ice cream cone. Her face was tilted upward, and the sun was kissing her nose. Her eyes were slightly closed, and her lips were slightly parted. The expression on her face was one of bliss. Twenty frames later, the cone was gone and the expression changed to weariness and then to determination. She had to go back to work. She straightened her shoulders, tucked a napkin into her purse, and marched into the building as if she was going to an execution.

She came out six hours later, her shoulders hunched and her face exhausted. I wanted to pick her up and spirit her away to some private cave where no one could find her. There I would feed her ice cream and rub her tired feet. That sort of thing is sadly frowned upon, so I did the next best thing. I followed her home. Then I rented an apartment across from hers. Soon, I’ll be marrying her and finally taking her away on that escape. Soon.

 

 

Four

 

 

Dove

 

 

My feet throb as I stand in the conference room waiting for two more of the practicing lawyers to get here so I can take their dinner order. I didn't know this was a part of my job.

I was supposed to sort mail and retrieve it. It’s crazy the amount of certified mail that is sent out from here each day having carriers pick it up. It is a full-time job, but somehow I keep getting more and more things tossed at me.

I can't avoid it either. Every other time I drop something off at someone’s desk I’m asked to do another task. So I do it because I’m not even sure if I can say no. I am getting close to my ninety-day evaluation which would include a raise, and I’m not willing to risk not getting it.

Thomas and Dunn finally pick what they want off the menu, and I write it down. I’m hoping that I’ll be able to get out of here soon, but it’s not looking that way.

“Why don’t you have a seat here, honey.” Thomas taps the seat next to him. “I’m Sure Graham and Miller will be here shortly. Take a load off.” I don’t want to sit down next to Thomas. The man is handsy. I also hate how he is always calling me by a pet name. They range from honey to sweetheart and a few babes thrown in there as well. I’m not sure he actually knows my name at this point. But every time he calls me by something else I get a creepy feeling.

Luckily, before I have a chance to respond, both Miller and Graham walk into the conference room and give me their orders. I’ve never been so grateful to see my bosses.

“Anything else?” I ask.

“Why don’t you order something and join us?” Thomas suggests. The man is old enough to be my father.

“I have dinner plans already.” His eyes narrow on me. Miller and Graham both openly smile at the awkwardness.

“Boyfriend?”

I shake my head no. “My sister.”

“Place the order, Ms. Evans. I’ll handle the delivery. Go have dinner with your sister,” Dunn cuts in, giving me a half smile. He’s easily my favorite here. I’d heard his assistant was retiring soon. I was hoping I might be able to fill her spot.

“Thank you so much.” I give him a smile back before I slip from the conference room. I place the order on my phone before I grab my stuff to head out of here. I check the time and see I’m going to have to wait another twenty minutes for the next train.

My mind drifts back to my new neighbor. It’s been doing that all day. I’m not sure why. Not having an interest in men was easy. My mom was a romantic at heart. The problem was she always picked the wrong men. She had a thing for rich, entitled jerks. I made a vow to myself that I would never end up with one of them.

She got her heart broken too many times to count. It makes my own heart ache thinking about how she never did find her happily ever after. I think until the day she passed away she still held some kind of torch for my father. He never deserved her, but love is blind sometimes and not always in a good way. I’ll never understand what she saw in him.

I plan to keep my promise to myself. Then why do I keep thinking about Jay? He’s not some rich snob. At least I don’t think he is. He can’t be if he lives in my building, but his SUV was fancy.

I’m not sure what something like that might cost. I don’t even have a driver's license. I take the train everywhere. It is faster generally, but it was also nice to get a ride in his SUV. A car is a luxury that I won’t be able to afford for a long time, if ever.

I give Chuck, one of the security guards, a wave goodbye as I head out of the building. I pause when I see the familiar SUV from this morning sitting at the curb, but the windows are too dark for me to see in.

Then I see him. Jay rounds the front of the SUV, walking toward me. What is he doing back here? I don’t know if this should freak me out or if I should find it sweet.

“I was down the street. I was going to stop by and see if you needed a ride.” He gives me a warm smile and his bright blue eyes hold my attention. He changed, and he’s now in a pair of jeans and a black plain shirt that stretches across his wide chest.