She holds up her large black purse. “I also brought my camera so we can capture the moment on film.”
“’Cause a phone camera isn’t enough?”
“Oh no, we’re busting out the Cannon Rebel, baby. Photography is a hobby I don’t get to indulge in much. Usually I’m the one getting someone ready to go in front of the camera.”
“What kind of photos do you like to take?”
“Anything. I haven’t gotten a chance to work much with people. It’s usually nature. I also like interesting buildings, or views. I’ve seen some amazing spaces thanks to the travelling I’ve done for my job.”
“Yeah, I’d say that’s an amazing plus to your job.” She joins me in line and I do my best not to get caught admiring her.
“What have you been up to the last couple of days? You look like you got some sun.”
“I did. I went fishing with my best friend, Addler.”
“Catch anything good?”
“Enough to have a nice little fish fry. Do you fish?”
She wrinkles her nose. “I can.”
“You don’t like it?” I ask, trying to gauge her expression.
“You promise not to laugh?”
“Cross my heart.”
“I hate taking the fish off. I cut the hell out of my hand doing it when I was younger and had to get stitches. Now I have a thing about it.” She grimaces.
I wince. “I’ll make you a deal, if we ever go fishing you bait, and I’ll take the fish off.”
“Done deal,” she says, gifting me with a flash of pearly whites that causes a chain reaction in my mouth. Suddenly, I’m grinning like a fool.
“I never would’ve pegged you for the outdoorsy type.”
“Well, I won’t lie. I do like fine dining, fashion, and travel. But I also like roughing it and kicking back. Life’s about balance. My dad taught me that.”
The more I learn about this woman, the more I like her.
“What about you? Surely there’s something you splurge on.”
“I like to craft my own beer and whittle.”
“Whittle? Like wood work?” she asks.
“Yeah.”
“I can’t say I’ve ever met anyone with that talent.”
“I’m a novice. But I enjoy it.”
“Do you have a workshop?”
“I do. I converted a shed into a work space in my backyard.”
“I want to see it sometime.”
This is the second reference to future plans we’ve made. I can only count that as a positive sign. We make small talk until we enter the building and find our seats in the middle of the theater—which I refer to as the sweet spot because the sound is the best.