“You didn’t have to do that, you know. I could have handled it myself.”
“I have no doubt that you could, but no one is going to insult you in front of me, especially not in my own house.”
“Well, thanks.” I slightly smirk and turn my head.
“Wait, is that…a smile?”
“No,” I quickly say. “It’s a twitch, there’s a difference. May we now get to the clothes?”
“Let’s play dress up,” he jokes.
After three hours and taking numerous photos of the clothes on Carson, I make a note of a few measurements changes, and then we’re done. Even though I had to haul all of this across town, it’s my favorite part of my job. It’s the clothes that I love. The feel of the material, trying it on, and seeing how someone lights up when they see themselves for the first time. I know how I feel when I shop; the rush is always the best high.
“Hungry?”
“Nah, I’ll just head back to the city and get this stuff off to the seamstress.”
“Come on,” he somewhat w
hines. “You know you want food. We’ve been at this for a while, and I’m starving.”
I hate to admit it, but I am a little bit hungry. “Okay, fine,” I give in.
He nods and goes to order some food. When he comes back, he helps me pack up all the clothes and load them into my car. By the time we finish, the food arrives. Of course he orders pizza, he’s such a bachelor.
We sit at his kitchen table, and he uses paper plates. To have all of this money, a nice house, and even a hockey rink, he still acts like a college kid.
“How’s Elliott doing on your addition? I figured he would be here today.” I had mentally prepared myself in case I saw him today.
“I told them to have the day off with you coming and all. Figured you’d both rather not have a repeat of last time.” He folds his pizza slice and almost devours the whole thing.
“Elliott’s not a bad guy. It’s my fault we’re divorced,” I reveal to him. “But thank you for that.”
He looks at me every few seconds, chewing all the food in his mouth. “The details aren’t any of my business, but you’re welcome. And for what it’s worth, I think if it takes two people to make a relationship, then it probably takes two to end one. Even if it’s mostly one person’s fault, I think there’s still fault in the other also.”
“I’m impressed. I didn’t know you were so wise.” I’m not joking either. It’s nice to think that someone might understand my situation. “However, it was me that ruined it all. Elliott wanted a wife, kids, and the white picket fence dream. I thought I wanted that, long ago, but once I graduated college and started at LSMP, everything changed for me. Elliott paid the price.” I sound like a sad Lifetime movie, but it’s the truth. I know how much Elliott wanted all of that, but I’m not the one who could’ve given it to him.
“You mean your job, right?”
I nod.
“So you don’t want kids at all? Or he wanted you at home with the kids and not working with kids?”
Poor Carson. He doesn’t understand traditions down here. It’s like we’re in a different world. “Us southern girls are raised to know our place is at home with our kids and working in the community and church. That’s what my mom did. That’s what every female I know does. However, times have changed. I don’t want that right now. Do I want kids? Maybe. I’m twenty-seven. I have time to worry about that later.” I can’t believe I said all that to him. I need to get the focus off of me. “What about you, Yankee? You want the perfect housewife and kids?”
“You had me until you added wife and kids. I want the perfect house though. So, where did you go to college?” he inhales another piece of pizza.
“Are you serious?” I stare at him. Yankee. “This is Alabama. There’s only one school you go to, and that’s the University of Alabama. Roll Tide, sweetheart.” I smirk at him.
“Roll tide?” He thinks about it for a quick moment. “What’s that exactly?”
“You’ve been here how long?” I shake my head at him. “It’s our saying. It’s our battle cry. It sort of means to fight on and don’t give up. You really need to go to a football game.”
“You had the chance to possibly take me, but you turned it down.” He winks, reminding me of our bet. “There’s no hope for me going now.”
“Figures.” I roll my eyes. “So, Carson Lee, what’s it like to be a yankee in the south?”
“I like it here. Mostly good people, good weather, and plenty of space for all my stuff.”