Laughing, Taryn said, “A baby elephant!”
Immediately her phone buzzed again. “Oh! The elephant was born! Awesome. He looks…gooey.”
Sending her another picture, this one showing the somewhat cleaner calf nursing, Taryn said, “It was disgusting and beautiful at the same time.”
“I’m leaning toward disgusting, myself. But, what are you doing Thursday after work? I’m going to need a status update on your job so far. And Sexy McHottie Pants.”
Snorting, Taryn typed, “Hanging out with you, apparently. Can you pick me up from the zoo?”
Cora responded, “Yes. I will see you Thursday at five. Everyone in my study group is giving me the evil eye. I have to go. Talk to you later!”
Putting her phone away, she realized she was almost to her stop. Pressing the button, she waited for the bus to slow down. Giving the driver a wave, she walked the remaining block to her apartment. She was exhausted again, but nothing like yesterday.
Seeing the door to the shop open again, she saw Evan on a ladder hanging crown molding. The floor was finished. She didn’t know what other cosmetic changes he had planned, but the store already
looked better.
“Hey,” she said, not wanting to startle him.
He turned around and asked, “Hey. How’s your baby elephant?”
“Born just about an hour ago,” she said, grinning.
“Oh good. I assume from the smile that it all went well?” Evan asked, stepping down off the ladder.
“Yep,” she said, taking her phone out of her purse. She flipped through the pictures she’d taken to one that didn’t have much goo.
Holding out the phone, she said, “Here he is.”
She watched as a wide grin spread across his face. Handing the phone back to her, he said, “He’s a cute little guy.”
“He is. The process was so gross though,” she said.
“Thanks for sparing me the details,” he quickly said, holding a hand up.
“No problem,” she said, laughing. “I wasn’t actually in the mood to relive them. The place is really coming together. The floor looks great and the crown molding will be nice when that’s all done.”
He looked around the empty space and nodded, “It is coming together. Most of what I did was in the back today. There was a floor drain back there. What I pulled out of it. Unspeakably disgusting.”
Laughing, she said, “There was a huge amount of clutter in here. She didn’t exactly strike me as someone who kept up with the cleaning. I ended up doing a lot of my own repairs and maintenance.”
Frowning, he said, “You shouldn’t have to do that stuff. If something’s broken, come to me. I’ll fix it or get it fixed.”
Waving her hand as if to say it wasn’t a big deal, she said, “I learned valuable life skills. Minor air conditioning repair, plumbing. But yes, I’ll happily let you take care of it from now on.”
Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his cell phone and said, “Oh shit. I’m glad you stopped by. I’m supposed to be across the valley in 45 minutes. What do you think my odds are?”
“Dressed like that, or were you planning on changing into something not covered in sawdust?” she asked.
“I don’t think my brother would care, but I could just picture his husband’s face if I tracked sawdust into their house,” Evan said, grinning. “Might almost be worth it.”
Taryn smirked and said, “You should probably shower. It looks like you’ve got it in your hair, too. That being said, your odds are slim.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence, Princess,” he said as they exited the store. He locked the front door and rolled down the shutters.
“I’m a realist,” she said, shrugging. “Best of luck.”
They walked up the stairs toward their apartments together and bid each other farewell in the hallway.