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"Thank you," I said with a sincere half-smile. "You're right. I see what you're saying. I don't know anyone in this town. I shouldn't be telling a bunch of people about where I live." My smile broadened and my eyes widened with delight as I thought of it. "But you should see it, JD. It's gorgeous. I think some of my neighbors pay way more than me to live in that building. I guess I just have a small unit. I don't know. It's smaller than the place I had in Oklahoma, but it is waaaay nicer."
"Really?" he said, finally cracking a smile.
"Yes. Everything's so nice and new. I love it so much. I know it sounds weird, but I'm pretty sure God Himself gave me that place."
"What do you mean by that?"
"It's hard to explain standing here on the sidewalk, but there was this thing with Mrs. Blankenship. Long story short, we were talking about Ruth, a book in the Bible, and I was taking some notes about Ruth when your grandma called. She gave me the number for a lady namedRuthand told me to call her about an apartment. It was amazing. It's the same apartment that I'm living in right now—and it was right when I was writing the name Ruth in my notes! Isn't that crazy? That's just God."
"That is crazy," JD said, looking at me like he was a little stunned.
"A kiss for a picture of you on Valentine's Day!" A very old, very Asian man came right up to us, speaking in a heavy accent. He was all decked out in a complicated outfit that involved a pointed straw hat, a robe, and a bunch of light contraptions hanging over his shoulders. He looked like a Chinese fisherman mixed with one of those street salesmen guys who had a trench coat full of watches. He was an imposing character who moved and spoke swiftly. He came right up to us, crowding our space.
JD stepped between us protectively.
"Okay, good, get in the picture. Come on, Valentine's Day is for you two lovers. I have flowers and a picture for your lover on today, happy, happy Valentine's Day for you. Five dollars for a picture, five dollars for a flower. I will give you two for ten, three for ten. Two pictures and one flower for ten dollars."
He opened his robe, which was lined with beautiful red roses.
"This lover is okay to take your picture. If it prints, you're paying, okay? You kiss each other, and I take the picture and then you pay five dollars for your Valentine photoshoot, okay?"
He was speaking so quickly and aggressively, that I wasn't even sure if JD understood what he was saying. I had understood him, mostly, but JD just stared at him with an unreadable expression. I, however, had a pocket full of cash from tips, and I was easily willing to part with a few dollars for a chance at kissing JD. He was a proper gentleman, and I felt like it would never happen if I didn't jump on the opportunity.
"Okay," I said, nodding.
"Okay? Okay, good," the man said.
"Okay?" JD asked, looking confused.
I shrugged. "I have ten dollars."
The stranger was waiting for that, and he was faster than greased lightning aiming the camera at us.
"Okay, okay, happy couple! One, two, three…" he said, waiting for us to kiss.
I didn't give myself time to think about it. I grabbed the sides of JDs face while I stretched upward and pressed my mouth to his. I held it just long enough for the guy to take a picture before pulling back.
It happened, and I barely got to enjoy it.
I looked at the guy. "Did you get it?" I said.
"Oh, yes, yes, yes. It's a good picture."
He clipped it to his hat in a practiced maneuver before picking up his camera again.
"Okay, I give you two pictures for ten and a rose. They're nice. Nice paper. Four by six. See? They come out good. You want to take two? You need two of them, hubby. One for your office at work."
"Don't you think we need another one?" I said, playing along and looking at JD. "One more, for work?"
He stared at me for a moment and then opened his mouth slowly like he was trying to say something but was speechless.
"You know what? Let's get one more," I said, not waiting for him. "For the office, right? It is Valentine's Day, after all."
I turned, took JD's face in my hands again. I kissed him again. I wasn't sure why I did it or how I had the bravery. It was just a misunderstanding with this guy, and for some reason, I couldn't stop myself from kissing him at the slightest opportunity.
I pressed my lips firmly against JD's and I kept them there for one calculated second, a little longer than before. We didn’t break apart right away. Our lips lingered there long enough to soften and mold to each other. My body buzzed at the feel of his warm lips. It was an actual kiss, and I didn't know if JD was pulling me in or I was pressing against him, but either way, we connected for a tender moment. Our mouths connected for a few glorious seconds before we finally broke apart.
JD was stunned, obviously. He looked at me with a serious expression when I moved, and I smiled and started to dig in my bag. I had to clear my throat to get words to come out. "Did you say ten dollars for both pictures and the flower?" I asked the man. "Three for ten?" I knew the price. It was a filler question to mask my nerves. I didn't care about the cost.
