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“It hasn’t, but the class I registered for is a capstone project where I get to showcase my photography,” she explains excitedly.
I look over her shoulder at some of the photos. I always knew Gabriel was talented, especially judging by the wing he did on the side of my building, but these are really extraordinary. He’s only gotten better over the years.
“Fascinating,” I breathe out as she flips through the photos until she gets to the ones where Gabriel is shirtless. She can’t see as I narrow my eyes at the photos, but maybe she can feel me physically bristle because she turns her head slightly to look at me.
I check the clock on the wall and see it’s nearly four. She said she had to leave early today for a party, and I remember her mentioning it’s for her grandparents’ anniversary.
“Why don’t you go ahead and take off?”
She looks at the clock and hurries to shut down her laptop. “Shoot. I didn’t realize what time it was.” She starts to pack up her things, placing them in a bag, along with her camera.
“I added everything that needs to be reordered for you to double check,” she reminds me on her way to the door, because I’ve asked her to help out with inventory.
“Sasha?” I stop her and she slowly turns to look at me. “I’m sorry about the other day. I was out of line, but-”
“It’s okay, really.” She hoists the bag further up on her shoulder.
I was expecting an argument, which has me wondering if something happened on her photo expedition.
“He told me about his brother,” she confirms.
I cast my eyes to hers and nod. “Did he tell you he saw it happen?”
Her expression confirms that he didn’t tell her everything. “Gabriel is a friend. It’s just,” I start to tell her but she cuts me off.
“I’m not interested in him,” she says, “not in that way.” The look between us is uncomfortable. I’m not sure how I’m supposed to respond. “So you can stop being protective, or…” she doesn’t finish her sentence. “Anyway, I’m gonna be late.”
She opens the door and I let her walk away, rubbing the back of my neck as I head over to the register to review the list of supplies she marked on the inventory tab in order to busy myself. I place my elbows on the counter and run my hands through my hair. If she wasn’t so young, or I wasn’t so… old, jaded, stubborn, heartbroken, maybe things would be different.
I always feel like I meet people at the wrong time; either they have already given their heart to someone else, or they were born too late. My internal clock is broken - along with my heart.
When I look out the window, I see Sasha’s Jeep is still in its spot. She should have left by now, but I can make out her figure still in the driver’s seat, leaning against the steering wheel. A moment later she gets out and pops the hood.
Shit.
I shut down the register and lock up before making my way to the parking lot, standing next to her at the front of the Jeep. “Need a ride?”
She sighs, blowing out a frustrated breath that causes the little pieces of hair framing her face to flutter.
“I’ll call a tow truck.”
“That’ll take too long. Let me give you a ride.” I slam the hood closed.
“I don’t want you to have to close the store just for me,” she protests, shaking her head with worried brown eyes.
“Already done.” I nod to the dark record store and walk over to my bike. There’s a helmet in the saddle bag that I dig out and hold out to her.
“Oh.” She looks at my bike apprehensively.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
“I’ve never been on a motorcycle before.” She grips her camera bag and looks from me to the bike as if she’s assessing her options.
“All you gotta do is hold on,” I say, giving her a warm smile.
I shove the helmet at her and she reluctantly takes it from me, placing it on her head. I reach over to secure the chin strap, pulling it nice and tight; making sure the helmet is snug. When I look down at her, she’s staring at me with those soulful eyes, and I can’t help but swallow when she bites on her lip nervously.
I kick my leg over the seat and straighten the bike, waiting for her to get on, but she stands there looking at me skeptically.
