I hadn’t discussed an official start date with Clay, so I made my own. After a few moments of debate I decided to stay casual for my first day of work. I assumed he didn’t have a dress code in place, and it was already mid-afternoon. It seemed silly to dress up for a few hours of work.

I headed down the side steps and walked around to the front entrance to the shop. I tried the door, but it was locked. I pulled out the keyring Clay had given me and tried a few keys until I found one that opened the front door. I pushed the door open and walked inside with no clue what I was going to walk into. I knew he did most of his work out of his shop, but I figured someone had to be working. I was wrong. As I wound my way through a workshop full of lumber and debris I ran into no one.

Finally I made my way into a cluttered office in the back. Papers were scattered everywhere, including on the only two chairs in the room. I wondered if he actually invited clients in here. For his sake, I hoped not.

Before I could get to anything real, I needed to organize. I wasn’t a neat freak, but I refused to work in a mess. I started with the papers and organized them in a nearly unused filling cabinet in the corner before moving on to the empty coffee cups and hastily written notes stuck to every surface in the office. Luckily I’d found an unopened pack of file folders to work with. A few hours later I had the place cleaned up and marginally organized.

I didn’t want to go through his electronic files without him, plus I didn’t have any passwords or anything, so at five I left and headed upstairs to my apartment.

I took a long shower, staying in far longer than necessary. I wrapped up in a towel and walked back to my new bedroom. When I picked up my phone I noticed a missed text from Leo.

I heard you were looking for me.

I considered my reply for a minute. I was.

Do you still need me?

Not urgently.

If it’s about the tape, I got a call from Phil. He says he’ll have it fixed and drop it off at the shop this weekend.

I can pick it up. I brushed out my hair.

He wants to come sell some stuff. Was that why you came by?

Partly. I was about to hit send on the text, but stopped. Instead I went ahead and called.

He picked up immediately. “Hey. Needed to hear my voice?”

“Something like that.”

“Is everything ok?”

“Yeah. I started my new job today.”

“Yeah? Exciting?”

“Very. I have another exciting thing to discuss with you.” I took a seat at end of my bed. Otherwise I was going to start pacing.

“To discuss with me?” There was a definite note of curiosity in his voice.

“Yes. Are you a Smashing Pumpkins fan?”

He laughed. “You really are a 90s girl.”

“Come on. Be serious.”

“Yes. Or I was. I haven’t listened to them in years.”

“Want to see a show? I have tickets. They are playing Jones Beach tomorrow night. Last show of the season.”

“That depends.”

“On?” I really hoped he wasn’t going to ask for both tickets. I wasn’t prepared for that kind of rejection, especially after our evening in the park the night before.

“Whether you’re trying to get rid of the tickets or whether you’re asking me to go with you.”

“I’m asking you to go with me.” I waited nervously.

“Then yes.”

I felt relief wash over me. “You really didn’t know if I was inviting you to go with me?”

“You never know. I always ask questions before I agree to something.”

“I probably should do that more often.” I’d gotten myself in trouble more than once for failing to do just that.

“What time is the show?”

“Six, so kind of early. We can grab something to eat before if you want.”

“We’re open late tomorrow night, but Bob will let me off. Probably can’t do dinner first though.”

“That’s fine. I’ll pick you up at work at five?”

“Sounds good. Thanks.”

“No problem. Thanks for agreeing to go.”

“My pleasure.”

“Wait.” I stopped him before he could hang up.

“Yes?”

“How did you know it was me looking for you? I didn’t leave my name.” That detail was bothering me.

“How many girls come in asking about me?”

“I wouldn’t know.”

“Not many. Besides, you did tell him about the tape.”

His explanation made sense. “I guess I did.”

“I’m flattered you came in and didn’t call.”

“Yeah well, I was bored.” I struggled to explain my actions. I’d done it for one reason; to see him.

“Bored? It was your first day of work. And you moved. By the way how did that go?”

I wondered what he was doing. How long had he been home? “I’m out of the basement.” I glanced out the large window that looked out over the street below.

“Oh yeah? Actually got some windows and a view?”

“The view of a street, but a view.”

“How are you spending your first night?”

“I took my first shower here.” I tightened the towel around me. I’d never gotten dressed.

“And how was that?” His voice lilted slightly, making me wonder if he was picturing me getting out of the shower.

“It was a shower. There was hot water and water pressure.”

“And is that the end of your evening?”

“I’ll find something to do.”

“Why don’t you watch a movie or something?”

“I don’t have any. I don’t have internet yet so I can’t stream anything.”

“Return of the Jedi is playing at the downtown theater.” He made it sound like a question.

“You want to see it?”

“It’s something to do.”

“Ok. Should I pick you up?” I wasn’t giving up the opportunity to hang out again.

“Where are you living now?”

“On Oak. It’s an apartment over Magiano Construction.”

“I’ll meet you at your place, and we can walk.”

“Ok, walking sounds good.”

“I’ll be over in a few.”

“Ok. See you soon.” I hung up and once again looked down at my towel. He’d said a few minutes. I probably needed to get moving.

I threw on a pair of jeans and a long-sleeve t-shirt and hurriedly dried my hair. He hadn’t given a set time, but a few minutes wasn’t long. I quickly finished getting ready before packing up a purse. I looked out the window in time to see Leo riding up on his bike.

After one last check that I had everything, I locked up and met him at the bottom of the stairs.

“Hey. Mind if I leave this back here?” He gestured to his bike.

“Yeah, of course.” I glanced up at the darkening sky. It was already getting dark earlier. Summer was definitely over.

He locked up his bike around a tree. “Ready?”

“Absolutely.” We started down the two lane road. This area of the street had no sidewalk, so we hugged the curb as we made our way toward downtown.

“Are you a fan of Star Wars or are you just humoring me because you’re bored?”

“I’m a fan.” Not a super fan, but a fan enough that I enjoyed watching.

“Cool. Did you eat?”

I thought about it. I’d forgotten that detail. “No, didn’t get that far.”

“Want to grab something to eat first or after?”

“Maybe after. That is if I’m still hungry after eating snacks.” The sun had almost disappeared, but the street lights hadn’t turned on yet. They were still timed to the summer sunset.

“Are you a popcorn or candy person?” He asked as we walked along the side of the road.

“Both.”

He nodded. “Same.”

“Good. We can get more variety by splitting.”

He looked at me. “You are significantly cooler than I originally gave you credit for.”

“I’m not sure if I should be insulted that you failed to give me credit in the beginning or flattered that I’ve somehow impressed you.”

“The latter. I don’t give anyone credit in the beginning.”

“At least I made it through the friend hurdles.”

“Was it worth it?” He kicked a rock and sent it flying down ahead of us.

“You’re saving me from a boring night, so yes.”

“And you can’t have a boring first night in a place. It sets a bad precedent.”

“Why do I get the sense you’re speaking from experience?”

“Because I am.”

“Did you enjoy your day off today?”

“Abrupt conversation change.” He stepped closer to me as a car drove by. His shoulder brushed against mine as we walked.

“I’m being polite. You asked about my day. Now I’m asking about yours.”

“I did enjoy it. Always hard for them to end.” There was a sadness in his eyes that seemed bigger than finishing a day off. Every part of me wanted to press for more, but I didn’t want to ruin the mood. He was slowly opening up to me.

“Then I guess you needed a movie night too.”

“I guess I did.” His hand brushed against mine. He hadn’t moved away as every once in a while another car drove by.

“Let’s get back to the important questions.”

“I assume you mean about what kind of candy we’re getting?” He smiled.

“You read my mind.”

“Sour Patch Kids are a must.”

“Yes! And then maybe M&Ms? I need something chocolate to get the full experience.”

“Works for me.”

“It’s almost too easy.”

“Sharing things?” He quirked a brow.

“Yes. I’m used to having to settle.”

“You should never settle.” He stopped and looked at me. “Life’s too short for that.”

“It is too short. Isn’t it?”

“Far too short.” He started walking again. “The problem is you usually don’t realize that until it’s too late.”

“I’m glad I stopped settling.” Both my job and Steve fit that bill. I was embarrassed of how close I’d come to wedding myself literally to a life of that.

“Me too.”

The rest of the walk went quickly. Either consciously or not, we’d picked up our pace once it got dark.

Leo insisted on paying for our tickets, and I didn’t argue too much. He seemed intent on doing it, and I didn’t know when I’d actually see another paycheck.

We made our way into the old theater with a quick stop at the concession stand where I made sure to purchase our snacks.

With popcorn and candy in hand we walked into what had once been a live action theater but had since been converted into a movie theater. They’d kept the old architecture including the carved columns and marble floors, but unfortunately the old box seats were off limits because they weren’t structurally sound. It was too bad, because it would have made the place even cooler.

“I assume you are a middle of the theater kind of person.” He started into an empty middle row. We were a little bit early.

“How’d you know?” I always chose the middle when it was an option.

“Most people are.”

“Then why do I always date the kind that like the back?” It had been a reoccurring theme in my dating life.

“Really? Even past high school when they were hoping to fool around with you?”

“Yes.” Steve liked the back. It drove me nuts since I never remembered my glasses.

“I guess you really picked the wrong people to date.”

“I’m glad you don’t, or we’d be sitting separately since I’m done settling.” I took a seat.

He laughed and sat down next to me. “Ok, here’s one more question. Do you wait until the movie starts to eat, or go ahead and start before?”

“I wait for the previews for the candy. Doesn’t matter for the popcorn.”

“You differentiate between the candy and popcorn?”

I nabbed a piece of popcorn from the container he held. “Yes. You don’t?”

“No. I get everything set up but don’t start until the movie does.”

“You can resist the popcorn for that long? The candy is closed so I can do it, but if the popcorn is right in front of me I can’t help it.” I grabbed another three pieces.

“It’s called patience.”

“It’s called willpower.” I popped two pieces in my mouth and then grabbed a handful. “I don’t have any when it comes to popcorn right in front of me.”

“Oh, going in for it?”

“Come on, you know you want to.”

“Peer pressure?”

“You pressured me to trespass.”

“Fine. I’ll do it.” He took a piece of popcorn and ate it.

“Was that so bad?”

He shrugged. “The world didn’t end.”

“See, I told you.”

“But now I want another.”

“And the problem with that is what?” I took another handful. “We bought a large.”

“A large isn’t that big. What if we finish it before the movie starts?”

“That’s what the candy is for.”

“Oh. So you separate the experiences.”

“It’s not so bad.” I reached for more popcorn at the same time he did. We both pulled our hands back and then returned them. Our hands met. “We’re too in synch.”

“That’s impossible. Just like you can’t be too compatible.”

“Aren’t they the same thing?”

“Kind of.”

“Cassidy?”

I left the popcorn alone at the sound of my mother’s voice. I glanced up and saw my parents standing in the aisle beside us. “Hi guys.” I turned slightly toward Leo. “These are my parents.”

Dad smiled. “I didn’t know you were coming tonight.”

“Last minute decision.”

“And who is your friend?” Mom stepped into our row.

“Leo Thomlin. Nice to meet you.” He stood and held out his hand.

She accepted his handshake. “Nice to meet you too.”

“Leo is the one who’s been helping me with the tape.”

“Oh, the one you definitely weren’t going to the store to see?” Mom raised an eyebrow. “Yeah, right.”

I felt blood rushing to my face.

“Maureen, let’s leave the kids. We’ll sit a few rows away as to not embarrass you, honey.” Dad winked.

“Because I’m not embarrassed already?” I hadn’t had the nerve to look at Leo yet.

Mom shrugged. “If you don’t want us showing up on your dates you should tell us when you are going on them.”

“It’s not a date.”

“Oh, I see. Yes, enjoy your movie with your ‘friend.’” Mom used air quotes before Dad dragged her away.

Leo sat back down.

I turned to him. “Sorry about that.”

“Don’t apologize.” He grinned.

“I’m not used to running into them.”

He grinned even bigger.

“Why are you smiling?”

“Because you weren’t kidding about telling your mom about me.”

“I did warn you that you couldn’t kill me.”

“Yeah, but you talked about me enough that she assumed you were into me.”

I noticed my parents a few rows ahead of us. At least they hadn’t sat next to us. “I need the candy.”

“Nope.” He held the M&M’s away from me. “We’re doing this your way. Only popcorn.”

“I need candy.” Sweets were a definite comfort food for me, and I needed the comfort.

He put his arm behind me. “Why are you so upset?”

I thought about it. “I don’t know.”

“You’re not embarrassed to be seen out with me, are you?”

“Of course not. Are you kidding?” Embarrassed was the opposite of what I felt.

“I’m trying to understand your reaction.”

“My mom isn’t going to drop this. She’s going to pester me about what’s going on with us.”

“So?” He took another handful of popcorn.

“So, it gets old.”

“Let her have her fun. She’s probably excited to see you out. I’m sure she was upset about you breaking off the engagement. Most moms like planning a daughter’s wedding, and she’s probably worried about you.”

“She doesn’t need to be.”

“She doesn’t, and if seeing you out with a guy makes her feel better about your mental health, then let her have that.”

“Do you always have to sound so wise?” I glanced at the theater message reminding you to turn off your phone. I double checked mine even though I knew it was on silent.

“Not always.”

The lights dimmed, and the first preview started. I opened up both packages of candy. Leo moved his arm back so he could eat a bit of each candy.

I tried to focus on the movie, but I was distracted by my mom glancing back a few times.

Leo noticed too, and his solution was to put his arm around me again.

“You’re trying to mislead her,” I whispered.

“I made her smile.”

“Make yourself smile.” I lightly pushed his arm.

“I am smiling.” He used his free hand to grab some more candy.

I turned back to the movie and gave my own smile. Eventually I relaxed enough to enjoy the movie I knew by heart. I was glad it wasn’t something new, or I would have been hopelessly lost.

At the end of the movie Leo insisted we wait for my parents to catch up with us before walking out into the lobby even though I assured him they wouldn’t expect it.

“Hey, enjoy your millionth viewing of that movie?” Dad asked.

“So she wasn’t kidding? She actually is a fan.” Leo nodded as though he was impressed.

“Oh, a big one. She even dressed up as a storm trooper one Halloween.” Dad beamed. For one reason or another having a Star Wars loving daughter was a bragging right to him.

“Because Nile and Clay were doing it. I wanted to be like them.”

Leo smiled. “That’s cute.”

Or pathetic depending on how you looked at it. I’d always wanted to be as cool as my brother and his friends, but it never quite happened.

“What are you two doing now? We’re heading over to the diner. Want to join us?” Mom asked.

“We’d love to,” Leo answered before I could.

“Great.” Mom grinned.

I said nothing. How could I possibly say no now?

We all walked outside, but I grabbed Leo’s arm to hold him back. “What was that?”

“What? We need to eat.”

“With my parents?”

“What do you care? Remember making other people happy isn’t a bad thing.”

“Fine.” When he put it that way I sounded horrible arguing.

We took a slow walk over to the diner a little ways down the road. I kept my mouth shut. I didn’t want to make too big a deal out of eating with my parents, even though it definitely wasn’t my ideal way to end the evening.

Dad asked for a table for four, and we were led to a booth in the diner I’d eaten at more times than I could count. I’d gone as a kid, but most of my memories came from high school outings with my friends.

One quick glance around told me nothing that changed. It had the same blue carpeting and wooden blinds that had always been there, as well as the random geometric designs etched onto the walls.

I slid into one side of the window booth, and Leo sat down next to me. My parents settled in across from us.

“So, Leo. You work at the record store?” Mom jumped right in with her questioning.

“I do.”

“That’s great. Do you have a specific interest in music?”

“I enjoy it, but no. I needed a job, and it fit my needs.” He kept complete eye contact as he spoke.

“Great.” Mom unwrapped her silverware and put her napkin on her lap. “Are you from around here originally?”

“I grew up in Roslyn. I moved out here to be closer to my brother.”

“Oh, that’s wonderful. Staying close to family is important.” Mom shot me a look that said it all. She wanted me to try harder with my brother.

“My parents are out in California, so we don’t get to see them as much as we’d like, but I see my brother all the time now.”

Mom smiled. “We hadn’t seen much of Cassidy lately, but we’re excited she’s moved back home.”

Now that was a change. And moved back? She was acknowledging I was home to stay for a while.

“I can imagine. I’ve heard she wasn’t back to visit a lot.”

“She was busy working, so we understood.” Dad rested a hand on the table. He’d always encouraged me to have a strong work ethic.

The conversation stopped when the waitress took our order, and thankfully the food came even faster than normal. Dinner moved along more amicably than I expected. I got embarrassed a few times, but Leo was great at carrying the conversation, so I found I actually enjoyed myself. I wasn’t about to tell my parents that though. I wasn’t planning to make joint dinners with them a habit—with or without Leo. I wasn’t sure whether to be annoyed or impressed at how he’d worked my parents. They’d never seemed so enamored with someone before.

I held my tongue as we walked back to my apartment, but when we got there, I had to say something. “That was interesting.”

“You have nice parents.”

“Are we still on for tomorrow night?” I spit out the question. I wanted to spend more time with Leo, but I didn’t know if he was getting bored of my company.

“Why wouldn’t we be?”

“I don’t know. Just checking.”

“I’m looking forward to our evening.” He smiled as we stood in front of the stairs to my apartment.

I waited. Was this the moment when he kissed me? Did I want him to? I wasn’t sure what I wanted, but I didn’t want to say goodnight yet. “Want me to drive you home?”

“No.”

“But it’s—”

“Late. Dark. Yup. And I’m a big boy. I’ll even text you when I get home.”

I laughed. “I’ll hold you to that.”

“Good and sleep well.” He touched my arm gently before walking around to get his bike.

“Good night.”

“Night, Cassidy.” He stood there with his bike waiting.

“You can go.”

“Not until I see you go inside.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s the way it is.”

I walked up the steps with a smile on my face. Normally that kind of thing would have bothered me, but I liked it coming from Leo. He wasn’t doing it because he was sexist, he was doing it because he cared, and there was nothing better than that.

I’d barely closed the door when my phone rang. I picked up when I saw it was my mother. It wouldn’t pay to make her wait. “Hello.”

“He’s adorable,” she gushed.

“He’s just a friend.”

“That doesn’t make him less adorable.”

“He is cute.” I didn’t usually talk about men with my mother, but I wasn’t going to deny how attractive Leo was.

“Cute?” She laughed dryly. “He’s more than cute.”

“You’re the one who called him adorable.”

“That’s me. What do you really think?”

“Mom. I just broke up with Steve.” I heard water running, she was probably washing something in the sink.

“You wanted to break up with him months ago.”

“Mom!”

“It’s true. I could tell you wanted out, but I didn’t want to push you. You had to make your own decision.”

“Steve’s gay.”

The line went silent. “Yeah… not sure why it took me so long to figure that one out.”

“You didn’t want to accept it. That’s different from not figuring it out.”

“Maybe,” I conceded.

“It doesn’t reflect on you. He’s a nice man. He made you happy. You felt something. You did nothing wrong.”

“I know I didn’t.” I paced the kitchen.

“You think you did. You can’t fool me honey.”

“I hate that I lied to myself for so long. That’s different.”

“I like this Leo.” She thankfully moved the subject away from Steve.

“He’s a nice new friend.”

“I’m sure.”

My phone buzzed with a text. I knew it was Leo, so I pushed to get off the phone. “I’ll call you soon.”

“Love you. Nice to have you home.”

“Since I’m not technically in your home.”

“This distance is a good one.”

“Good night, Mom.” I ended the call and glanced to see the text.

Alive and home.

Glad to know. Thanks for another interesting evening.

Hopefully the third evening is even more fun.

I am sure it will be.

Goodnight.

Goodnight. I put aside my phone. My life had changed so much in such a short period of time, but it was for the best. Sometimes change could be a good thing.