I was shocked when I got a call around noon on Saturday from Mary. “Hey Hannah. I am about half way done with your pictures, but that isn’t really why I am calling. I am calling because I just got off the phone with an author that is looking for a specific look for her upcoming book cover.” Before she could spell out anything else I excused myself from the room. I didn’t want anyone to overhear the conversation.
Once I made it to my bedroom I let Mary know I was ready, “I’m sorry. Go on, what were you saying.”
“I was saying that I have an author that is looking for a redhead, more specifically she would like a redhead that has highlights. As soon as the words left her mouth I thought of you. I don’t know if it is even something you are interested in.” she paused indicating it was more a question than a statement.
“Wow Mary. I don’t know. What exactly does it mean? Do you already know what they want for the cover?” My mind was starting to race, rounding the first corner and quickly picking up speed into the crazy.
“Honestly, I don’t know the full details just yet. I told her I would check with you before I let her give me any details. Usually the authors tell me what they want and I set up and do the photo shoot. Depending on the contract, the author may or may not be present for the shoot. In this situation, if we can coordinate properly, the author will be present for the shoot so she can guide me to capture the images she wants. Other times they simply get to pick images after the fact. Once it is said and done the author ultimately gets to pick the image they want to use.”
I was pretty speechless. I had no idea if that was something I was willing to actually do. The fact that I didn’t instantly say no means I was willing to consider it. What would Steve think? Would my face be on the cover? “I have to be honest with you. My mind is racing. I think it is something I would consider, but I don’t know that I would want my face showing. I don’t know if this is something Steve would be okay with, I need to ask him, but in doing so I will ultimately be spilling the beans about his Christmas present and the fact that I wasn’t 100% honest with him.”
She was beyond understanding and offered a possible solution, “I honestly don’t know what this author is looking for. Would you be willing to let me share a couple of the more conservative photos we took? Like the ones of you wearing the men’s white button up shirt? If the author likes them we can discuss options and I can let her know your concern. You could wait until we find out if the author wants to use you before you tell Steve anything, no sense spoiling his present.” She chuckled at herself.
“It is possible I’m not what the author is looking for. Just because you share with this one author, doesn’t mean I am committed to doing anything, right?” I didn’t give her a chance to even respond before going for it. “Okay. I’ll do it. I mean, okay, go ahead and share the pictures with her. If she wants me, I will have to tell Steve everything.” Sucking in a huge breath I asked her, “Can you send me the pictures you plan to share before you sent them to her?”
She squealed with excitement and told me, “Thank you Hannah! I will have the pictures emailed to you within an hour. I will wait to email her until I hear back from you.”
As soon as I was off the phone, I asked Sierra if she wanted to hit the gym before the guys got done working. She looked at me like I had two heads since I never wanted to go to the gym. Despite looking at me like I was crazy, she jumped at the chance to work out. On the way to the gym I filled her in on the phone call from Mary. She knew without having to go into details why I was hesitant, she knew her brother well enough to know he was not going to like the idea of my picture being out there.
By the time we were done working out I had several images waiting for me in my email. All of them were tastefully done, my legs fully exposed but everything else was covered. Seeing the images was the first time I had ever seen myself in that manner. It made me think of the pictures Steve had of me on his phone. That, of course, reminded me of the photos I had of Steve on my phone. Just thinking about them made me horny. I was so easily sidetracked each and every time I thought of Steve standing there naked and hard for me. Back on track before I could over think it, I quickly sent Mary an email telling her she could share those images so long as she could confirm that it didn’t obligate me into taking the job and so long as the author understands that I may end up not wanting to show my face and or be completely exposed. Within seconds of hitting send Mary replied with confirmation and a promise to keep me posted.
We made our way back to the house and we had just enough time to shower before the guys got home from the dealership. Sierra and I made plans to take the guys out to dinner at an adult arcade that had recently opened. They got home just as we finished getting ready so we gave them a half hour to get showered and changed into casual clothes.
If my everyday life could be like today, I would be the happy fucker that drives everyone nuts smiling and bubbly all the time. You know the guy I’m talking about; everyone wonders what he’s drinking all the time because it is not natural to be that happy all the time.
I didn’t get to see Hannah this morning before taking off with Cal, a minor detail because I know in the future I’ll be waking up right next to her. I had no idea what to expect at the dealership, it wasn’t like I have ever bought a new car. I shadowed Cal with the first round of customers, but when more people arrived I went off with a young couple to show them the different trucks.
I won’t pretend it was my sales skills that sold the Tacoma; the couple had done their research and knew exactly what they wanted. I will say my lack of experience in this game is why I managed to get full sticker price. I didn’t know I could make people a deal. When I brought the couple into the sales office, Luke took over the paperwork. I visited with them until the next round of shoppers came in.
This time it was a father and his visibly pregnant young daughter. Dad was apparently not impressed with the baby daddy, and had no problem being vocal about it. The daughter kept quiet while looking at the different vehicles. As soon as I asked about the baby, the demeanor of both dad and daughter changed. It was like a light switch; they were both smiling and talking at the same time telling me everything. I took advantage of the shift in their demeanor and showed them the hybrid models. Lack of money was one of the many things the dad didn’t like about the baby daddy, so the hybrid upgrade worked.
This time the dad balked at the sticker price and told me to go ask my boss if I could knock $2,000 off if he paid cash. I shrugged my shoulders and told the guy I’d ask. I walked into the showroom looking for Luke, I found him in the breakroom getting a drink. “Hey Luke, the guy I’m working with is wanting to get the Camry Hybrid XLE, you know the black one? Any way, he wanted me to ask if you if I could knock $2,000 off the sticker price if he pays cash? I told him I’d ask.”
Luke looks at me like I’m crazy. He starts shaking his head and I just figured it wasn’t something that he was willing to do. When he busted out with a full belly laugh and had to bend over to catch his breath I was beyond confused. I just stood there until he caught his breath and could talk, “It’s clear you have never purchased a car. The sticker price doesn’t mean shit. The Tacoma you sold earlier could have gone for about $3,000-$4,000 less than you sold it for. Selling that Camry for $2,000 less than sticker price still makes us money. Try them at $1,000 or $1,500. If they don’t go for it, come back in for a few minutes then go take it for the $2,000 less.” I nodded in understanding before I turned to walk out, I could hear him chuckling and muttering. “Sticker price on his first sale.”
The dad was happy with $1,500 off the sticker price and just like that my second sale of the day was off to the sales office. The next two sales were a little more work, but I managed to sell a RAV4 just like the one Luke gave Hannah and a Highlander Hybrid. Before taking off for the day Luke asked me into his office. Believe it or not I wasn’t nervous about meeting with him, he’d been laughing at me all day; plus, me being here was doing him a favor.
“Hey man, take a seat. I want to talk to you real quick, I know you’re probably dying to get out of here so I’ll make it fast. First, you did better out there today than all my veteran sales people, and that includes Calvin. You have any idea how much you made today?”
I didn’t realize he was expecting an answer, but that was because I wasn’t expecting to make any money. “Um, no I don’t.”
“Well considering the first sale was almost $4,000 over the invoice price, you made a little over $2,500 for yourself today.” I don’t know if he was expecting a reaction from me, if so money wasn’t the way to get it. “I don’t want to be the father-in-law that dictates what you do, but I will tell you, if there is any chance you want to do this for a living, the job is yours.”
I hadn’t been kidding when I told Hannah that I don’t have a career in mind that I am striving for. I want to work; I want to enjoy the work I am doing and I want to provide for her. Working here would allow us to be with her family. I have no doubt that Sierra will be living here as soon as Cal asks the question. I’ll have to double check with Curtis to see what his plans are. “Thank you. I had fun today. I know deep down Hannah wants to be back here, she just hasn’t admitted it yet. It’s helpful knowing I have an option here.” Standing up, I reached across the desk to shake his hand before I walked out. “You understand I can’t commit until I’ve talked to Hannah, right?”
“Good answer son.”
Our double date with Sierra and Cal was amazing. Whoever came up with the idea of an adult style chuck-e-cheese is a brilliant fucker.