Page 71 of Sort of Seeing Someone

“I’m going to just wait for the other vendors to be done using the one communal dolly. When it’s my turn to borrow it, I will hoist it on there, then roll it out to an Uber. Why do you ask?”

“This set-up should be mobile. It needs wheels. That way, you don’t have to wait your turn forthe one communal dolly. Plus, you have a habit of posting up in front of fire doors. Think about how much easier it’ll be to move this bad boy around on a set of wheels that can lock into place when you get it where you want. Not to mention, it’ll save your back.”

“I’m twenty-six. My back is fine,” I say.

“When you turn thirty, you’ll understand. Anyway, I hope you don’t mind. I just saw a design flaw and needed—”

“—an excuse to whip out your power drill?”

As soon as I say it, I realize how it sounds. In response, herevs the drill in the air.

“May I?”

“Only if you promise to never refer to my pop-up desk as a ‘bad boy’ ever again.”

After giving Ollie the greenlight to install the wheels, he gets to work. Surprisingly the first step of modifying my table is…removing his shirt. Well, his plaidovershirt. Underneath it is a snug-fitting white tee that I’m pretty sure Jeremy Allen White made famous onThe Bear. The sleeves are tighter and shorter than a standard t-shirt, revealing even more of the tattoo I saw a glimpse of at the escape room. I can now confirm that the entire bottom portion is comprised of roses—petals and leaves. There’s something else above it, but I can’t make it out just yet. More to come…I hope.

“Hold this for me?” he asks, but doesn’t wait for a reply as he hands me his button down.It’s still warm and woodsy smelling.

“This too,” he says, plopping the peridot bracelet in my hand. It’s a little stretched out by now, but I’m certainly impressed with his commitment to wear a crystal bracelet.

Ollie lays down on the floor like he’s a mechanic working on the underbelly of a vehicle. He moves his hands quickly and purposefully. The muscles and veins in his hands and arms come into full display, pulsing and tensing, as he works his magic on my table. I don’t need to touch his hand for my brain to start mentally picturing what it would be like to be horizontal next to him with his shirt off. He may have described himself as a bit of a nerdy prick, but as I soak him in—tall, muscular in all the right places, swift with his hands—all I can think is:boy can get it.

While he’s still busy tinkering, I peel myself away for just a moment to refresh my application of the smudge spray. I rub my hands together before returning to the scene.

“All set,” he says with a hint of a sweaty glow across his forehead. “Give it a whirl.”

I hand him back his shirt, reluctantly, and push the cart around with ease.

“Wow, thank you,” I say. “Thisisa game changer.”

“Good. Let’s keep with that as the theme of the day. I’ve got one more ‘game changer’ in mind for you,” he says.

“What do you mean?”

“I made somepannkakabatter and I picked up a jar oflingonberrypreserves from The Swedish Store. I know you don’t get a chance to eat when you do these things, you must be starving. Come over, let me feed you. I’ll even wheel your tableacross the street.”

“Mmm,pannkakasandlingonberry. Just what I was I craving.”

“The plural ofpannkakaispannkakor, smart-ass. And don’t knock ’em until you try ’em. Who wouldn’t love Swedish pancakes with a side of jelly? As I recall,Moonie, your favorite meal of the day is breakfast. You just never eat it because it’s a whole to-do and you’re way too single for that. Did I capture all that accurately?”

There’s that elephant-like memory of his flaring up again.

Since he willingly tried some of my Love Potion, I feel like I owe it to Ollie to try some of his native foods. Although I do need to test something out before I officially agree to head over to his apartment, pop-up desk and all.

“If I don’t like your smorgasbord, promise me you’ll whip up some scrambled eggs instead?” I ask.

“With ketchup,” he remembers.

“Then, you have a deal. I’ll come over,” I say, extending my hand.

He grabs my palm firmly and we shake. I see nothing. My visions, for the moment, are temporarily blocked and I can’t wait to text Angeline that the smudge spray we created is a hit.

The spiritual dream team strikes again.

21

Chapter Twenty-One

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