Page 90 of Sort of Seeing Someone

“Middle of the road. Not in a heightened state of spiritual enlightenment, not entirely closed off either. Just…normal.”

“I’ll take normal. Can we be done? Please? I feel exhausted,” Ollie laments.

“That’s typical after Reiki. Get up slowly. Drink lots of water. Don’t do much for the rest of the day,” instructs Angeline.

We thank Angeline for her time and expertise, even if it wasn’t what Ollie was expecting or wanting to hear.

He’s quiet on the way out. The lightness of the day contrasts to the darkness of her dungeon and we both squint our eyes as we get our bearings.

“So are you totally turned off now or what?”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m spiritually sub-par,” he announces in a dejected tone.

“I’ve known that for a while now,” I joke, trying to bring some levity to the situation. “Look, you are who you are. I am who I am. It works. We work. Right?”

“Yeah.”

Ollie’s “Yeah” falls a little flat for me if we’re being honest.

“I think Angeline is a genius, obviously. But remember, she’s just dabbling in Reiki. Who knows. Maybe she was totally off with her readings.”

“You don’t really believe that.”

“Hey. I have an idea,” I say, trying a new approach. “Let’s get a cookie.”

I point to Sweet Baby’s across the street. In a way, that’s the place that started it all.

“Are they open? Looks like they’re under construction. See that scaffolding?”

“That’s just a window washer for the apartment above,” I say like I know for sure.

“It’s OSHA violation 1926.451(c)(3), is what it is.”

“Excuse me?”

“OSHA violation 1926.451(c)(3) states:Supported scaffold poles, legs, posts, frames, and uprights must be plumb and braced to prevent swaying and displacement. That thing is swaying like a flag in the wind.”

He’s back, I think to myself. He’s back.

26

Chapter Twenty-Six

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, which means I’m another thirty bottles—and counting—behind on fulfilling Love Potion orders that need to make it to their rightful owners in time for buyers to attract someone to go do dinner with on the 14th. Yet here I am unable to focus on anything other than the sexy, smart Swede who has somehow engineered his way into my life.

I contemplate asking Nora if she wants to help churn out the orders. After all, we had such a good time bonding over the last woo-woo project we did together—putting a fertility spell on my sister. However, she, Esteban, and the boys are at a Kidz Bop concert at the Chicago Theatre. They invited me, but—aside from a root canal—there was nothing I would rather do less. And since it’s the weekend, Nora decided to make a night of it and do a staycation downtown. I, of course, suggested they get a room at The Brockmeier once I heard their plan, but something about a rumored Lady in Red haunting the floors and the no-kids rule in their art-deco indoor pool made them spring for a Marriott instead. It’s probably better this way. With my luck, Nora would flush a tampon, clog the ancient pipework, and Ollie would be the one who would have to present a complete plumbing restoration plan to the stakeholders come Monday morning. While he and I have made great progress growing closer, I’m not sure that’s how I want him to meet my sister for the first time.

So that leaves me to hold down the entire Roscoe Village fort for the night—coach house, main house, and everything in between. As such, I decide that since the main house will be unoccupied for the evening, I’ll make my way over to Nora’s side of the quarters. Her tub is a lot bigger, so I can make more product in less amount of time. Plus, she has about six pints of fancy gelato in her freezer and a completely stocked wine fridge.

The house is quiet. I can’t decide if it’s eerie or blissful. It smells like an expensive gardenia-scented candle. If it wasn’t for rogue soccer balls and various Fortnite figurines strewn about the living room, it would feel like this place is mine. Like I picked the white shaker cabinets and marble backsplash out myself. Like I left the end table lamp light on so that I could come home to a warm, soft glow. This feels nice. This feels grown up. I know it’s just for pretend, but in the moment, I don’t feel so transient in my life. Perhaps this is what Ollie means when he talks about the desire to lay down roots.

As I think of him, I wonder what he’s up to. Maybe if he’s not busy making a CAD drawing of The Brockmeier 2.0, he’d want to join me in making a batch of potion in my sister’s soaking tub? Hedidonce tell me that he was willing to help, if only to prevent staining the porcelain. And with all the progress we’ve made thus far, I think it’s time. Time to let him in just a little bit more.

I pull out my phone and shoot my shot.

What are you up to tonight?I fire off.

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