“So this is your place?” I ask.
“For now.” He says.
A grey short haired cat scurries from room to room.
“Forgive Tommy. He doesn’t like dogs. Or wolves.”
“I’m gonna let the dog comment slide.” I say.
John shows me around and I settle into the guest bedroom.
Tommy peeks from under the bed.
I reach over and pick him up.
He hisses at me at first but then lets me scratch his head.
We have dinner, well I have dinner and then I go to bed at around eleven at night.
In the morning we walk over to the book store.
I spend most of the morning looking around the store and helping restock.
A boy shows up close to noon.
Then I realize its Dharma.
I ask Johnathon about it and he explains.
I understand why she did it. I mean, if I had any of my dad’s things I would put them on too. Not that I was willing to put on a dress had it been my mother who had died.
Then a guy with an icy green stare arrives at one in the afternoon.
I shiver every time I stare right into his eyes.
“Matt, this is Marcus.”
“The bitch.” Marcus says.
I hide my smile.
“So you’re the puppy.” He says looking at me with distrust.
I feel the anger move up my spine.
“Bitch sounded about right.” I say glaring back at him.
He smiles sarcastically and moves into the office.
“He’s not always like that.” John says.
“You mean he can be normal?”
“I think normal might be a stretch. He’s civil sometimes.”
“What happened to Donna? I didn’t know you were hiring someone else.”
We turn to look at the other man who showed up.
“Hey James, this is Matt. Donna’s on vacation.”
“Your new friend.” James says nodding. “Hello.” He says shaking my hand.
“Hey.”
“What are you doing here?” John asks.
“I came to see you before Dharma and I go back.”
“Well, thanks for remembering me.” John smiles.
James hugs him. It’s not a manly hug, you know, the hand between the bodies and a couple of manly pats on the back. This was a full body hug.
Then they move away and kind of stare at each other for a moment.
Probably having some kind of private conversation.
Then James goes into the office where Marcus is.
“Not flirting my ass.” I say.
“What?” John asks.
“I’m guessing you flirted with him too the way you tried to with me.” I say elbowing him in the ribs.
“James loves me no matter what.”
