“Well, uh…I went to Wade Hampton,” my eyes search hers waiting for my destiny. I feel my stomach clench and bile rise to my throat.
“Oh…I’m from the other side of town,” she frowns.
Whew. She hasn’t put it together yet. I still have a chance to win her over before she does.
She continues, “Yeah…I’ve seen Wade Hampton before. It looks like a dang four seasons resort over there. The closest I ever got though was Franky’s ballet. It’s right down the road from there.
“Yeah my sister did ballet there too” I clench my eyes and my whole body tenses.
I do did not mean to say that.
“Oh really? Who’s your sister?” here eyebrows raise.
I take a breath in, “Courtney,” I have no choice but to answer. I can’t lie. I can’t risk starting this out like that.
Her eyes narrow thinking and I just know I’m done for now.
“I remember Courtney,” her voice is soft and then her head cocks to the side as she looks up thinking.
When her eyes finally drift back down to mine, there’s a look in them…like all the puzzle pieces have come together, “You make furniture? You went to Wade Hampton…Courtney-,” her lips smash together for a moment before she licks them and starts again, “Is your dad-? Do you own….Sampson Furniture?”
I see her lips mouth my initials quietly as she thinks of them, and I nod, my face blank, waiting on what emotion to blanket it with.
“Archer Simon Sampson.” My body tenses as I confirm it for her.