Happy with my purchases, I head to the front with my four new sweaters and coat. “I’m loving that coat,” Jeanette says, ringing up my new-to-me clothes. “Oh, and the deal of the week is buy one, get one half off. So, two of the sweaters are fifty percent off,” she adds with a smile.
“Can’t beat that deal,” I reply, digging out a few more bills.
“It’s mix or match. If you want something else, you get it half off, since you’re getting the coat,” she adds, folding the sweaters and setting them aside.
I glance around, wondering if there’s anything else I should purchase. When my eyes fall back on the lantern, a grin spreads across my lips. “I’ll take the lantern,” I tell her.
“Excellent choice,” she replies, grabbing the lantern and some newspaper.
We chitchat about the predicted cold front coming in before the Thanksgiving holiday, while Jeanette wraps up the lantern to protect it. When she gives me my total, which is considerably less than I expected to pay, I hand her some cash to cover the amount and take my two bags of goodies from the counter.
“It was a pleasure seeing you again, Hollis. Stop by anytime. I run different deals all the time to keep inventory moving, so if you’re ever looking for anything in particular, come here first,” Jeanette boasts with a wave.
“I will, thanks,” I tell her as I head to the door.
Outside, the mid-November air is brisk and dry, so I speed-walk to my car and fire it up as soon as I’m inside. I also pull my new coat from the bag and slip it on, instantly appreciating the warmth that wraps around me. I sit for a few minutes, wondering where my next stop will be. I still have a little money left and want to grab some boots, so I guess I’ll head out toward the supercenter to see what they have in stock.
Just before I go to pull from my parking spot, my cell phone rings. I dig it from my purse and find a local number I don’t recognize. “Hello?”
“Hey, is this Hollis?”
“This is,” I reply, already recognizing the voice on the other end.
“It’s Gabby,” she says.
“Hi, how are you?”
“I’m good. Listen, I’m at the gym and just had a meeting with Harrison about the website. Are you available soon for a quick meeting?”
My heart starts to dance in my chest with excitement. Past experiences tell me, a meeting request is usually a very good thing. “Yeah, sure, anytime. I’m just running a few errands now.”
“Yeah? Well, would you want to stop by after your errands? I don’t want to rush you, but Harrison’s afternoon schedule is open so he can go to a doctor’s appointment with my sister. He’s got a little time before he leaves,” she tells me.
“Yeah, sure! I can come right now, actually,” I reply, feeling that familiar anticipation of potential work bubbling up inside me.
“Really? I mean, if you’re sure,” she says, the smile evident in her voice.
“I’m sure. I’ll be there in about ten minutes.”
“Okay, I’ll meet you at the front desk. See you in a few,” she replies before hanging up.
“Yes!” I holler in the confines of my car, my palms hitting my steering wheel a few times in celebration. Giving myself a few seconds to enjoy the prospect of another new job, I finally pull from my parking spot and head toward the gym, boot shopping forgotten for the time being.
It only takes me a few minutes to get there, and when I pull into the lot beside the building, I spy Colton’s familiar truck in the back. My heart starts to beat a little faster in my chest, and I can’t help but wonder if I’ll see him, but then I think about how stupid that line of thinking is. It doesn’t matter if I see him or not, right? I’m here for a job, nothing more, and that job doesn’t involve ogling my landlord while he’s at work.
I get out of the car and head to the front door, thankful for the extra layer of warmth. Inside, I instantly find Gabby, who’s smiling widely, her hands resting on her slight baby bump. “I’m so glad you’re here,” she says, pulling me into a hug.
“Me too,” I tell her.
“Let’s go. We’re meeting in his office.”
I fall in step beside her as we make our way through the massive gym. Even for the time of day, there are a bunch of people walking or running on treadmills and ellipticals. They’re using rowing machines and free weights. There’s even a handful of older gentlemen standing around the water cooler and pointing to the football game muted on the television.
“We’ve been crazy busy,” she says, walking swiftly down a short hallway. When she rounds the corner, we’re in a small room where what I assume is her desk is positioned. Gabby heads over to the open door and knocks as she walks in, me tagging along behind her.