“I guess that’s a health violation.”
“Like they’d ever have passed a real inspection. But yeah, a cat is kind of obvious.” I figured I could now ask, “You said you crewed a yacht, did construction. What kind of work are you doing now?”
“Still construction. Flipping houses.”
“Nice.” I liked the idea of taking something real beat up and making it livable again.
“It suits me.”
“When you’re not beating up mirrors.”
“Yeah. Then.” The curve of his lips went wry and crooked.
“But you’re renting, so you’re not living in your current project?” Wasn’t that what flippers did? I thought I’d seen it on TV. “Is the house in bad shape?”
“I actually just finished one. Looking for a new project.”
“I’ll keep my eyes out.” I eyed the comfortable room around us. “I hope no one flips this place for a bit. I don’t see a for-sale sign, so hopefully no one’s looking.”
“What would you do with it, if you could?”
I shrugged.If wishes were horses and all that shit.“Too big to be a home unless you had a bunch of kids, which no one should want.” Maybe that was harsh, but grow up being asked to be responsible for half a dozen siblings while your stepdad smokes pot and shoots the shit with his friends? You wouldn’t want kids either. “I’d give it to Arthur for a shelter. Fill the place with dogs and cats. You could show off cleaned-up strays to people in that spiffy front room and I bet folks would pay to adopt them.”
“Not so spiffy with a busted mirror.”
“No big deal. Pull it down, paint that wall, all fixed.”
“That’s what you’d do?” Theo’s gaze was intent.
“Well, not now. In six months or however long I decide to stay. Maybe four months. When I’m ready to move on from this elegant domicile.”
“Oh. Yeah, sure.” Theo frowned and looked around the room like he’d forgotten I was living here.
I pointed at my bedroll. “Just got my four-poster fixed up the way I like it. Don’t want to move right away.”
“Of course.” He lifted his empty glass to his lips, then chuckled awkwardly.
“You want more?” I could spend two-dollar soda for his company.
“No, thank you.” This time, the silence between us felt awkward. He broke it before I could. “I don’t have a lot of friends in this town. My projects have mostly been in San Diego.” Before I could feel some way about the idea he wasn’t local, he added, “I like spending time with you. Could I take you out to eat maybe sometime? Nothing fancy, just fun?”
“Not a lot of places allow a cat inside.”
“Do you ever go out without Mimsy?”
“Not much.”
“There’s good food stands down by the pier. We could get food there and walk.”
“Well, sure, I guess.” I didn’t want to give away how the invitation made me feel special.He’s got mental issues, no matter how good he sounds now. And he’s not local. Don’t get attached.
“I’ll call you, if you’re willing to give me your number.” Theo pulled a phone from his pocket.
I laughed. “Do I look like a guy with a cell phone to you?”
Theo blinked. “But then how do you, well, do things?”
“Did you run away from home with a cell phone in your pocket?”
