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One

Jay

“This place is a shithole” David kicks the radiator A pipe falls off and clangs to the floor Sheepishly, he picks it up and lays it on top of the rusted piece of crap “See?”

“Maybe you should be more careful” I walk over and pick up the pipe and jot a note down on the back of the envelope I’ to keep track of all the repairs

David peers over my shoulder “For Abel? Abel Underwood? You’re not seriously considering asking hient cocks his head “Are you doing due diligence for a new purchase? Are they going to acquire this building? Let ot some money stashed away”

I look around at the cracked drywall and the peeling paint In about thirtythe foundation and ine “They aren’t buying it” It should be obvious

“But…” David trails off “Why are you here? This is worse than soht you wanted to get soether your photo essay”

“I am and I will” The photo essay is done I finished it up last week, but I want to review it before sending it in for publication There’s soer on it I’ve put it aside for now and will re-evaluate the project in a couple of weeks with a fresh pair of eyes For now, though, I have other things to keep me occupied Out of the corner oftoward the lobby I grab David by the shoulder and push hi to need you to leave so I can get started on that”

At the doorway, I let hi the door in his face, I hear hiet your deadline!”

I throw the deadbolt closed and hurry over to the table whereThe twenty thousand dollar piece of equipment is like my third eye I can’t see clearly without it I hold it up to theand start snapping Her head is down, and in the next fra at her phone screen There’s a e there that I can’t ets in return irritates her Her shoulders tense and rise toward her ears She exhales heavily, her ribs expanding and contracting under a thin shirt with strawberries dotted all over I like it, but then I’ve liked everything she’s worn She has a pretty girl style, al and televisions were still black and white I et a few more shots before she disappears out of view I set the carab the pot from the counter, and head for her apart is perfect As she rounds the corner, I have my fist on her knocker

“Can I help you?” she says in her honeyed accent I don’t knohere it’s frouages spoken, but I can’t place hers It’s a uess—a draith round vowels I can’t wait until I hear my name fall from her lips, preferably when she’s naked and under me

I hold up ot I ran out of milk You don’t have any, do you?”

A shbor? I heard someone moved in this weekend” She holds out her hand “I’m Dove”

“I’m Jay Anderson Nice to meet you Yeah, I just moved in”

She wrinkles her nose “If you have some problems, don’t wait for the landlord Unfortunately, no one in ot some handy people around” She pulls her keys out of her purse and fits one into the lock “Coot whole milk Is that okay?”

“That’s great I can do so and electrical is out of my comfort zone” I look around her place It’s a lot nicer than s and curtains and the most I have so far is my mattress and a card table

“I’ood at any of that either” She sets her purse down and disappears into the s area She’s got a lot of pictures on the table, but the only randfather There are a few romance books scattered around I try to reet back to my apartment