Left at the Alter

I got back to the studio and ran in to find Marla and Anna in the office having a good old time. There laughter was infectious and before long I was cracking up right along with them. I felt a tinge of guilt for having those feelings at the store and decided I was going to drink until I didn’t feel the guilt anymore. Marla and Anna had talked a lot about business while I was gone. They seemed to have touched upon all the points that I wanted to go over. Marla was really great to work with and in times like these I was reminded of how grateful I was to have her. 

While I was pouring my second glass of wine our doorbell rang. I had locked the doors because we were three women in a back office, and I didn’t want anyone to be able to sneak in on us. Marla held down the intercom as I spoke over it. “Yes, what can we do for you.” And then I motioned for her to let the button go. 

“Can you pull up the video feed, I just remembered we were having problems with it.”

Marla nodded and got up from the desk we were sitting in to go over to the camera behind me. She has all of the IT experience, yet this shit never happens to her when she is here alone – just to the technologically challenged. 

“I am here to meet with Cassidy Jones.”

“Sure, I’m coming to let you in.” 

“That’s Jeremy.” Anna said. “He is the one I was telling you about Marla.” And then she looked over at me. “He owns a construction business and already has a team. He is on the approved list and I already know how he works. Full transparency, we’re dating, but that did not affect my decision. He is good like if he cheated on me with my twin sister, I would still put his team on my next project. He is that good.”

“I really have a twin sister,” she says to Marla. “But instead of partying in college she was breastfeeding. Got herself a whole husband, I’m the broken one.”

She walked away to let him in. As soon as she walked out of the office the camera monitor came on. I thought my mind was playing tricks on me when I looked at the monitor and Mr. Dark Chocolate himself staring at my door. He had changed from the workout top he had on into a crisp black button down and khakis. Had brought his once chin length locks into the beginnings of a French braid that was secured in the back with an elastic band given full view to his crispy line up.

Apparently, Jeremy brought his professional stunt double with him because this was not the man I met just 30 minutes prior. Business will always get my feelings in check. I quickly put my ‘Cassidy, owner and lead sculptor at CassArt Studios’, face on. If he was as trustworthy as Anna says, then he could be useful in other endeavors as well. His company specializes in flipping homes and I was looking for another stream of income. Always hungry for more. 

Our conversation was so organic. Anna had the spontaneous idea to take some of the topics we were debating on to Facebook live. We spoke on childbirth and child rearing though none of us had kids. Anna came the closest as her twin had three children but she herself had none. I wanted a kid at some point but by the time I was ready who knew what shape this body would be in – it may not be in the cards for me. It didn’t seem fair that I would have to be ok with that if I am going to continue to prioritize my career over my home life. But I would. I would choose sculpting over kids. 

We spoke about how we each came to work for ourselves in one capacity or another and growing pains in relationships. Hanging out with Anna felt like hanging out with an old friend. I wasn’t usually close to family members of people I was dating. I know me, and when I’m ready to move on I don’t want no problems. I could usually envision what the end looks like for my relationships however when it came to Eli, I could not see an end in sight, nor did I want too. Dating him was so effortless and rewarding. It was an absolute pleasure hanging out with him when we could steal away and those dates when we get together on Friday after not seeing each other all week are the best.