Inside the warehouse, black-out curtains were drawn over the windows to keep the sunlight out. On a black draped set in front of a green screen, Ian had a model wearing a light blue bikini and a white Russian fur hat while holding a bottle of vodka. As Jordan approached, she saw on the monitor that the green screen was being used to shoot her in front of a snowybackground.
Dressed again in dark slacks, but this time with a pale pink button down shirt, Ian instructed the model what to do as he continued taking photos. Jordan didn't speak. She didn't want to interrupt, so she and Dylan stayed out of the way as she waited to talkwithIan.
"It's about time, Pixie Girl. I keep my stuff over there," Ian said as he motioned with a jerk of his head towards a couple of other cameras next to lenses and filters. "Give me the Nikon with the 55mm and an81A.Now."
Jordan quickly got the camera ready and brought it over to Ian. As he took it, he leaned in and whispered inherear.
"Get it out of your mind that you're not good enough. You think anyone else here would've even understood what I just asked for?" Standing straight, Ian went back to barking. "Pixie, upstairs. Go, go! I'm busy here. Make yourselfuseful."
Grabbing Dylan's arm, she led him up the stairs where they entered a small hallway with two doors. There was an envelope with her name on one of the doors. The envelope contained a note andakey.
"What's it say?" Dylanasked.
"Just that he thought I'd rather look at the apartment without him hovering and to make ourselves comfortable. He'll be up as soon ashe'sdone."
"He seems like a jerk. You sure you want to work for him and live so closetohim?"
"Things aren't always astheyseem."
She grinned at him as she unlocked the door. The apartment was small but bright, with floor-to-ceiling windows that lined the entire side. Looking past the tall palm trees, she could see the Santa Monica Pier and theocean.
As they walked through the apartment, their footsteps echoed on the recently varnished wood floors throughout the sparsely furnished apartment. The living room only had a couple of old, yellow striped chairs and an ancient TV. In the corner by the kitchen was a card table with two folding chairs. Lastly, the bedroom had an air mattress rolled up in thecorner.
Jordan walked through the small apartment several times. "It's absolutely perfect," she said, unable to stopsmiling.
"I can't keep doing this, Jordan. We need to talk. You've been pushing me away since I told you Iloveyou."
"I told you, Ineedtime."
She covered her face with her hands as tears began to sting her eyes. Sitting down on one of the upholstered chairs, she took a couple of deep breaths as she tried to regain her composure. It was no use though. Every time she looked at him, her heart pounded in her chest. She realized then that she couldlosehim.
"I don't want to lose you," shewhispered.
"You're notgoingto."
"Yes, I am. I know I am. As soon as this tour is over, you'll go away again. You'll meet someone new. And she'll probably be taller and prettier and less fucked upthanme."
"I don't want to meet anyone else. No matter how much taller than you they are," he said as he kneeled on the floor in front of her, as he held her hands andsmiled.
She laughed and wiped away a runaway tear. "I'm trying to beserious."
"Then listen to me. My entire life I've been going from one place to the next. Now I finally have a reason to stay put, to be in one place, and that place is with you. I can't imagine my lifewithoutyou."
"But I can't promise you anything," she said. "I know you want to live together, but I know where that leads. I love you, but I can't even think like that. I can't look into thefuture."
"Do you want to bewithme?"
"More thananything."
"Do you want to see meeveryday?"
"I want to sleep in your arms everynight."
"Then we don't have a problem," he said. "I promise I won't push all that other stuff. We can take it as slow asyouwant."
"I promise I won't wall you off or push you away. I just need to get used to seeing myself through my own eyes, and not myparents'."
"Well, in my eyes, you'reperfect."
Ian knocked on the open door andentered.
"I don't mean to interrupt. Is the apartment okay?" Ianasked.
"It's perfect," she said. "It really is. I'm so grateful, Ian.Thankyou."
"I'm glad you like it. It's available whenever you're ready to move in. You can start workthen,too."
"Sounds good. Dylan and I will move in after the tour," Jordan said as she realized she was the happiest she hadeverbeen.