Page 8 of Just for the Cameras
He’s…he’s so rude.
How dare he insult flamingos like that? Pink-feathered dipshit on stilts? That’s just so mean. They’re anything but dipshits. They’re ecosystem engineers and a vital component to the wetlands. And it seems like someone needs an education on the matter.
And I will be sure to be the one that gives him a first-class talking-to. When he’s done at this zoo, he’ll…he’ll be composing sonnets about my precious birds. That’s right.
Sonnets!
Head held high, I push through the door and come face to…chest with the largest brick wall of a human I’ve ever seen.
Good God, that’s a lot of man in one body.
Slowly, my eyes trail up a tight black shirt where well-formed muscles pull on the threads, to a thick neck with traps that nearly touch his ears, to a square jaw covered in a five-o’clock shadow, and dark, menacing eyes that almost resemble the color of an obsidian stone. His full and tousled pitch-black locks are artfully shaped into a fauxhawk, making him seem incredibly dangerous. The shorter sides sharpen the angle of his jaw, while the style screams rebellious, flamingo-hating…douche.
“There she is,” Phil says as he comes over to me. “Maple, I’d like you to meet your new partner in crime.” I glance over to where two other very fit, very tall brickhouse men stand, one expressionless, the other nearly bouncing on his toes with joy. “This is Graydon St. John, the defensive end for the Foghorns. Graydon, meet Maple, one of our flamingo zookeepers and your liaison for the next two months.”
A pained expression crosses his stern features before the corners of his lips slightly angle up. He holds out his bearlike paw of a hand and says, “Nice to meet you.”
Because I’m not someone to stir up trouble, I plaster on a smile and shake the flamingo-hater’s hand. “It’s very nice to meet you. We’re excited to have you here helping with our precious birds.”
He shifts on his feet and sticks his hands in his pockets. “Yeah…same.” Ooh, I really felt the excitement. Gretchen elbows him in the side, causing him to stand taller and mutter, “Really excited.”
Yeah, I can tell.
Insert eye roll.
Why? Why is this the guy I had to end up with? Why not the smiling fool behind him? Or even the silent one next to him? No, I get the annoyed, brooding asshole.
“Well, I’ll let Maple catch you up on everything flamingos while Itake Oden and Bennett to meet their zookeepers. So glad that you’re here, Graydon.”
Phil guides the other two out the door right before Gretchen exchanges a challenging look with Graydon. She mutters something under her breath and then takes off, leaving me alone with the intimidating giant.
“So,” I say, feeling incredibly awkward. “Do you happen to know anything about this project?”
“No,” he says, his voice curt, uninterested.
Boy, is this going to be fun.
“Well, maybe we should take a seat somewhere, and I’ll give you a rundown of what’s going on.”
“Sure,” he answers, his eyes studying me for a second longer before he moves.
With that riveting start to the conversation, I guide him to the small bistro table we keep near the fridge that holds some of the brine of shrimp, krill, flies, and mollusks that we feed the flamingos.
He stares down at the wrought-iron chair for a beat too long and then grumbles something under his breath as he squeezes into the space, his shoulders kissing the wall and the side of the fridge, causing them to turn in, and his hands to forcefully rest on his lap in front of him. His legs, long and as sturdy as freaking tree trunks, stretch well beyond the confines of the table’s width and into my personal table space.If only I had a camera.
Just for the hell of it, I ask, “Uh, are you comfortable?”
“I’m fine,” he scoffs as he shifts, trying to make the best of what little space he has. Not wanting to make him too comfortable since he verbally assaulted my friends, I sit and cross one leg over the other, completely content. “As you know, we’re looking for help here at the zoo because we’re trying to expand our facilities. Not sure if you were able to see it or not, but our flamingo lagoon is quite small, and our facilities are incredibly dated.”
He glances around the room at the scuffed-up walls and chipped cabinets. “I’ve seen better.”
Way to not sugarcoat it.
“Well, yes, I’m sure your facilities are much better than ours, which is one of the reasons we need your help. A series of events, fundraisers, and grants are coming up in the next two months that could really help us grow and expand, add a few updates here and there that we’re desperate for. A celebrity endorsement can help our chances, especially at certain events.”
“Okay, so what? I need to go to a few parties?” Could he be any more uninterested?
“Well, yes, but also, we’re putting together a campaign that doesn’t just show you at events but shows you helping out at the zoo as well, almost like a vlog. We know it can’t be daily, but weekly is what we’re looking for. I believe the Foghorns offered two to three times a week, depending on your schedule.”
