“A lot of homes to rent have pools in their backyards,” he noted.
“Sure. And have you checked out the real estate prices in Vancouver lately?”
“Yes, actually.” He laughed. “I just bought a building yesterday,” he shared.
She rolled her eyes and asked, “Another dilapidated one that you felt sorry for?”
“Absolutely.”
She stood up and looked at him seriously. “Do you just keep throwing money away or are these actually decent investments?”
“They are investments,” he stated, “but not short-term. They take a while to earn back out again,” he admitted.
“Like a long while?”
He shrugged. “I’m okay with the five-to-ten-year mark,” he replied, “though some of them will be twenty years because they cost more and won’t rent or lease out at the prices I could hope for, but that’s just business and the housing market.”
She nodded and slowly worked her way up toward the shore, sad to feel the water slipping off her skin. “I am getting hungry, are you?” she asked.
“Perfect, and, yeah, I was hungry before we went in the water.”
“You could have said something,” she protested.
“Hell no, it’s way too much fun to be in the water with you.”
“Well, we’re getting back in again after we eat,” she threatened.
“Perfect, I’m up for it.”
As they walked back to the picnic table area, still dripping and carrying the basket with their belongings and the food, he pulled two towels from the folded blanket.
She looked at him in surprise. “You really did think of everything.”
“Well, let’s hope so.”
She sat down at the picnic table and stared at the food. She shook her head. “Wow, where did you get all this?”
“It wasn’t too much,” he noted, “and it’s from the deli around the corner.”
She opened up a tinfoil pack and found meat pies, still warm, several of them. “Yum.We could have eaten right away, if I’d known you had something that was hot.”
“They were hot to begin with, but they’re meant to be eaten either warm or cool.” He handed her a pie and openedup another big tub, which was a big Greek salad, and she immediately lit up.
“I love Greek salad,” she cried out and scooped up a large serving.
“There’s also fresh buns, sliced meats, and cheeses.” He pointed off to the side.
She immediately cut open a bun and ladened it with meat and cheese too.
He grinned. “I really do like the fact that you know how to eat.”
“How does anybody not know how to eat?” she asked, sending him a sideways glance. “We learn it as children.”
“And a lot of women worry and carry on about their weight to the point that you can’t even have a decent meal with them.”
“Yeah, well, I’ve burned a ton of calories today,” she said, “not to mention, after picking up running again, I can’t seem to get full.”
He nodded. “Are you getting lots of oils and carbs?”