“Yeah, we’re all guilty of oversharing. You can’t beat yourself up about that,” Ruby added.
I groaned. “It’s hard not to. If it weren’t for my own stupid post, I’d be cuddled up with my cat on my couch, online shopping for something nice to buy myself once my check cleared.”
“Well, after you paid off your debt,” Reid interjected.
I rolled my eyes. “Yes, Reid. After I paid off all my debt. Geez, can’t I buy something fun in my own fantasy?”
Ruby laughed. “If you’re trying to prove to us that you aren’t rigid, a snide comment about financial responsibility isn’t helping your case.”
We ate the rest of the pizza and conversation flowed. They asked about where I grew up, how I liked this side of the state. Ruby and I talked about our career choices. Apparently, she wanted to switch to doing more weddings and events. A good friend of hers was a makeup artist and had a side gig. She asked if I’d ever want to join them for some larger events, and I agreed without hesitation.
Eventually we moved to the couch. Ruby said she’d stay for one episode of some home renovation show before leaving, but three episodes later, she and Reid were both asleep on the couch. I was still awake, curled up into the corner, a fleece blanket surrounding me. Bed sounded amazing, but I couldn’t quite motivate myself to stand up, brush my teeth, and do the whole pre-bedtime ordeal. Not just yet.
The couch was perfectly smooshed around my body and my eyelids sagged as I watched yet another subway tile backsplash get installed. It occurred to me that this was the most relaxed I’d been in a while. The knot of anxiety that had been wound up inside me for weeks had loosened a little. It wasn’t gone completely, not by a long shot, but I found that for once, I could take a deep breath.
I looked at Reid, watching as he breathed softly, his glassesfalling down his nose. He was so damned likable. He had no reason to be so kind to me, to offer his home when he hardly knew me. To help me tackle what was beginning to seem like an impossible mystery.
My life was a mess—Iwas a mess—and he was still taking the time to put some pieces back in place.
As if sensing my eyes on him, he stirred. He blinked a few times before focusing on me. I didn’t bother looking away. He smiled and shifted, getting up and stretching before draping a blanket over Ruby’s sleeping form.
I got up too, walking heavily toward the hallway that led to my room.
“Do you need anything?” Reid whispered.
“I’m good.”
“You sure?”
I smiled sleepily. “I’m sure.”
“Alright. If you change your mind, you know where to find me.” He pointed behind him, toward his room.
“Night, Reid.”
“Night, Hazel.”
THIRTEEN
Hazel
“And you’re just playinghouse with the guy?” Zoe asked, sipping her smoothie on the other end of the video call. She had giant sunglasses on, despite the partially cloudy Michigan weather. She always claimed her blue eyes were extra sensitive. From the looks of it, she was parked in her car, probably right outside the smoothie place, heaters blasting to counteract the cold beverage.
We hadn’t caught up in ages, and I’d just filled her in on all of the miserable details of my life lately. Zoe had oohed and ahhed in all the right places and expressed proper outrage over Vermont and the thief. But even with that whole ordeal, she was hung up on one detail in particular. Which didn’t surprise me in the least.
“What does he look like? Do you have a picture?” she asked.
“I don’t have a picture.”
“What’re his socials?” The video paused as she exited out of the call to pull up an app.
“He doesn’t have any,” I said.
“Red flag. Who doesn’t have social media?”
“He’s private.”
“That’s what they all say.”
