Derrick sighs. “Keep your head down. Clean, stock the pantry, don’t try to make conversation. Eat your meals in your room if you can. Just stay out of his way and you’ll be fine.”
“Stay out of his way,” I repeat. “Got it.”
“I mean it, Imani. Don’t engage. Don’t take the bait when he gets rude. And he will get rude. Just do your job and get out.”
“He sounds like a lot of fun.”
Derrick’s mouth twitches, almost a smile. “He’s got somethings going on. Personal stuff. He’ll come around one day.” He pauses, something softening in his expression. “You’re a good person for taking this on. I know it’s not easy.”
“You’re a good friend to him,” I say. “Not everyone would keep trying after this many disasters.”
He looks at me for a long moment, and I can see the words forming. The thing he wanted to say earlier, before the other employees arrived.
“I’m kind of bummed you won’t be at the Winter Solstice,” he says quietly. “I was hoping you’d be there.”
There it is. The invitation I’ve been dodging.
I keep my expression neutral. “I need the money.”
He nods, but the disappointment is clear on his face. He picks up a piece of paper from his desk and hands it to me. The shopping list.
“This is everything he needs. The grocery store will put it on his tab, so don’t worry about payment. Stock the pantry, clean the cabin, and try to survive the weekend.”
I take the list, scanning the items. It’s extensive. Flour, sugar, canned goods, meat, vegetables. Enough food to feed a small army. Or one bear shifter preparing for a month of hibernation.
“One more thing.” Derrick’s voice is serious now, all traces of disappointment gone. “Please call me if you run into trouble. I mean it. I don’t give a shit about the snowstorm. If he’s making you uncomfortable, if you’re having trouble getting down the mountain, if anything feels wrong, you call me. I’ll come get you myself.”
The sincerity in his voice catches me off guard. My cheeks go warm.
“Thanks, Derrick.”
He holds my gaze for a beat longer than necessary, then nods toward the door. “Go get your supplies. You’ll want todo the shopping today and head up first thing tomorrow morning.”
I take the list and head for the laundry room to start packing my cleaning kit.
Keisha’s voice reaches me before I turn the corner. She’s talking to another woman, the two of them huddled near the folding table with their backs to the door.
“—can’t believe she actually took that job. She has no idea what she’s getting into.”
“Did you hear what happened at the school?” The other woman’s voice drops. “He stormed in there yesterday and went off on the staff because the kids were singing Christmas carols. Said it was too loud. Can you imagine?”
Keisha snorts. “That’s nothing. Did you hear about Earl?”
“Earl?” The other woman sounds confused. “The old guy who’s always flexing at the grocery store?”
“Yes, girl.” Keisha lowers her voice even further, but I can still hear every word. “Apparently he tried to shoot his shot with a female bear shifter at Shadow Bar last weekend. Walked right up to her, sucked in his gut, and told her he could show her what a real man was all about.”
The other woman gasps. “No. A bear shifter? Is he crazy?”
“Crazy or stupid, take your pick. She’s like seven feet tall and could snap him in half without breaking a sweat. And this old man is standing there flexing his little arms talking about how he’s still got it.”
“Oh my God. What did she do?”
“She picked him up by the back of his shirt like a kitten.” Keisha is barely containing her laughter now. “Carried him to the door, set him down on the sidewalk, and told him to come back when he grew a few feet.”
“No!”
“Yes. The whole bar saw it. David said Earl just stood there on the sidewalk for a full minute, blinking, before he shuffled off to his car.”
