“It can wait, right? You’re exhausted.”
“Why thank you. You give the best compliments.” She shook her head, but the sarcasm was noted. I hadn’t meant it in a bad way. Fuck.
I ran my hands over my face, groaning. “I didn’t mean… you look fine. Just bags under your eyes.”
“Again, stop it. You’re making me blush.” She waved a hand in the air and laughed. “Just give me a minute. I’ll get the pans, and we can head out.”
She disappeared for a second and returned holding a large, empty glass dish. Immediately, I walked toward her and grabbed it. “Let me take it home and wash it.”
“What? No.” She tried yanking it back, and I held it higher. “Cal, what are you doing?”
“You cooked for us. I can clean it for you.”
“But it’s my pan!” She jumped, trying to reach it, and let out a cute little grunt. “I like my dishware and wash it a certain way.”
“Yeah, with soap?” I teased, really admiring her face with how close she was. Her two moles under her eyes just about killed me.
“Fine.Fine.Scrub it. If you ruin it, you’ll buy me another one.” She settled down from her jumping but lost her balance for a second. She put her hand on my chest, just as I used my free hand on her hips. “Whoa.”
“Alright?” My voice came out all low and breathy. My fingers grazed her skin where her shirt rode up, and oh my god. It was like fire. I let go immediately, her nails digging into my chest for a second before she too stepped back.
“Tired. That’s all.” She ducked her head but not before I caught a slight pinkening of her cheeks.
Interesting.
“Come on, let me walk you home.”
She nodded, and with her pan securely in my arm, we locked the doors and stepped outside. Crickets and lightning bugs paved the way on the short walk, andiflife were different, I’d say it was pretty outside. If it were a date, I’d kiss her slowly before letting her go inside.
But my life wasn’t that.
We got to the door, and I swung it open, letting her go first again. She smiled, quickly, and beelined it for her door. She wore black high-tops tonight, and I loved how she tied the laces around her ankles.
“Goodnight, Elle.” I waited for her to go inside, but she stilled and slowly turned around. Her expression was sweet, shy even, with her smirk and open eyes. There wasn’t an ounce of hate blasting from her, and while I knew it wouldn’t last long, I loved it. It made my insides feel strange.
“Thank you, for tonight. The guy… the protein balls… walking me home.”
“Sure.”
She chewed her lip before pointing her thumb over her shoulder. “I should head in.”
“Get some sleep. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Just you and me on the schedule.” She played with a loose string hanging from her shorts, her purple and yellow nails catching the overhead light. Her brown eyes met mine, and I wished my life was different.
That this was a date and I could kiss her.
“Yup. See you.” I had to move away from her, get a hold on these feelings of regret. I knew better than to hope for things. Made shit harder when dreams didn’t come true. I didn’t look back at her as I took the stairs. Despite the ache of my muscles, I needed an outlet for the emotion.
Four flights of stairs did it.
I googled the best way to clean cookware, set it in the sink, and passed the fuck out.
The discounted plants at the hardware store were my favorites. I wasn’t a DIY guy and knew jack shit about tools. Could I skate faster than anyone on the team and get a six-figure dollar signing bonus? Sure. Could I tell you what drill was best? Nope. But I enjoyed seeing all the other people who came in with a mission. The dads with jean shorts and white tennis shoes. The moms in tight pants who strutted straight to the right aisle.
The walkers who clearly had no idea what they were doing.
The people grabbing every single paint swatch and holding them up like cards.
