Today, I decide to be a little bold and make my way down to the main part of downtown, two lunches in hand. I make a guess that Derek won’t mind a sandwich that is filled with double meat, cheese, and mayo. I pray he isn’t allergic or vegetarian or something like that as I walk down and find his storefront.
I glance around at the others, looking at the unique part of Denver that’s managed to transform itself into what lookslike a small town. I’m not sure how they maintain it or keep it this quaint, but the sight of it makes me happy.
Derek’s shop is the only one not festively decorated for Halloween, and I wonder if that’s a choice because of religion or something else.
A bell dings quietly above my head, and I hear a voice call from the back of the store. “Be right with you!”
I smile at the sound of his voice, nerves rolling in my stomach, and glance around. It’s exactly what you would expect a hardware store to look like. All the inside looks like it’s been well-maintained, if a little dated. Like he’s kept every single thing from when his dad opened the place.
I make my way to where the voice called and smile when I see his broad shoulders working under the material of his T-shirt. He’s moving some boxes around, and I tap a nail on the counter.
“Guess I know who to call when I have to move.”
Derek spins at the sound of my voice, and his grin broadens so much that I can’t help but reciprocate. “Birdie!”
I set my bags on the counter and am surprised when he rounds the counter and picks me up in a bone-crunching hug. I try to return it as good as he gives it.
Something I enjoy about Derek is the fact that he’s not one to hide how happy he is. I know so many people that hide that feeling, that want the world to see them as tough, so they lock down physical touch, smiles, and genuinely being happy to see the people they love.
Derek hides nothing.
“What are you doing here? Do you work nearby?” he asks, leaning back and giving me space again. I wish he wouldn’t.
“Uh.” I laugh nervously. “Not really. But I didn’t feel like having lunch alone and thought I would surprise you.”
“This is the best surprise of my week.” He holds up a finger. “Only second to finding out who you are.”
I need to get a handle on my blushing, but around this man, I don’t seem to be able to stop myself.
“Well.” I change the subject, gesturing to the bag of food. “I brought sandwiches. I hope you don’t have many allergies or issues with meat.”
“Oh no,” he replies. “I’m a carnivore.”
Laughing with him, he gestures for me to follow him, and I’m surprised to see a little break table with two chairs beside it. He pulls one out for me and heads to the fridge. “Water? Soda?”
“Oh, I’m a sucker for a soda,” I say, and he grins and grabs two, coming back to the table and setting them down. I set everything out and look around while we start to eat. “So, no employees today?”
He shakes his head. “Nope, it’s just me here.”
I pause my trajectory for a bite of food and say, “Ever? It’s only you.”
For the first time since I’ve met Derek, his cheeks redden with embarrassment. “I, uh, can’t afford another employee.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, Derek. I didn’t mean to pry,” I say, feeling extremely rude.
“Nah, that’s not even prying.” He lifts a playful finger in my direction. “Just don’t ask about my sock collection.”
We laugh at his joke, and the tension eases between us.
“Can I ask something else that might offend you?”
“Oh man, here we go,” he teases back, a glint in his eye.
“How come you don’t decorate like the rest of the stores around here? Are you anti-Halloween?”
His brows scrunch together, and he swallows his bite, licking his lips before grabbing a napkin. “Not sure how that would offend me, but”—he wipes his mouth—“I don’t have time really, or a big budget for that.”
“Even if it would make your store pop more? Like I’m sure you have loyal customers,” I start, watching his face grimace. “But you always could use more.”
