“Oh, zip it,” I replied, pulling out my phone. “Damn, we have to get back—I’ve got a meeting in fifteen minutes.”
We stood up, and I walked to the counter.
“Hazel, listen, I know we agreed on today, but I’ll be working late. Can we meet tomorrow instead?”
“Well, I’m moving to my new apartment,” she sighed, clearly exhausted. “But maybe I can squeeze you in somewhere in between.”
A large brown box in the corner caught my eye again.
“What’s with the box?” I asked, pointing it out. “You had one on Wednesday, then I saw you with it yesterday, and now today. Are you living with it now? Like a turtle?” I asked.
“No, no, of course not,” she stammered, trying to lie but unsure how. Her eyes gave her away.
“Wait, this one is different than the one I saw earlier. Are you... moving one box at a time?” I chuckled.
“Yeah. It’s easier this way.” My amusement faded into a frown.
“Hazel, are you serious? Those boxes are heavy. You’re gonna get a hernia or something,” I said, annoyed she was traveling like that.
“It’s not that bad. I can totally do it, I—”
“And the books. You probably have a ton, right? Why aren’t you using a moving company or asking friends to help you out?”
“Give it a rest, I’m fine. I have all day tomorrow. It’s just a short walk from here,” Hazel tried to convince me, but it was ridiculous. She shouldn’t be doing this.
“Okay, then I’ll help.”
“No, absolutely not. I’m already going on the trip, and the books... it’s too much, I can’t ask you.”
“Hazel, you’re not asking, I’m offering. Besides, we can talk about everything you need to know tomorrow while you move.” I saw some resistance, some guilt in her eyes, which made me restless.
“Okay, let’s make a deal. I help you move, and you fill me in on everything book-related.”
She looked at me, unsure of my angle.
“Our company is expanding into publishing, and it seems like you know your stuff—classics, authors. Maybe you have insights that could help me, I mean, the company. You’d be like a consultant. What do you say?”
She considered it, her expression thoughtful. Also suspicious. I’ve known her for some time, but only now noticed tiny freckles on her nose that were usually hidden. Maybe not hidden. Maybe I just didn’t look closely enough.
I was also starting to see more of Hazel. Things she was struggling with. Like asking for help or even accepting it. But if she could be useful to someone, that was a different story.
“Okay, deal,” she said, confirming my instincts.
“Great. Tomorrow at 10 AM? We can start early, so you have time to pack.”
“Sounds good. Here’s my address.” She wrote it down on a piece of paper. “I warn you, I have a million questions about your friends.”
“Good. It’s time you learn more than their tattoos and coffee orders,” I said, noticing the spark in her eyes. Finally.
She laughed, then slid me another takeaway coffee I hadn’t even seen her make, her movements, unhurried and instinctive, like she trusted the space around her.Effortless.
“Give this to Ethan. Black coffee,” she said, winking at me. The warmth of her smile hit me unexpectedly, sending a warm rush south.
Calm down, boy.
11
Luke
