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So, box by box, I carried stuff in, my books being the worst of it, milk crates full of them. My clothes were the second worst. I only hoped I didn’t have a uniform to wear. But a simple polo and chinos would be good for my first day. I had these amazing, comfortable oxford shoes to match it, black, with gloss black ink on them with little bats you could only see when light reflected.

And my last thing was a little parting gift from my mom, a new mezuzah for my door. I tacked it up to the doorway and stared at the thing before kissing my hand and tapping it. It tilted inside, bringing good luck in… or just looking wonky. That was how my family did it, at least. “Home sweet home.”

Once my car was empty, I put my food away, stuffing Mom’s knishes and cooking in the freezer for later when I missed her. She’d stuffed me so full of home cooking the past week that I considered it a miracle I could still fit in my pants.

But what sounded freaking delicious for dinner?

A coffee.

Calling it good, I went outside, locked up, and drove to the local grocery store, checking out the selection as I grabbed an assortment of bachelor food.

Popcorn, chips, giant bin of salad mix, and some tins of tuna. Eggs, bread, and cheese. I also needed staples, so I whipped down the baking and spice aisle to grab a little of everything, because who knew when I’d want to make cookies at two in the morning.

With my basket half filled, I topped it off with a bunch of those vegan protein shakes. A bottle of cold brew coffee concentrate, and strolled up to the checkout stand, glancing about for the self-checkout.

There wasn’t one.

I had to make fucking nice with a human being.

I rolled up to the nearest belt and tossed my purchases up, making prolonged eye contact with the elderly woman at the register who glared at my groceries with each little beep as if trying to decide if I was trying to make a bomb or something.

“What’s this for?” She held up a can of black beans and shook it at me. “You didn’t buy anything like tortillas or something to go with it.”

Taken aback, I blinked. “I just drain and wash them and put them on salad… Cold, it’s kinda good.”

She squinted at me and scanned the can before continuing on.

“Maybe my gum looks more suspicious?” I shrugged.

She glanced at me with confusion before shaking her head and telling me the total.

I paid, took my bags and left, unsure of what to make of the encounter.

As I made my way to the door, a clerk waved me off and stared at a watch on his wrist. I checked the time, and it was cutting it close to closing, like five minutes, but he still shut and locked it behind me. Rude.

I loaded my car, returned the buggy, and slid into the driver’s seat, excited for the day to come.

So, when I returned, I unloaded, set up the Wi-Fi, and Facetimed Syl—we had a movie marathon of some vampire show where we fell asleep on video together.

A perfect night.

Chapter Four

Lex

Monday morning came too fast as I woke up on a half-deflated mattress. I stared at it with betrayal as I got up and adjusted the blankets before going about my morning routine.

My start time would be nine, and at seven, I was already up and piddling about with a healthy breakfast, packing a lunch, and getting dressed in my best fit. I slicked my unruly hair back into a ponytail as I tamed my curls with a little moose and took a deep breath. “Here goes nothing!”

I was entirely prepared for everything to come crashing down, so I plugged in the address and made my way down the road, the mile or so to work.

I’d considered walking, but it rained often in the area, and I wanted the freedom and safety for the day, at least.

As I approached the street, things looked different from the Google Maps image. Where the map showed an empty lot stood a building that looked as if it’d been there for a century or more. And the building I’d assumed to be the library had a sign declaring it to be county services and highway department storage.

Weird.

The aged sign out front stood tall, declaring the building a historical site, given to the order by Magnum Archivist Rivell Lewis, Car er is E. Wolfram.