I decide now is as good of a time as any and I’m going to take a break myself. If I happen to see Lilith on the way, I’ll ask her about the crates. Otherwise, I’ll wait. They’re not an absolute rush at the moment, and I don’t know if there are more. It’s better to give her all the ones I’ve found at one time than piece by piece.
I’m lost in my thoughts as I walk down the hall when I run into something.
“Oomph,” I say, stepping back and trying to think of an apology. “Fritz!” I shout as my mind catches up with what’s in front of me.
“Blair,” he says, almost as shocked to see me as I am to see him. “What are you doing?”
My smile drops as I see his eyes scan down my clothes. I got pretty dirty climbing over crates, but Lilith did tell me to dress this way, which I’m thankful for.
“Inventory,” I say, then shake off his confusion. “Did you come to see me?” I brighten, reaching out to grab his hand.
He visibly shrinks back, and it’s then I notice all the dirt and grime on my hand.
“I came to see if you were free for lunch. But I can see that’s not possible right now. I had reservations, but I’m afraid it’s a bit more upscale.”
I hate the way Fritz tries to cover his southern accent. He’s always been so careful to disguise it, but you can only put so much lipstick on a pig.
Squaring my shoulders, I try not to let it get to me. This is the first time I’ve seen him in weeks. “I could go get cleaned up and change. I have a nice dress I wore to work, but Lilith suggested I bring a change of clothes for when I’m in the back.”
“And I was right.”
I turn to see Lilith standing there. It’s clear she was listening to our exchange. She gives me a small smile and then turns to give Fritz a cool look. I’m surprised by her actions, and also embarrassed. I didn’t think what Fritz said was bad, I just wouldn’t want other people to hear it and get the wrong idea about him. He can be very sweet and loving, but he’s all about appearances.
“Well, it’s too late for the reservation now. I spent too long looking for you, and now I have to get back to work,” he says. For some reason I don’t believe him, but I shake the thought, thinking I’m once again being childish and reading too much into things.
“Will I see you tonight?” I ask. If we can’t do lunch maybe we could do dinner instead. I’m starting to think we need to talk about what is happening with us.
“I’ll text you,” he says as he starts to lean down and kiss my cheek, but instead leans back, changing his mind. “See you later, sweetheart.”
There’s no warmth to his goodbye or his departure. Lilith brazenly stood there in the same place for the whole exchange. I must look like a complete fool to her. I turn around to offer some sort of explanation, but she speaks first.
“You can do better,” she says.
“He’s not how he seems. He’s my best friend,” I defend.
She doesn’t say a word, but the look she gives me slices me to my core. She sees right through to where I’m desperately trying to convince myself that I’m right. Her smile is full of pity as she turns and walks away. I begin to wonder how many lies I have been telling myself. I push those thoughts away, grabbing something to eat before getting back to work.
When it’s finally time to leave, my legs ache today as I walk home. At least this time I don’t mind the walk so much because the night air is cool enough now that I’m no longer sweating. My feet are pretty cozy since I wore the right shoes. But my legs can’t make up for the fact that I haven’t worked out in a long time. Like maybe ever. And my muscles are not agreeing with the physical labor.
Gemma set up all my payroll stuff today and was a total bitch the whole time. I tried to make peace with her, but none of my questions about her life or what she likes to do seemed to make a difference. I just did what she asked and let it go.
I stayed late tonight but still wasn’t able to get through the stack of paperwork Lilith gave me this morning. When she came to me at the end of the day and asked me how it was going, I was disappointed to tell her I didn’t complete the file. She laughed and said it would probably take a month, so then I didn’t feel so terrible anymore. At least there was one shiny moment today.
I grab my phone and see a missed text from Fritz. I unlock my phone to read it, feeling even more tired now.
Fritz: Can’t make dinner tonight. Maybe drinks on Friday to celebrate your first week. Make sure you clean up first. Lol.
The lol at the end is bullshit and I know it. I push down the hurt and send back a heart emoji. I tell him I hope he had a great day, and that I’ll talk to him later. To be honest I’m a little relieved to not have to go out tonight. I don’t feel like getting all dressed up after the long day I’ve had already, and I know if I’m going on a date with Fritz I have to get really dressed up for the places he likes to go. Plus, I’m not sure I want to face the conversation I know we need to have about us. It’s all too much to wrap my tired mind around.
I shove my phone back in my bag and make the turn at the next block. There’s a diner here that sells good pie and I’m going to get a slice. I found out what I was going to be making each month at the gallery, and I know when my first paycheck is going to hit the bank. I’ve got enough to cover me until them and a bit left over for a couple of indulgences. Number one on the list right now is some warm apple butter pie with vanilla ice cream.
I go inside and the bell above the door rings, although I can hardly hear it over the noise in the place. There’s a jukebox playing Johnny Cash, and all the booths are taken. I go up to the counter and grab an empty stool between a couple of guys in suits. As soon as my butt hits the chair a waitress comes over and slaps down a menu.
“What’ll you have?” she says, like I should already know what I want. Lucky for her I do.
“Apple butter, with a scoop and one to-go,” I say, handing her my menu.
She comes back almost instantly and lays it down in front of me, with my to-go bag next to it. Johnny is going to love pie for dinner.
I take the first bite and moan to myself as the warm pie fills my mouth. But just as I swallow, the feeling from this morning comes back. This time it’s stronger and I swivel around in my seat to see who is watching me. It’s intense, like someone just called my name, only I know I didn’t hear it. My mind starts to play tricks on me and I wonder if I maybe someone did say it and I didn’t hear it over the noise.
“You okay?” The waitress says, filling up my water.
I turn back around, shaking it off, and tell her I’m fine and that the pie is delicious. But there’s a nagging feeling inside me, and I eat the rest of what I have much faster than I had planned.
I drop some cash on the counter and grab my bags before I leave the restaurant. It’s not that I’m scared, but I don’t feel settled. I walk quickly down the next block, staying in the well-lit parts of the streets. I make sure I go where people are milling around and I’m filled with a sense of relief when I see Johnny on his usual bench.
“You doing okay, kid?” he asks when I sit down beside him. “What got you all worked up?”
“Nothing,” I say, feeling totally fine now. I feel silly because it must have all been in my head. A moment ago I got a little spooked, but I’m here safe, so there’s no need to dwell on it.
“Apple butter?” he says, looking down in the bag. “You’re going to fatten me up.”
His easy smile is once again infectious and all my thoughts from before vanish. We sit for a short while and talk about our day before I tell him goodnight and head up to my apartment.
When I listen at the door, silence on the other side greets me. I cross my fingers that tonight Roxy might actually be out at a show or something and I can have some peace and quiet before bed.
I walk inside, and Bear is sitting in the armchair, which is a clear indication that Roxy isn’t home. My night improves immensely, and I happily greet Bear.
“Looks like it’s y
ou and me tonight, handsome. What shall we do with ourselves?”
I walk into my bedroom and suddenly I stop. There’s nothing in the room that is totally different, yet it feels like someone was in here. I inhale and there’s a faint scent of cologne. It’s nothing like the stink of Roxy that I can smell from the other side of the house every time he puts it on. This fragrance is expensive and rich. It smells like oak and fresh trees, and I inhale again to try and get the scent. But it’s faded now and almost gone. I look around my bedroom and I don’t see anything out of place, but something is off.
I check the bathroom and even go back to the living room and kitchen, but everything is where it should be. I walk over the front door and check the locks just to be sure. Then I scoop up Bear in my arms and go back to my room. I close and lock my bedroom door, thinking I must be going crazy.