Chapter 26 Hazel
TWENTY-SIX
Hazel
To: support@
From: Management@
Hello,
A tenant had an issue with theft and has filed a police report. We need the footage from Thursday, October 24, from between seven and eight AM. The camera’s serial number is 2754689.
Sincerely,
Courtyard Apartments Leasing Office
To: Management@
From: support@
A ticket has been opened regarding this request. We store camera footage in our cloud for sixty days. Please allow up to seven days to process this request.
This is an automated reply. Please do not respond.
As soon as Reid mentioned the footage might be stored in the cloud, I’d jumped at the chance to send an email.
It had been his idea to create a fake account posing as the apartment complex’s leasing office.
With only a week until my winnings were supposed to be deposited, time was running out—and the last thing we wanted was to deal with the real leasing office.
The camera facing the courtyard had a small ID number printed at the bottom. That, paired with the phony email, seemed to be all it took to bypass whatever basic security the ticketing system had in place.
I was jittery with renewed hope. The chance that we might have answers soon had gone from improbable to likely.
It was hard not to be too optimistic when this could be the smoking gun we needed.
They still had the footage. It wasn’t gone.
They said they were processing the request. I’d be able to see with my own eyes exactly who took Vermont.
I’d have definitive proof. I could take action.
The ordeal had me both on the edge of my seat with impatience, and more content than I’d been in a while.
“Earth to Hazel.” Jackson waved a hand in front of my face.
“Sorry?” I blinked, giving him my attention. “Did you say something?”
“I asked when your next client is.”
“Oh, I’m done for the day. Just procrastinating leaving with that awful-looking weather outside.”
It was a classic late-fall evening—gray and frigid, with the wind swirling around thick snowflakes that refused to stick, melting instead on contact with pavement still warm thanks to the steady stream of passing cars.
The salon had been buzzing all day. We were fully booked, nonstop from open to close.
Natalie and Ruby were still with clients up front and Miranda was manning the desk, deep in conversation on the phone.
The hours had flown by in the best kind of way.
Everyone was getting their hair done for the holidays—family photos, office parties, winter weddings.
There was something magical about it all.
“Want to grab a drink?” Jackson asked.
“Maybe tomorrow?” I offered.
Reid had mentioned maybe hanging out tonight to celebrate the potential lead on the footage.
We hadn’t nailed down a precise plan, but I didn’t want to overbook in case he’d been serious.
At this point, there was nothing that sounded more appealing than hanging out with Reid.
I felt a little pathetic admitting that to myself, but I didn’t care. I liked the guy. A lot.
That night at his parents’ house two days ago was still playing on a loop in my mind.
Yesterday, after we got back from my apartment, we’d watched a few reruns of old TV shows before he’d left to meet up with his friend West. Apparently he’d bailed on him last time they had plans and felt guilty about it.
I wasn’t about to be the kind of girl who made a guy ditch his friends, so I’d smiled and told him to have fun.
I ended up going to Jackson’s place just to have something to do, and to push myself to actually build some real friendships.
It turned out to be a good time. He fed me cheese and crackers, and we gossiped.
Well, mostly he gossiped. He spilled all the tea about his friend group and the new guy he was seeing.
I hadn’t meant to stay out late, but a text from Reid around midnight (just checking in to make sure I was okay) made me glance at the clock and realize how late it had gotten. By the time I’d made it home, he was already sleeping.
Which meant the added tension of our hook-up still lingered in the air between us. What was going to happen once we were alone again? At night, in his empty house?
I, for one, couldn’t wait to find out.
The bell chimed at the front of the salon, but I didn’t even bother to look up.
“Reid!” Ruby’s excited greeting had me whipping my head toward the entrance.
“Hey sis.” He leaned down to give her a hug. He looked adorable, as usual. His glasses were on straight, his hair tucked into a beanie, his black down jacket covering one of his perfectly pressed sweaters.
“What are you doing here? Did you want a haircut? I’m booked solid tonight.”
“Nah, I’m good. I’m letting it grow out.” He looked toward the back and caught my eye. He winked.
My smile widened.
“I’m here for Hazel.”
The words made me melt.
“Oh, so that’s why you can’t get a drink tonight,” Jackson said, crossing his arms and smirking at me.
Practically floating on air, I grabbed my jacket and bag off the hook at the back of the salon.
“What’s up?” I asked, stopping just short of him. Were we supposed to hug? Kiss? We hadn’t exactly worked out the whole casual-greetings portion of our relationship yet. Especially considering we were in front of his sister.
“Want to grab dinner at the new sushi place that just opened? It’s near here, so I figured I’d just drive over.”
I’d mentioned being excited about that place last week. Had he really remembered? Of course he’d remembered. He was Reid.
“That’s perfect.” I was basically beaming at the guy, but it was hard to contain it.
“You two have fun.” Ruby shot us both a genuine smile. I was a bit relieved that, at the very least, she didn’t seem put off by the idea of Reid and me. “You’re coming Friday, right Hazel?”
“Friday?” I looked at Reid.
He rubbed the back of his neck. “It’s kind of silly. Instead of dinner this week, we’re going out to pick a Christmas tree together. We do it every year.”
“That’s not silly. That sounds like my dream come true,” I said.
He chuckled. “Then you should come. But keep your expectations low.”
That wouldn’t be necessary. Just being a part of something felt nice. To be included. It had already exceeded all my expectations.
Ruby stuck out her bottom lip. “Please come. I’m sad I missed you at the last dinner.”
Happiness bloomed inside me, soft and sudden. “I’ll be there.”
Reid drove us to the restaurant, with the plan to swing by work and grab my car on the way back.
The roads had finally been cleared after the storm.
Now gray snow clung to the sides of the street.
Some people would argue that winter was the ugliest season in Michigan.
I wholeheartedly disagreed. There was something special about it.
Almost whimsical. Of course, this feeling was reserved for November and December.
Once the holidays were over, winter could hightail it right on out of here as far as I was concerned.
At some point during the drive, Reid had slipped his hand loosely into mine.
Was this a date? Our first?
Sure, most people didn’t try to solve a catnapping, move in together, and meet the parents before date number one, but I kind of loved how unconventional it all was. Talk about a chaotic meet-cute.
The restaurant was packed. Giant red lamps hung from the ceiling, casting a soft glow around the space.
“I’m kind of surprised you like sushi,” I admitted, once we were seated.
“I’ve never tried it before.” He took a sip of his water. Did he look nervous? The idea made me slightly pleased with myself.
“Really?”
“Nope. You’ll have to order for me.”
I held a hand to my heart. “You trust me?”
That got him to smile wide. “I don’t know if there’s anyone I trust more than you.”
Ugh, my freaking heart.
When the waitress came, I ordered us a few of my favorite rolls.
He mentioned he’d been online with his group before coming over. One of them had looked into the security camera company and found that they had great reviews. Tons of people had posted stories about how they’d been able to recover footage from the cloud they’d thought was lost forever.
It sent my hopes skyrocketing through the roof.
When the rolls arrived, I reached for the soy sauce, splashing some onto the table while pouring into the tiny bowl.
Reid carefully pulled out his chopsticks before placing his napkin neatly on his lap.
I took my first bite while examining Reid.
He picked up a piece of the maki roll, studying it with narrowed eyes.
“This is the part where you put it in your mouth,” I said.
He followed my instruction and his eyes widened. “That’s actually pretty good.”
“Obviously. I picked it.”
A sense of satisfaction burrowed its way into my chest as Reid tried each new roll, ranking his favorites.
This wasn’t his cup of tea, and neither was a thrift store, but he was pushing himself.
For me. Or because he wanted to? I wasn’t quite sure.
Either way, it was disarmingly sweet. I could get used to date nights like these.
Reid might be set in his ways, but he was also warm and soft and loveable.
Loveable?
Shit. Had I really just thought that? I was getting ahead of myself. But he was loveable. So sweet, and thoughtful in ways that snuck up on me. It made me ache a little to know that he’d been with someone who couldn’t see everything he had to offer. Because he was more than enough.
I hoped I could bring out a good side of him. I hoped he wanted me to.
One way or another, pretty soon, I’d have my answer. This would be over, and I’d be out of Reid’s house. Then we’d have to define whatever we were.
I hoped more than anything he wanted me to be his girlfriend. I really wanted to call him my boyfriend.