Chapter 20
June
The bell over the hardware store door rings loudly as I push it open.
It’s late afternoon, but the store is quiet. No people are walking around, and there’s no music playing from the speakers above the counter. Just a dark-haired man bent over a stack of papers, and a store jampacked with so many parts I wouldn’t know where to start looking for anything I need.
I head for the counter, hoping the man can help me.
“Hugh?” I call out, remembering Gia’s words back at the apartment as I let the door close behind me
The beta lifts his head, revealing a young, tired face with bleary green eyes. “That’s my dad.” He lowers his head to continue scanning the papers on the counter.
“The water stopped working in my apartment. Is there a way I can fix it myself?”
He points to the right side of the store without lifting his head. “Plumbing parts are over there.”
“But I—”
“Look, I don’t have time for this,” he cuts in, voice curt.
My eyes dip. One paper looks like an invoice. If he has a stack of them and this store is always this quiet, he’s having a worse day than I am. I smile politely at him, not wanting to add to his workload—or his stress.
“Sorry for bothering you, and thanks for pointing the way. Have a nice day,” I say and walk to the right side of the store.
His pointing was much needed. It would be more helpful if I knew which part would help me fix what’s wrong with my pipes, but at least I’m not wandering the store trying to figure out what thing does what.
As I pick up a part, I feel eyes on me. Hoping he doesn’t think I’m here to steal from him, I quickly put it back. I won’t touch anything until I’m sure I intend to buy it. Or unless I know what it is. Something tells me I won’t be picking anything up.
Two minutes later, I hear paper rustling and footsteps heading my way.
It’s the man from the counter, smiling apologetically. “Sorry for being rude. I've not been having the best day."
"I understand. I found a roach the size of Texas,” I say, shuddering when I remember the sound of it running into the Tupperware container I used to carry it out of my apartment. "Ruined my day."
He makes a face. “Yeah, I can’t imagine that was fun. I’m Jack,” he says with a tired smile.
“June.”
“What’s the problem you’re having with your water? Nothing can improve my day, but maybe I can turn yours around.”
Jack listens patiently as I tell him about turning on my shower, the loud rattling, and no water coming out, then about Gia, who suggested hitting it with a wrench.
“I guess I could, but I don’t want to make the problem worse,” I say.
“You’re right. Hitting a pipe with a wrench won't solve a problem like that. There’s likely a blockage somewhere. You were looking for Hugh when you came in.” He scrunches his nose. “And before I was rude.”
“It’s okay. Gia said he helps the people in the building when things break because the super is useless.” I blush as the last word leaves my lips, and Jack laughs.
The teachers at Haven Academy taught me never to curse and always to be polite. Calling someone useless feels wrong, even if they are.
“Ah, I know the building you mean. Dad used to complain about it all the time.”
I back up. “Oh, I’m sorry for adding more work—”
“Not about the people who live in the building needing help,” he cuts in, motioning for me to come back. “About the super needing to be replaced. I’m not surprised you found a massive roach in your apartment. Bill does as little work as he can get away with. I know a plumber.”
He says plumber and dollar signs fill my mind. I’ve gotten my first paycheck. It’s enough to pay my rent, cover my bills, and buy food, but barely. If the plumber costs one or two hundred dollars, I might not have enough money to last me until my next paycheck.
“Oh, it’s okay, I’m sure I’ll figure it out.”
Can I take showers at work, or will I get fired for that?
“I wasn’t suggesting you pay for it. I know a plumber because he’s a family friend. It won’t be the first time he’s done work in the building, so he knows his way around. No fee. Call it an apology for taking out my bad day on you."
“Really?” I perk up.
“Really.” He steps around me. “Come to the counter, and I’ll call and see if he can’t stop by your place. He doesn’t live far.”
"Okay."
Jack’s phone call is brief. Paul, finishing up a job a couple of miles away, agrees to come to my apartment in the next thirty minutes. After I give him my address, Jack hangs up.
“Thanks,” I say, beyond relieved. “I wasn’t sure what I was going to do.”
Panic most likely, then go looking for a wrench to whack the pipes and likely make a bad situation worse.
He shrugs. “I just made a call.”
Looking around, I pick a couple of parts from a small plastic container on the counter when I remember the stack of invoices he tucked away since they’re no longer next to the cash register. "I'll buy these."
He raises his eyebrow. “Do you know what those are?”
“Nope.” I pull my purse from my pocket. “How much?"
“Put your money away,” he says with a smile. “You don’t have to buy something for my help.”
I return the unknown electrical parts to the plastic container.
When I got home, I would have tucked it into a drawer and promptly forgotten all about it.
“Can I do something else to thank you for the plumber? I clean at a hotel during the day, but maybe I can come clean your shop for a couple of hours in the evening.”
“You’re a cleaner?”
One sniff and he’d have known I’m an omega, and omegas aren’t cleaners. I changed out of my uniform before I came to see him, not wanting to carry any nasty smells from the hotel with me.
“Yeah.” When I realize what else he might assume by my spontaneous offer, I blush. “Not that I’m saying your shop is dirty or anything. But I can’t fix things or cook. I know how to clean, though.”
I could bake him a cake to say thanks, but I don’t bake anymore. Not after that scarring first day with my scent matches. Never again.
“Aren’t you tired from cleaning hotel rooms all day?” he says, thankfully not asking why I’m a cleaner and not being pampered by an alpha.
“A little, but my job isn’t that hard.” It’s boring, but the work is easy, even if I don’t have as much time as I would like to get the rooms ready for the next guests to check-in. “When do you want me to clean?”
His lips pull up in a crooked smile despite his resigned expression. “You’re going to be stubborn about this, aren’t you?”
I should have walked away from my scent matches long before I did. I’ve learned my lesson. Fight for myself, defend myself, and do it well because no one else is going to do those things for me: not my scent matches or even my parents. I’m on my own.
I lift my chin, testing out my new determination. “Yes. I’ll clean your shop for two hours.”
“One hour,” he says reluctantly.
I stick my hand out. “Two hours. I have days off on Saturday and Tuesday. I can come by and do an hour on each of those days.”
Grinning, he shakes my hand. “You’ve got yourself a deal, June. Thanks.”