11. Hazel
ELEVEN
Hazel
Weekends are me-time, and I need to work on my manuscript. This thriller ain’t gonna write itself, Hazel!
But sitting in the house has done nothing for my productivity. I’m distracted and on edge, thinking of everything that’s been going on with Easton, including another almost kiss, for fuck’s sake, and I need a change in scenery.
“The coffee shop is just across the street. Just go and get out of your head.” I stand up, shutting my laptop and unplugging it from the charger. “Not wanting people to see you staring at a blank screen might actually force you to work.”
Hopefully.
I pack up and take my things to the coffee shop, placing my usual order. I find a comfortable spot near the window and set up my computer.
Plus, I’m close enough to an outlet. If my ancient laptop decides to be a dick, I can charge it so it won’t die.
Ugh, yes. This is much better.
I get so much more done in just the fifteen minutes I’ve been here compared to back home. In fact, time starts to fly by, and before I know it, I’ve crossed off two chapters from the outline that I’ve been stuck on for days.
“Go me.” I smile, sitting back to take a sip of my coffee, and just as I do, I spot a familiar face walking over. “Olivia! What a surprise!”
“Hey, girl!” She hurries over to my table, and I eye the save notification to be sure things are good to go before shutting my laptop again. “I haven’t seen you in forever! This is so lucky!”
Rolling my eyes, I watch her sit down across from me. “Olivia, it’s been a week.”
“I know! Forever!”
We both laugh and then she has to go pick up her coffee from the barista. When she returns, I’ve packed away my computer, and there’s room for her mug and the massive Danish she ordered on the small table between us.
“So, what have you been up to?” she asks, and I sigh.
“Same old, same old. Working on the book, which I actually just got a lot done on, and helping to watch Jade. You?”
“Eh, I’d like to say it’s been an easy week, but I have some clients in crisis right now, and I have zero spoons now.”
I reach across the table, stroking my thumb over the back of her hand. “Oh, hun. You need a break. Remember, you have the spicy brain sauce, too. Don’t overwork yourself.”
She smiles, laughing lightly about our stupid little nickname for mental health conditions.
“I know. I know. I’m an ass to myself. But you know me, I can’t slow down. It’s not in my blood. It’s all good, though. I have today, and I ran into my bestie!”
Grinning, I hold my hands under my chin like I’m posing for a picture.
“That you did!” She raises her coffee in a delicate cheers with me so we don’t spill, and I hum gratefully for the delicious caffeine juice. “Are your clients going to be okay?”
“Oh, yeah. They’ve got all the help they need. And at times like this, it’s actually nice to have anxiety myself. I can relate to them, and I think they appreciate that more than just some shrink who’s spouting tips at them. You know?”
“Completely. That makes total sense. And the library? How’s that going?”
She finishes a sip of her butterscotch latte and nods. “It’s good. We’re finally bringing on another librarian. Which means your girl won’t be the only one working nights anymore.”
“Oh! That’s great, hun! I know juggling clients and closing up the library has been tricky for you.”
Olivia shrugs with a lopsided grin. “Yeah, I’m happy about it. Still, it’s not like I have a full calendar of clients. There’s only so many people in this town.”
I can’t help but laugh at that one. “True.”
“And Jade? How’s the library’s favorite young reader?”
My heart warms as I swallow down a gulp of my lavender vanilla latte, and I smile. “She’s awesome. Definitely going to hit that reading goal this summer. I’m impressed.”
“Awesome! Ugh, aren’t books just great.” We sigh, and I nod emphatically. “Ooh, speaking of, and since you’ve made some more progress, you still thinking about doing a signing at the library? I can still totally fit you into the schedule.”
My nerves get the best of me, and I start fidgeting with my napkin, folding and unfolding it repeatedly.
“Oh, right. Umm. I’m still thinking about it.”
Olivia eyes me, not speaking but still getting her point across.
“Yes, I know. I know. I should just woman up and do it. I’m just not used to being in front of a bunch of people. I’m an author. It’s a solitary job, which I like.”
Now I’m on the receiving end of some eye rolls, but I know Liv doesn’t mean anything by it.
“I get you, girl. I do. Don’t feel bad if it feels like too much. I just want to help you out. And the library. Because let’s face it, having a ‘celebrity,’” she does finger quotes around the word, “there will really draw attention to it. Get more people to sign up for cards and shit.”
She really knows how to make me feel guilty about not saying yes. Olivia knows I can’t turn my back on a good cause, and libraries and literacy are especially dear to my heart.
“Okay, okay. Let’s plan for it as long as I get this book out on time. Yeah?”
Lighting up, Liv smiles so damn big and leans over the table to give me a hug. “Yes! Thank you!”
All I can do is laugh. She’s lucky I love her so much.
“You owe me, Liv. I’m talking full-blown gremlin night where I don’t have to get out of my PJs for twenty-four hours, and I pick all the movies.”
Reaching out her hand, Olivia nods, and I take it, shaking. “Deal.”
We chat for a bit longer, random things about books and TV shows that we’ve been enjoying lately, and then Liv needs to get back to her office for a meeting with one of her clients.
I feel only slightly guilty that I took a break from writing to chat with her for so long, but I knew we both needed it. And the good news is, I still have all day to sit here and work.
By the time I look up from my computer again, having utterly zoned into my writing and nothing else, the sun is going down outside the coffee shop.
“Oh, holy shit. I really have been here all day.”
I’m looking through the window at the gorgeous array of pinks and oranges decorating the sky when the barista comes up to my table and taps on the surface.
“Hey, hate to interrupt, but we’re actually closing.”
I jump in my seat, close my laptop, and reach for my bag. “I’m so sorry! I’ll be out in like two seconds.”
The woman smiles, waving a hand. “It’s no big deal. Just letting you know. Thanks.”
I clean up my stuff, taking my napkins and paper bag that used to hold a cinnamon roll to the trash. I really should have eaten more, and it hits me that I’m starving.
My stomach rumbles as I stand and tuck in my chair, heading toward the door. I wave at the barista as she calls out a friendly goodbye, deciding that I might take the long way home so I can stop by the sandwich shop and pick up dinner.
Turning left, I take the sidewalk to the alley between the streets. It’s the fastest way to Pete’s sandwich place, and I think they close soon.
“God, please let me have time. I don’t want to cook.”
I hurry my steps, slipping into the shadowy darkness of the alley, thankful for the cool air here.
It’s still so hot, being the middle of a Red Lodge summer, and I double down on my need to avoid using the stove. It’ll make my tiny apartment that much hotter, and my A/C sucks.
Crack.
The sound of a rock hitting a building makes me stop, and I look back over my shoulder. I don’t see anything, just a big dumpster, but I hurry my steps nonetheless.
Jesus, this is the kind of crap you write in your books. Come on, Hazel. It’s Red Lodge. You’ll be fine.
Still, my spine tingles, tension swelling within me, and I move faster toward the open area in front of me. I just need to step out onto the street in the fading sunshine. I’ll be safe there.
Just as I swallow down my growing fear, I hear another sound, gravel scraping against itself. I stop, moving to spin around, but before I can, I’m thrust to the side toward the brick wall.
My head meets the hard surface, and pain flares through my skull as my vision goes black for a second.
Warmth trickles down my face as strong hands press me into the brick and then abruptly lets go. I crumple to the ground, my laptop bag clattering to the asphalt next to me.
What the fuck just happened?
I can barely think, my vision a blurry mess of shapes that I can’t put together. But this is bad. Really, really bad.
Flailing wildly, I try and fail to get my bearings. My head hurts so fucking much, and I can feel my body being dragged down into unconsciousness.
“H-Help…some…”
I can hardly form words, and when I tumble backward, I spot the man responsible for smashing my head into a wall.
He’s a menacing dark figure with his hood pulled up, but the worst is how he’s wearing some dumb Halloween mask over his face.
Words come out of him; I’m sure they do. But I can’t make anything out. All of it sounds like it’s come at me through a wall of water.
There’s nothing in his hands, I don’t think, which makes me feel only slightly better. But the lack of a gun or knife is something, right?
I can’t tell. I don’t know. And I’m slumping further down against this wall as the trail of warmth smears over my eye.
Blinking, I try to hold my hands up in front of me as my attacker crouches down in front of me. All I hear is an amused chuckle, and when my wrist bumps my forehead, it comes away with a red stripe across it.
I’m bleeding.
Shit.
“He says hello, bitch.”
It’s all I can make out before the asshole grabs hold of my shirt, yanking me toward him. The heinous mask is devoid of emotion, a strange doll face that I can’t place, and then I’m only just able to make out the man winding up his fist before it connects with my face.
Everything goes black.