Chapter Five #2
After clocking out, Eli removed his apron, then dropped it in the laundry basket.
One of the perks of the job was a free meal at the end of his shift.
He thought that maybe he could get away with having a big meal on the days he worked, so he didn’t have to eat as much of Master Zane’s food at home.
Even though he’d been reassured several times that he was welcome to anything in the kitchen, he already felt as though he was a burden.
Eli carried his pesto linguine with shrimp to the staff members’ break table located right outside the kitchen. He was feeling very carby after being without much to eat for so long. Once he finished his meal, he’d take the opportunity to try Lenny again before taking the subway back home.
Eli shook his head. Where I’m staying for now. He didn’t want to get too used to living in the lap of luxury.
He picked at the shrimp with his fork, savoring the garlic and basil.
The pasta was perfectly al dente, nothing like the overcooked spaghetti he'd grown up with.
His mom had worked long hours at her job, and had always been more concerned with feeding the family quickly than with culinary finesse.
The thought of her sent a familiar pang through his chest. She was probably worried sick by now, wondering why he'd disappeared without a word.
But calling home was out of the question. Not until he figured out what to do about what he’d witnessed. He wished Lenny would answer the phone or get back to him. It had been two days since he last spoke with him.
What if something had happened to Lenny? What if the killer had found him somehow?
Eli winced, forcing the paranoid thoughts away. Lenny was probably just busy, or maybe his phone had died. There were a dozen reasonable explanations that didn't involve murder and mayhem.
Right as Eli was about to put another forkful of linguini in his mouth, he glanced up.
He dropped his fork, sauce splashing onto his white work shirt as Mr. Lockwood drew closer.
A split-second thought rushed through his head that Mr. Lockwood was intentionally heading his way, then he remembered the hallway to the restrooms was right next to the staff table.
Eli’s breath caught in his throat, and he froze the second Mr. Lockwood noticed him. His ex-boss came to a halt, his jaw dropping open. Mr. Lockwood held up his hand, palm out.
“It’s okay, Eli. I didn’t realize you were here. I was just about to leave, so don’t let me disturb you.”
Right as Mr. Lockwood turned down the hallway to his destination, Eli shot up from his chair. He hurried after him without thinking, then called out, “Mr. Lockwood! Wait.”
Mr. Lockwood whirled around, his features a study of surprise as he regarded Eli with a furrowed brow and tilted head.
“What is it, Eli? Is anything wrong?”
What the hell was he doing? So far, abruptly running to the other side and hiding had been his most impulsive act. Apparently, he hadn’t gotten hasty decisions out of his system yet.
“I...” Eli’s confidence evaporated the moment Mr. Lockwood’s intense blue eyes fixed on him. What had he been thinking? The words jumbled in his mind as his mouth went dry. “I just wanted to apologize for running away at the hotel. That was rude and unprofessional.”
Mr. Lockwood’s expression softened, the sharp angles of his face less severe in the hallway’s dim lighting. “There’s no need for apologies, Eli. I’m the one who should be sorry. I approached the situation poorly.”
The statement caught Eli off guard. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, noting the pesto stain on his shirt. Great. Just great.
“Zane told me you’re working here now,” Mr. Lockwood continued, his voice lower, gentler than Eli remembered. “I’m glad you found a position so quickly, and more importantly, somewhere safe to stay.”
Eli ducked his head, not sure how to respond to the unexpected kindness. “Yeah, um, Master Zane has been really helpful. And Ryan, too.”
Mr. Lockwood’s eyebrow arched a bit as if surprised by his use of Zane’s title, but he didn’t make a comment. Instead, he took a small step forward yet maintained a respectful distance.
“I was worried about you.” Mr. Lockwood’s voice was low enough that only Eli could hear. “When you disappeared from the hotel, I feared something bad might have happened.”
Heat crept up Eli’s neck. The concern in Mr. Lockwood’s voice seemed genuine, making his stomach flutter in a way that was both alarming and pleasant.
“I’m okay,” Eli said, although he was anything but. “Just trying to figure some stuff out.”
“I see.” Mr. Lockwood dragged his long, graceful fingers through his neatly styled salt and pepper hair.
Why he was drooling over his ex-boss’ fingers was beyond him.
“I’m likely the last person you wish to confide in,” Mr. Lockwood continued.
“But if you ever need help with anything, please reach out.” He cleared his throat.
“I also have your belongings. They were boxed up and put in a storage closet. If you like, I can drop them off at Zane’s house.
” Mr. Lockwood smiled, the lines around his eyes somehow making him more handsome. “He and I are good friends.”
The offer made his stomach swoop. His meager belongings, which connected him to his life in LA before everything went sideways, hadn’t been lost forever. Mr. Lockwood hadn’t thrown away his journal or family photo along with the rest of the forgotten debris from his brief employment.
“You kept my stuff?” To his mortification, the words came out almost childlike.
Something shifted in Mr. Lockwood’s expression, a softness that made Eli’s pulse quicken. “Of course I did. I hoped you’d come back for them.”
The simple statement carried more weight than it should have.
Eli found himself studying the older man’s face, searching for some hidden meaning in those pale blue eyes.
Had Mr. Lockwood really expected him to return?
Or was this simply the polite thing successful businessmen said when they fired runaway employees?
“That would be...” Eli swallowed hard, his mouth full of dust. “That would be really nice, actually. Thank you.”
A faint smile tugged at the corner of Mr. Lockwood’s mouth. “I’ll coordinate with Zane about a convenient time.”
The sound of footsteps echoed from the dining room, reminding Eli that they were standing in a public hallway where anyone could overhear. He glanced back toward his abandoned dinner, the pasta probably getting cold by now. Not that he cared anymore.
“I should let you get back to your evening, Mr. Lockwood,” Eli said, though part of him didn’t want the unexpected conversation to end. There was something about Mr. Lockwood’s presence that felt steadying, which was ridiculous, considering how terrified he’d been of the man yesterday.
“Of course.” Mr. Lockwood’s gaze lingered on Eli’s face for a moment longer than necessary. “But please call me Avery.”
The suggestion sent a thrill through Eli that he didn’t understand. The formal distance of ‘Mr. Lockwood’ had felt safer somehow, like a barrier between them. ‘Avery’ felt intimate, personal in a way that made his chest tighten.
“Okay,” Eli managed, his voice barely above a whisper. “Avery.”
“Good.” Avery’s smile widened slightly, transforming his angular features in a way that made Eli’s breath catch. “I’ll speak with Zane tomorrow about bringing your things by.”
Eli nodded, not trusting his voice to remain steady. There was something about the way Avery looked at him—not like he was a screw-up or a burden, but like he mattered.
“Until we see each other again?”
Eli let out a long breath. “Yeah. Again.”
Was he projecting something that wasn’t there, or was there a promise of more in Avery’s words?