Chapter 10 - Luke #2
“How is it that every time you come for coffee, I learn more about your astonishingly interesting lives?” Hazel teased, starting to type up our usual order. I guess our caffeine choices weren’t that surprising since we always ordered the same.
“We’re just very intriguing people. Others could benefit from knowing us,” Alex replied.
“Yes, I’m starting to see that,” Hazel said. “Someone could even call you good company.” A cheeky little smile tried to escape her lips before she snuck a quick glance at me.
I returned her smile. “Yes, the best.”
“Oh, Hazel,” Logan interjected in our mental conversation, “Ethan will have a double caramel latte with whipped cream.”
I chuckled. She stared at him, unsure of what he’d just said.
“Instead of his usual black coffee?” Logan shrugged.
She started preparing our drinks, and we headed to our usual booth. Tiredness crept up on me again. Thankfully, Hazel came over with the drinks just as I yawned.
“Well, well, well, who’s tired and needs a vacation now?” she said, setting the drinks on the table. Ethan’s funny mocha latte caramel special something drink looked beautiful and disgusting. Couldn’t put the lid on it either.
“All of us, actually,” I replied, gulping down half my coffee, just as Ethan entered. He took off his jacket and sat across from me, eyeing the oversized whipped cream drink.
“Ha, whose drink is this?” We tried to stifle our laughter.
“It’s yours. I put some extra caramel for you,” Hazel said, cheerful as ever. I almost felt sad she wasn’t in on the joke.
“What? I don’t— the hell?! Damn it, Logan.”
“You said, and I quote, ‘Maybe coffee will brighten my day.’ It’s impossible not to smile with this masterpiece Hazel made especially for you,” Logan said, sarcasm dripping from every word.
“I’ll make you another one,” Hazel offered, her laugh light and bright, like spring air.
“No, no, I’ll drink this,” Ethan said, holding the cup high. He stared at the whipped cream. “...with pleasure.”
“The spoon,” Logan whispered. “Use the spoon.” They burst out laughing, teasing Ethan, who avoided sugar like the plague and always talked about intermittent fasting.
“So, you’re packed already?” I asked Hazel as she stood, enjoying the friendly chaos at our table.
“No, I’m in the middle of moving to my new apartment, so I’m not sure where everything is. But I’ve got all Saturday to sort it out, and I’ll be good to go on Sunday with you,” she said, clearly excited. It somehow warmed my stone-cold heart.
“Good to go where?” Logan asked, but then a loud crash from the kitchen caused us all to turn our heads.
“Oh my God, Thomas. Are you okay?” Hazel called out as she rushed to him. “I’ll be right back,” she shouted over her shoulder.
This was my chance to finally tell them.
“Hey, listen, since it’s our first time in Portugal and Hazel’s lived there, and I guess, everybody’s cool with her, I invited her to come with us.”
There was a pause, and three pairs of eyes stared at me.
“What?” I turned to Ethan. “You already knew.”
“Well, well, well,” Logan said, clearly plotting something in his tiny brain.
“Oh, don’t start,” I waved him off. “We all know her, the girls will keep her company, and she knows the language.”
“So, that’s why you were putting off the flights,” Alex said.
That may have been true, but I just rolled my eyes.
“Oh, the girls are going to have a field day with this.”
“Oh, zip it,” I replied, pulling out my phone. “Damn, we have to get back—I’ve got a meeting in fifteen minutes.”
We stood up, and I walked to the counter.
“Hazel, listen, I know we agreed on today, but I’ll be working late. Can we meet tomorrow instead?”
“Well, I’m moving to my new apartment,” she sighed, clearly exhausted. “But maybe I can squeeze you in somewhere in between.”
A large brown box in the corner caught my eye again.
“What’s with the box?” I asked, pointing it out. “You had one on Wednesday, then I saw you with it yesterday, and now today. Are you living with it now? Like a turtle?” I asked.
“No, no, of course not,” she stammered, trying to lie but unsure how. Her eyes gave her away.
“Wait, this one is different than the one I saw earlier. Are you... moving one box at a time?” I chuckled.
“Yeah. It’s easier this way.” My amusement faded into a frown.
“Hazel, are you serious? Those boxes are heavy. You’re gonna get a hernia or something,” I said, annoyed she was traveling like that.
“It’s not that bad. I can totally do it, I—”
“And the books. You probably have a ton, right? Why aren’t you using a moving company or asking friends to help you out?”
“Give it a rest, I’m fine. I have all day tomorrow. It’s just a short walk from here,” Hazel tried to convince me, but it was ridiculous. She shouldn’t be doing this.
“Okay, then I’ll help.”
“No, absolutely not. I’m already going on the trip, and the books... it’s too much, I can’t ask you.”
“Hazel, you’re not asking, I’m offering. Besides, we can talk about everything you need to know tomorrow while you move.” I saw some resistance, some guilt in her eyes, which made me restless.
“Okay, let’s make a deal. I help you move, and you fill me in on everything book-related.”
She looked at me, unsure of my angle.
“Our company is expanding into publishing, and it seems like you know your stuff—classics, authors. Maybe you have insights that could help me, I mean, the company. You’d be like a consultant. What do you say?”
She considered it, her expression thoughtful. Also suspicious. I’ve known her for some time, but only now noticed tiny freckles on her nose that were usually hidden. Maybe not hidden. Maybe I just didn’t look closely enough.
I was also starting to see more of Hazel. Things she was struggling with. Like asking for help or even accepting it. But if she could be useful to someone, that was a different story.
“Okay, deal,” she said, confirming my instincts.
“Great. Tomorrow at 10 AM? We can start early, so you have time to pack.”
“Sounds good. Here’s my address.” She wrote it down on a piece of paper. “I warn you, I have a million questions about your friends.”
“Good. It’s time you learn more than their tattoos and coffee orders,” I said, noticing the spark in her eyes. Finally.
She laughed, then slid me another takeaway coffee I hadn’t even seen her make, her movements, unhurried and instinctive, like she trusted the space around her. Effortless.
“Give this to Ethan. Black coffee,” she said, winking at me. The warmth of her smile hit me unexpectedly, sending a warm rush south.
Calm down, boy.