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I sat on the edge of my desk, drawing her into the space between my thighs, curving my body around hers. She leaned into me, giving a soft sigh of contentment as she did. My heart turned over and another piece of it seemed to come to life. To beat just for her.
“Hmm, it reminds me of a key I used to have for the diary I wrote in as a kid.” She glanced up.
I smirked. “And what secrets would I learn from young Hazel?”
She chuckled. “Nothing all that exciting. My favorite books, what I wanted to be when I grew up, my favorite crush, doodles of what I thought the perfect guy would be.”
I couldn’t stop the frown that tugged at the corners of my lips. I didn’t like to think about Hazel desiring anyone other than me. Even if that person was fictional or not in her life anymore.
She peppered light kisses to the underside of my jaw as though sensing my discontent. “None of them could hold a candle to you.”
My chest puffed out in pride even though I acknowledged it was ridiculous to be comparing myself to high school boys. “Is that so?”
Hazel nodded. She flipped the key over in her grasp. “You’re so much more than I could have dreamed of on those pages.”
I squeezed her ass and pulled her tighter against me. Telling her without words, I felt the same about her. We stood there in our embrace for a few minutes, enjoying the silence the middle of the night brought.
She pinched the key between her fingers, holding it up high. “Did your dad have a diary or something like that?”
“Not in the traditional sense. He was always writing in journals.” I thought about the blue journal I’d found with Jess. “He made lists of things he wanted to do, places he wanted us to visit. He typically wrote it using our secret code.”
She tapped my forearm. “The symbols you have tattooed, right?”
I rolled back one sleeve and pointed to one. “This one is the symbol for my dad. We each had one that represented us.”
Hazel’s fingertips reverently traced the lines, dips, and swirls. “It’s beautiful.”
I smiled. “He was trying to keep me out of trouble. We were always adding to it and creating new words.”
“Your dad was a smart man.”
A lightness filled me while we spoke of the man I’d loved and admired. “He was. He loved mysteries, and we’d use this code to communicate so if anyone found it they’d have no idea what it said.”
“Do you have any of his old notebooks?”
Besides the blue one I’d turned over to the Feds I hadn’t seen one in ages. “I kept a small box of his things that are now in an old long-term storage unit I haven’t been to in years.” The unit contained the things I’d replaced as I made more money. At the time there was the fear I’d lose all I had gained and be right back on the streets with nothing.
I’d almost forgotten it existed. I’d paid ahead when I could and now had the yearly fee automatically deducted.
“Maybe it goes to something in there?” She handed the key back to me.
“Perhaps. I’ll call and schedule an appointment to go check it out. It’s probably about time I got rid of the unit too. I can’t imagine there’s anything left in there I need.” I put the key in a drawer of my desk for safekeeping.
“Do you want me to call for you?”
“I’ve got it handled.” I pushed the edge of the shirt away from her neck and kissed her exposed shoulder. “I can think of something I’d like you to do.”
Hazel bit her lip and tilted her head to better see me. “Oh yeah?”
“Yeah.” I tugged at the shirt covering her.
She shifted from my grasp and moved a few feet from me, a mischievous glimmer in her eyes. “You’d have to catch me first.” She took off running.
I’d give her a head start before I caught her because no matter where she went I’d be right behind.
I held the door open for Hazel to enter the nursing home ahead of me.
“Are you sure you want to be here?” she asked, smoothing her hand down the side of her dark-washed jeans. She looked adorable in a fluffy cream sweater and brown boots.
