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“Maybe that’s a perk,” I tell her. “A perk that comes with being good at socializing. I get to know people, and then I get to like them. Some people in particular. Then, I want the best for them. Feels good.”
I’m glossing over the fact that I have never clicked with someone like I’ve clicked with Hazel these past couple of days.
Yeah, I make friends in the bread aisle. But this—this is new to me. A whole new level.
“So… you’re saying you want the best for me,” she whispers.
“I do.” Because you’re special, Hazel.
I’m not going to go there. We’ve only known one another for forty-eight hours. I can’t tell her just how hard and fast I’m falling.
Not now.
Maybe not ever.
Heck, I can barely admit it to myself.
“That’s really nice of you,” she says. Her voice catches. She examines me as she tucks a stray wave behind her ear. “Are you sure? Sometimes people say things they don’t mean.”
“Not me. I tell it like it is.”
“I appreciate that.”
I appreciate you.
When a guy has a great dinner and then the best pie of life with a woman he’s enamored by, things like that flit across his mind.
“Congrats,” I say, “on the opportunity knocking on your door. I hope the meeting with the CEO goes well when you get home.”
“Hm... home. Back to work, right?”
“Vacations can’t last forever.”
“I wish they could.” She sighs, then gets her feet. “I think I should head to bed.”
“I’ll walk you.”
Just like last night, we meander along the walkway in silence for the most part. That’s something I’ve noticed about Hazel: she doesn’t fill every moment with chit-chat. I’m glad she feels comfortable enough around me not to try to fill every moment with small talk, like so many people do.
A hush has fallen over the area where the bungalows are hunkered down amidst stubby coconut trees. My feet know the way to her door.
She slips her keycard through the panel, then turns to face me. “If I get the promotion, that’ll make me your manager.”
Her words land heavily on my shoulders.
All I want to do is forget about work. I want to enjoy Hazel's company and try to get a handle on how I feel about her personally.
I want to figure out if I’m ready to patch up my wounded heart and move forward. Am I ready to try this whole ‘relationship’ thing again after everything that happened with Jess?
Definitely not.
No… wait.
Probably not.
That’s better.
Then again, my reluctance is just due to fear. I’ve never let fear steer me before, so why start now?
