AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Um…” My job isn’t all that interesting. I mean, I find it fulfilling to help people find the information they’re seeking, or when I pick out a book for a young reader and they first discover the joy of reading. But I don’t think someone like Ben would find anything about my job exciting. “It’s pretty much what you’d expect. A lot of researching, helping people. Mostly the elderly people in our community and the very young ones. Seems most in the middle have discovered e-books. Lately, I’ve been trying to figure out ways to draw them in. I actually started—”
“Here we are. I figure we’ll get your bags, if you want to change your clothes or whatever, then we’ll head out, find something to do in the city? I have practice tomorrow, but then I have plans for us to have dinner.”
Was he even listening when he interrupted me?
The doorman opens my door before I can dwell further on that thought and his eyes open in shock. “Miss Harrison?” He looks around. “Where is Mr. Greene?”
“Hello, Kerbie.” I accept his hand and step down from the truck.
“She’s with me, Kerb,” Ben says and grabs my bag in the back. “We’ll be back in no time if anyone comes by causing trouble.”
“Mr. Noughton, you cannot leave this truck here. We’ve been over the rules. If the police come by, I cannot stop them from ticketing you.”
“Tell them it’s Ben Noughton’s truck and if they don’t ticket me, I’ll get them tickets to the next game.”
Kerbie blows out a breath and opens the door of the building. “Sure thing, Mr. Noughton. Miss Harrison.” He nods and gestures for me to walk inside.
“Thanks, Kerbie.” Once we’re in the lobby, a suffocating feeling envelops me. “Ben, I assumed I’d stay at a hotel.”
His shoulders slouch and he stares at the floor for a moment. “Shit. I messed up, didn’t I?” He looks up, his blue eyes full of genuine concern. “I wasn’t assuming anything. I promise. I’ll sleep on the couch, and you can have the bedroom. I only bought a one-bedroom since I don’t have a lot of family who would come and visit me, and I didn’t grow up just throwing money out the window. But damn it, I should’ve booked a hotel.”
“It’s—”
“Kerbie,” Ben says and walks away from me without letting me finish. “Could you call a few hotels and see if there’re any rooms available for Clara?”
Kerbie’s dark eyebrows shoot up, but then he looks at me and nods. “Sure thing, but may I remind you there’s a lot going on in the city this weekend? Not the least of which is your game tomorrow. My guess is it’ll be hard to find a room at a decent hotel.”
Ben’s mouth turns into a straight line, and he shakes his head. “I’m such a dumbass.”
“No, it’s fine. Honestly.” I wave off his concern.
Kerbie rushes from his desk area to the doors, and even before Kerbie greets him, I feel his presence. “Mr. Greene, welcome back.”
“Thanks, Kerbie.” I hear his shoes skid to a stop on the marble floor. “Oh yeah,” he says as if he forgot I was coming this weekend.
“Yes, Miss Harrison is here.” Kerbie uses his chipper voice. The fake one usually reserved for Mrs. Ascot on the twelfth floor and her two Pomeranians.
“I see that. How are you, Clara?” Xavier’s so stiff and formal with me. I hate it.
“Good. Just got in.”
He glances at my suitcase sitting at Ben’s feet and looks away. “Just had to bring Shelby out, huh?”
“You know it. Figured I’d introduce the two women in my life to each other.” Ben laughs and Xavier coughs, then clears his throat.
Thank God the elevator arrives then. They each signal for me to enter first. They follow me in, and Xavier presses the buttons for both Ben’s floor and his own. Before the doors shut, Kerbie waves goodbye.
And then it’s just the three of us.
When no one says a word, Xavier asks, “How are things in Sunrise Bay?”
Ben seems occupied on his phone, and I want to tug on his arm to get him to show some sort of interest.
“Good. Leighton is getting bigger. She has your eyes.”
Xavier holds my gaze for a moment.
“I mean Cade’s eyes. The Greenes’ eyes.”
