Page 62 of Hazel and Elijah Find Out: First They F*cked Around

“You beat your goal, though. Way to go!” He reached his arms around her in a hug. I went completely rigid as she hugged him back. They rocked back and forth once before letting go.

“Thank you,” she said to her shoes. “It’s a huge relief.”

“I bet. I know how much you care.” To me, he explained, “She’s always working so hard. She sees every animal in need like it’s her responsibility.”

I nodded again, it was the only response I could manage. The man was talking to me like I didn’t know. Like I didn’t knowher.

Concealing my aggression was getting more difficult, but the eyes watching our little chat were growing.

“I’ll help with clean up, you get home,” Dennis said to Hazel.

“I’m fine,” she argued, even though she looked exhausted.

I hadn’t told her my surprise yet, but I could do that tomorrow. It wasn’t the right time.

I kept my balled fists in my pocket and nudged her with my elbow. “Come on, I’ll drop you off at your place and come back to clean.”

She searched my face for a beat before she looked down at the floor.

I wanted her to ask me to come back when I was done, or to just stay with her. But all she said was, “If that’s what you want to do…”

It wasn’t at all what I wanted to do, but I did it anyway.

The bar’s parking lot was mostly empty when I parked again. I was even more confused after the drive. Hazel’s mood was a bit off—happy about the funds, but she wouldn’t look at me. Or I thought she wouldn’t. She was really tired.

I felt insecure. I tried to coach myself out of my shitty thoughts. People had off moments every now and then, and this was just one of ours. Our first. It was bound to happen eventually. Now that it was done, we could go back to having fun. Back to falling in love.

But when our kiss good night was all heat and no heart, I wondered if it was because she wanted to be kissing Dennis.

Dennis. The park ranger, who would wax poetic about mosquitoes in all their life stages, was the guy Hazel was choosing over me.

Entering through the back door, Sterling’s voice carried over the sounds of the dishwasher. “She looked like she was into it.”

“But she’s in a relationship. You don’t think she’d…” Ben let his voice trail off, making his point by leaving his words unsaid.

I filled in all he wouldn’t say, and a series of heartache-inducing scenarios slammed into my mind. I half-heartedly tried to shove them out, but the more they rested there, the more they made a home, and the more they made sense. Why would she pick me over Dennis? They shared interests and a town.

Would she keep me around while he was on his research trip or break up with me and put me out of my misery?

Okay, that’s enough, I argued with myself.She hasn’t said anything. They hugged. People hug. Dial it back.

But I couldn’t fully push the thought away.

Sterling and Ben walked through the swinging doors into the public space. I rolled my shoulders and neck, trying to loosen the knots there. Maybe if I could ease them away, I’d clear my mind.

I was ready to go back to my cabin, but I’d committed to helping with clean up.

In the dining area, tables had been arranged back into their places. Remi and Ransom were setting chairs around them, neither of them speaking.

I took a step in their direction, already appreciating their silence, when Shane Briar called, “Hey Eli, come help us carry these out.”

God, I hated the sound of his voice.

There was a pile of wood pallets stacked next to where Dennis pulled nails out of the stage with the back of a hammer. Taking a step in their direction was the last thing I wanted to do, but arguing would just create a scene.

In a few strides, I was at the pile. “Where are they goin’?”

“By the dumpster outside,” he said.

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