Page 84 of Beauty and the Beard

“Do you want to make a calendar of me for your final project? All you need to do is ask, you know.”

“Huh. I didn’t even think of that. Would you?”

“Would I what? Be specific, beauty.”

He opens the door for me at the restaurant where our take out order should be ready. My stomach rumbles and I wonder when we last ate a full meal.

“Okay. Would you be willing to do a lumberjack calendar for my project? It might involve baking.”

He boops a finger on my nose and I must look like a complete fool with the ridiculous smile on my face.

“I’d love to.”

“Mr. Sasha! So nice to see you. Who’s your friend?”

The owner of the restaurant rushes out and wraps me in a hug. She’s a tiny thing, all four feet of her, but her personality is huge.

“Hi, Candy. This is Leaf. I’m introducing him to your spring rolls tonight.”

She shakes Leaf’s hand after she releases me and pushes the bill across the counter. I swat Leaf’s hand away when he reaches for it and pass her my credit card.

“It’s my treat. Don’t argue.”

Leaf pushes his hands in his pockets with a sigh and Candy chuckles.

“It’s nice to see you smiling, Mr. Sasha. He’s handsome. You’re keeping him?”

My laughter is loud, and Leaf bites back a smile. She calls me Mr. Sasha because she thinks it’s my last name and I just couldn’t bring myself to correct her. Plus, I think it’s cute.

“He’s definitely a keeper. So much so that I’ll be moving away with him. I’ll miss seeing you, Candy.”

“Ah… love is bigger than spring rolls, right? I’m happy for you. But I’ll miss seeing you, too.”

She comes around the counter again and hugs me a second time, taking me off guard. Hugging her back with a lump in my throat, I catch Leaf’s soft gaze watching us.

“Enjoy the food and maybe bring him back for a visit sometime. Best wishes, Mr. Sasha.”

Leaf agrees he’d love to visit and takes our bag, ushering me outside, all the time wishing her well and other thoughtful things that I can’t hear because I zoned out.

“Hey, you okay?”

Huffing a breath, I take Leaf’s hand as we walk back toward my apartment.

“I wasn’t prepared to hear a random lady tell me she’ll miss me, then hug me. I didn’t think she cared that much.”

“She’s not random, Sasha. You obviously see her a lot and made an impression. There are people in this world who see you for the light that you are, Sasha. I know it’s hard, but remember that.”

“I’ll try.”

He kisses me on the cheek. “That’s all I can ask.”

It’s all I can give. I make no promises because I know the journey will be a hard one.

But I’m working on it.

“Why am I doing this again? Someone remind me, please?”

I’m not built for heavy manual labour.

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