Page 43 of Mafia Rules

“Wait here, I’ll get the cart. We can probably get it all in one go,” he says, leaving the apartment.

As I look around, the room feels both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. My witchy calendar was missing, my tea mugs were no longer in the cupboard, and fresh tea towels were out that I’d never seen before.

The place that used to feel like home now seemed unfamiliar. Similar to the feeling I have at Macy’s. All the memories I have are already fading. My first apartment ever with my first serious boyfriend.

My pocket suddenly tingles as my phone vibrates against my leg. I take it out to see another text from Ash. I push it back into my jacket. I wasn’t ready to deal with my feelings for him.

I blink back tears, so angry with him for dismissing me so easily. Feeling like such a fool to fall for a man I met while he fucked his secretary in front of me. A man who could have anyone.Why would he want me?

Dereck appears at the door with the cart. “Ready?” He smiles.

We load up the cart and take the service elevator to his truck. It takes a while, but we get everything into the back of his vehicle, with one box for me to hold on my lap.

“Thanks again,” I say, unsure of how I feel about letting him help me, considering how he’s hurt me.

“I’m happy to do it. I’ll always answer your phone calls, Eve.” He nods and our gaze connects. I believe him.

We drive without talking most of the way, my stomach settling the closer we get to Macy’s, my mind turning to how I would get all these boxes to the elevator.

“So, how are things? You like it at Macy’s?” Dereck asks.

Macy and Dereck hated each other from the start. They were like oil and water. “Good. I’m hoping to get my own place soon.” As I pick at the tape on the box, I can't shake off the awkward feeling being in his presence. He wasn’t drinking, so I knew I would be safe, but I knew that other side of him.

“You got a new job yet?” he asks sheepishly, knowing he’s the reason I lost my last one.

“Yes. I’m working in an office.”

“Office?” Looking at his face, it was clear he was puzzled. “You don’t have any office experience.”

“Someone took a chance on me, I guess.” I look out at the buildings as we pass them, not wanting to give him more details about my job—if I still have it.

“That’s good. Do you like it?”

“I do.”

“I’m glad we can do this. I mean, talk,” Dereck awkwardly stammers out.

“This will probably be the last time.” I push the words out before I chicken out. “I just can’t…”

“I get it. I do,” he replies.

We revert to silence for the rest of the drive. He pulls up to Macy’s building entrance. “Do you want some help?”

“Just to the curb, please.” I smile. It felt like I should.

We leave his truck and start stacking the boxes inside the door. Several are so heavy with books that I will probably have to push them along the floor with my foot.

“You sure I can’t help?”

“No, I got it from here.” Glancing at the boxes, I feel a sense of dread about hauling them up to Macy’s and a surge of excitement at the thought of having my belongings back.

“Well, I guess I should go.” Dereck stands awkwardly; this is where friends would hug, but we weren’t friends anymore.

“Yeah.” I pick up a box to get this part over with, already thinking about calling Macy as soon as Dereck leaves, despite knowing I’ll have to listen to her rants about me going over to his place alone.

“Eve.”

I turn back to him. “Yeah?”

---