Page 6 of July's Bad Boy: Blaze

"College? Let me guess, Berklee School of Music?"

"Engineering, actually. MIT." He sets the box down on the metal shelf. "I dropped out senior year when the band got signed."

I blink, momentarily thrown. "MIT?"

"Is that so hard to believe?" He's sorting cans now, arranging them efficiently.

"Yes," I admit, then catch myself. "I mean, you don't exactly scream 'almost engineer.'"

"And what does an ‘almost engineer’ scream?"

"Less leather pants, more pocket protectors."

He laughs, and it's frustratingly genuine. "I save the leather for stage. More breathable than you'd think."

"I'll take your word for it." I hand him another box. "These go on the wooden shelves."

We work in silence for a few minutes. He's not completely hopeless, I notice. He organizes systematically, doesn't complain, and lifts the heavy stuff without hesitation. I pull out the lists I made for the people I know won't make it into town and start setting things to the side.

"So," he says eventually, "delivery service, huh? Ruby mentioned it."

"Mountain Provisions," I confirm. "I deliver groceries and essentials to people who can't easily get to town. Elderly, disabled, families without reliable transportation. Ruby was already helping the best she could, but this is more reliable."

"And with the road out..."

"I'm effectively out of business." I don't know why I'm telling him this. "And people who depend on me are in trouble."

He considers this as he breaks down an empty box. "Could you use pack animals? Horses or something?"

I snort. "This isn't the 1800s. Plus, the road isn't safe to cross until it's cleared because of the nails and other items sticking out of the concrete."

"Just brainstorming," he says, shrugging. "What about the old logging trails? Do any of them connect to the main highway?"

I pause. "They're not maintained. Not only are they dangerous, but many haven't even been looked at in the last decade...”

"But possible?"

"Theoretically. With the right vehicle." I narrow my eyes. "Why do you care?"

He meets my gaze. "Contrary to what you seem to think, I'm not actually here to make your life harder."

Something in his tone makes me look away first. "These household supplies go against the back wall."

By the time we finish, the storeroom is organized, and I've reluctantly admitted to myself that Blaze isn't entirely useless. Not that I'd tell him that.

"Thanks," I say stiffly as we exit the storeroom. "This will help Ruby."

He nods. "Town meeting's starting soon, right?"

"You're coming?"

"Shane invited me. Said I should see how a real small town operates."

"It's not a tourist attraction," I say, more sharply than intended.

"I didn't mean..." He stops himself. "Never mind. See you there."

I watch him walk away, feeling slightly guilty but not enough to apologize.

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