Page 34 of Overtime
“Oops,” I mumble, picking it up from the carpeted floor.
“I’m sorry this is an inconvenience to you, but the way you and Lori have treated me for years has inconvenienced me more. So just move her in and be happy together. Bye.”
My tutor marches back into the room just as I’m winding the string lights around my fist. A flush has taken over her face, and there’s a dangerous sheen in her eyes. A door closes somewhere in the hallway, maybe from the other girl going back into her room.
“Are you going to cry?”
Strawberry presses her lips. “Probably. But not right now.”
I feel genuine relief as I busy myself looking around. The only thing left is the bed frame. Books, clothes, shoes, and even the mattress are already gone. “Do you have everything?”
“I think so.” She extends her hand, and it takes me a moment to understand she wants her silly lights. I place the bundle in her palm. “Can’t take half the couch with me, unfortunately.”
“What about bathroom and kitchen? I know the hand soap is yours.”
She winces. “I’m not that petty.”
Oh, I would be. I’d be the pettiest little ass if I’d been treated the way she has. I got a sample of that the night I was here, with that Lori chick making passive-aggressive comments that made even me uncomfortable. And then, when I took Strawberry to Ryan’s and she started crying, she shared some stories that made Ryan and me want to smash something.
Jamal strides in. “Truck’s ready downstairs. Let’s finish the job.”
“I’ll bring up the rear,” I say.
As Jamal and I pick up the metal bed frame, Strawberry scampers away to give us space. Maybe we should’ve disassembled the thing, but it’s the sturdiest bed I’ve seen, and Jamal’s truck is big enough that we can just tie it up. Even better, it has no headboard, so it makes the job of climbing down the stairs relatively painless. We’re still as slow as snails, because nobody wants to get hurt here.
My arms shake a little by the time we’re hauling the frame into the bed of the truck. We tie it up real tight and put the little flag at the end of the bed frame as required for long loads. Nobody wants to get a fine either.
Jamal brushes his hands off and stuffs them into leather gloves. “All right, I’ll see you both at Ryan’s.”
Strawberry holds her hands to her chest as she says, “Thank you so much, Jamal.”
“Thank me with food. I’m starving,” he says as a farewell. I stuff my hands in the pockets of my jeans and watch as he starts the truck. The ropes are secure, and the frame doesn’t move an inch. Good.
I turn to Strawberry. “Where’s my thanks?”
“How does pizza sound?” She smiles and sniffles against the cold. The tip of her nose is as red as…
I wonder if strawberries are in season. She’s making me crave them.
Then again, maybe I’m just hungry too.
“If they’re from Romano’s, I accept.”
She nods, all solemn. “I’m willing to fork over the cash today, so Romano’s it is.”
“Great. I want a meat lover’s,” I say, because I know it will gross her out. And sure enough, she sticks her tongue out in disgust.
“Fine, but first, let’s go. I’m freezing my butt off.” She whirls around and heads over to her yellow Beetle. Her butt is well covered by a long coat, though, which is a shame. I don’t know why she’s complaining.
Shaking my head, I head over to my 4Runner. Inside, I crank up the heat and take a few of my tutor’s boxes full of books for a joy ride back to her new place.
I drive right behind her. At a red light, I catch her wiping at her face a few times. I wince a little, because there’s nothing Ican do about her crying when she’s in her car and I’m in mine and we’re in traffic. Not that Ishoulddo anything about it, either.
It takes us until well past noon to bring her bed frame into her new room and empty all the junk from five cars into her new apartment. But considering we started the move midmorning, right after practice, I’d say this was a record.
True to her word, Strawberry orders pizzas from Romano’s for all five Bolts, two Strikes, and for herself. She’s the only one with a small veggie pizza, while the rest of us ravenous beasts fight over pepperoni and meat lover’s.
“This is very generous of you,” Archie says with his mouth so full it’s hard to guess what he’s saying.
