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Okay, so I have a feeling I’m overthinking this whole situation. He has a girlfriend, he has a family here and I’m sure he doesn’t want to be involved in any way with an ex-con.
I shake my head and push my shoulders back as I walk into the community center, knowing that I need to put him to the back of my mind. It’s a crush, a silly crush that will soon disappear.
“Lexi,” Roy calls as I walk into the office. I spin around to see him walking along the hallway to the main desk so I step forward and meet him on the other side.
“Hey,” I say, a small smile on my face as I push my hair behind my ear. “How was your weekend?”
I’ve never been good at small talk but I keep trying and the more I try, the more natural it feels, even though I cringe at myself each time I do.
“Good,” he answers, running his hand down his cheek and his jaw, the sound of the couple of days scruff making a scratching noise. “I wanted to talk to you about the fun day that’s coming up.”
“Oh! Okay.” I follow him as he walks to the kitchen and sits down.
?
??It’s meant to be in three weeks. Normally, I would organize everything, but my sister is still sick.” I open my mouth but he cuts me off. “I’ll be coming and going more the next few weeks and was wondering if you could pick up the slack?”
“Of course, I can.”
“Whew, okay. I’m leaving tomorrow, but I’ve made a list of your new duties. Anything you can’t do, contact Evan. He’ll be helping out more too.”
“Evan?” I ask, my eyes wide and my fingers tingling.
Roy tilts his head to the side. “Yeah. Is that okay?”
My eyes wander over his head, staring at a small stain that is on the wall. I don’t think I can be around him any more than I already am. I’m sure to do something stupid or embarrassing, I know what I’m like. I know how awkward I am.
Dammit! I have no choice but to put a front on and push through—just like I have for the last five years.
Sometimes life on the outside seems so much harder than being inside. At least while I was inside all I had to worry about was my safety and sticking to the schedule that was implemented. I didn’t have to worry about all of these feelings that seem to be taking over my mind.
“Lexi?”
My gaze snaps back to Roy. “Oh! Yeah, yeah. It’s fine.” I swallow. “So, I’ll be working more hours?”
He stands and pulls a piece of paper out of his pocket and hands it to me. Slowly I unfold it and look at what is written. His scrawl is nearly illegible but I manage to work out that I’ll be working from two in the afternoon until close.
It doesn’t say when Evan will be here, but I have a feeling that we’ll be crossing paths a lot more. Especially as he knows Seb and West too.
I live on the same street that he grew up in for God's sake! I need a plan—a plan where I’m not going to become goo every time I’m in his presence.
“Well, I’ll be getting off. I’ve written all the contact details on the back of the paper.”
“Okay.” I bite my lip. “I hope your sister gets better.”
“Me too.” He chuckles and turns as he gets to the door. “She’s a moaning old bag, but she’s still my sister.”
I offer him a small smile and wave before looking down at the paper and reading the list of things that need fixing around here. Some of the things I know I probably won’t be able to do, but I’ll give it a good go anyway because I want to learn new things: this is my perfect opportunity to do just that.
Grabbing the room schedule as I walk into the office, I sit behind the desk and search for today. Evan doesn’t have a class today and the only other room rented is upstairs until eight. After that, it’s just a matter of cleaning the whole place so I may as well get a start on this list.
I frown at the crumpled paper, working out what to try to fix first. I feel like I’ve been given a lot of responsibility—responsibility that I’m not sure I’m ready for.
Why does Roy trust me to do this on my own? He’s even having me take the deposits to the bank in town every Friday. He knows my history, and I don’t know why, but the thought of being trusted to this extent has tears springing to my eyes. I fight them back, not willing to let them fall.
The sound of children running out the front doors has me gasping and I look up at the clock that hangs over the door. How have I been here for two hours and not done a single thing?
I shake my head at myself and stand up, locking the doors behind the children as they all get in the van that will take them all home.
