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Yes, I mean it. Completely. You never have to work there again. But what do you mean, your cracked hands?
I wouldn’t do that. I hate it there, but I don’t want to leave them in the lurch. But I can tell my boss today? You mean it?
Yes, Della. You know I won’t lie to you. But you didn’t answer my question….
Outside, somebody plays music loudly. I turn to find a group of jock types there. It’s unusual for Second Chance. I wonder if they’re students, or friends of a student who have wandered onto campus.
Then my phone vibrates, and I stop caring.
You didn’t notice last night?
Notice what? You’re not making any sense.
I always thought it was so obvious to everybody else. My skin’s all cracked from the dishwashing. My boss is so cheap and doesn’t like replacing the gloves. And even when he does, they’re cheap, too, so the water gets in. I thought you were just being polite.
I wish she was here so I could pull her into my arms and hold her tenderly, whisper that she never has to worry about things like that. Whisper passionately in her ear that….
Your beauty couldn’t even be touched by something so trivial. I was too busy enjoying simply being close to you, savoring your warmth, scent, and everything to care about that. Even if I had noticed, it wouldn’t have made a tiny bit of difference to me. Plus…those days are over, Della.
You’ve found your man. You’ve found your protector. You never have to worry about things like that again.
The music outside gets louder. I wander over to the window, watching as a tall, wide-shouldered young man leans down to fiddle with a Bluetooth speaker. He’s got dark black hair and a sleeved tribal tattoo.
Around four of his friends bob their heads, with a few students…women I recognize as Second Chancers.
If security doesn’t handle it, I will.
My phone goes off again. I return to it, picking it up.
Okay, now I am crying on the bus. I know it seems like a silly thing, but it honestly means so much to me.
I want you, Della. Not some ideal of what a woman should be. If you rolled out of bed sweaty from the night before, with bedhead, with the skin of your fingers burned from hot dishwater, if you’d forgotten to brush your teeth, I’d still want you.
Okay, one…ew! And two…thank you, Eli. Really.
I love you, I type.Did you honestly expect me to say anything different? I love you more than I can explain. I loved you the first second I saw you…
I delete the message, sighing. I tell myself it’s because, the first time I say this, it needs to be in person.
But there’s still something holding me back, as thoughtoo faststill exists for us, as though we’re capable of rushing into anything.
We’ve rushed. We’ve decided.
But still, it would be better in person, wouldn’t it?
When can I see you next?I send instead.
Well, I’m going to finish my shift at the restaurant, so my colleagues don’t have to go through that crap without me. And then I told Hudson I’d go to the movies with him later. I sort of don’t want to let him down after last night.
I know what she means, after we sneaked around.
Tomorrow, then, I text.I can’t wait.
I’m at school early,she replies.Maybe I could swing by and say hello?
That sounds perfect.
CHAPTER21
