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When he finishes with the equipment, he walks into the back room and returns with the cleaning cart. He starts wiping down the empty tables.
The college girl who works weekend evenings left at eight, but Chase is used to closing up alone. He’s been doing it since high school, and I’ve never once heard him complain.
He’s really quite remarkable.
A couple of months ago, the owner promoted him again—to general manager this time. He got a raise and his pick of hours, but he’s still basically keeping the same schedule.
As I’m gazing at him sappily, he glances up from the table he’s cleaning. I see when his disconnected expression shifts into attention as he notices me watching him. His eyes start to smile. His mouth twitches up in a little grin. It’s that look of startled pleasure I often see when he happens to encounter me after being distracted.
Like he can’t believe his luck that I’m there.
It makes my chest tighten.
“You want me to mop?” I ask him.
“Nah. I’ll get it. You don’t have to do my job.”
“Well, you help with my job, so I can help with yours.”
My side business has been doing so well this year I could probably quit my day job, but I haven’t done it yet. Success of that kind is based on luck and timing as well as talent and hard work, and luck and timing can always turn against you.
I’ll want to save up a lot more money before I give up a steady paycheck.
Chase shakes his head, still smiling with his eyes. “I still have ten minutes left and nothing better to do.”
I give up on helping him and instead use the time to close up my laptop, put it into my bag, and check my phone for notifications. By the time I finish replying to an email from one of my vendors, the other couple across the room has gotten up to leave and Chase has almost finished mopping the floor.
I raise my feet to let him mop under me, and I wait until it’s mostly dry before I get up.
When he’s finished all his closing duties, we leave together, and he locks the door behind us.
It’s been a cold, gray day, but it’s not freezing. I put on my gloves as we walk down the downtown sidewalk. When I’ve done that, Chase reaches over and takes my hand, holding it as we head for our neighborhood.
“You all packed for tomorrow?” I ask him after a few minutes.
“What do you think?”
“I think you’re probably not.”
“We’ll only be gone for four days.”
“I know. But I finished packing yesterday.”
He smiles over at me fondly. “Of course you did.”
“When you end up forgetting several important items because you threw stuff in your bag at the last minute, don’t blame me.”
“I never do.”
I giggle and lean toward him, rubbing my cheek on his shoulder. He evidently takes the affectionate gesture as an invitation because he wraps both arms around me in a tight hug.
I hug him back. I love him so much.
I never knew how it felt to have a real partner like this. How secure it would be. How I’d know without question that I’ll be his priority, that he’ll always want to be with me, that he’ll do anything he can to make me smile.
The past year hasn’t been perfect, but I’ve been happier than I knew was possible.
When he loosens his arms, he tilts his head down to check my face. I’m beaming up at him, and his expression softens. “You look happy,” he murmurs.
