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“Okay. But I’ll definitely be home. I have a bed coming too.” I shook my head. “Thought I could get by on a blow-up mattress. But apparently my back figured out that I’m not a teenager anymore.”
Sam smiled. “You and me both.”
Hours later, I had my AirPods in while I watched a YouTube video on how to hang sheetrock when the kitchen table started to shake. I popped one earbud out and looked around. But I couldn’t figure out what had caused it. Untilbang. Bang. Bang. I jumped.Jesus. It must’ve been the delivery driver, but the pounding was a little aggressive.
However, the hostility made sense when I opened the front door and found Paul Bunyan on the other side. His lips were set in a grim line. I decided to counter with an equally over-the-top greeting, but mine was happy.
I smiled from ear to ear, putting all my pearly whites on full display. “Hi, neighbor. It’s wonderful to see you.”
He grunted a word I couldn’t make out.
“What’s that?” I cupped my ear. “I didn’t catch what you barked.”
He scowled. “Are you expecting a delivery?”
“I am. Why?”
“Because they dumpedyour shitin my driveway.”
“What?” My mouth dropped open. “They couldn’t have.” I squeezed around the oak-tree-sized man who seemed to like to stand in doorways and peered over at his driveway. Sure enough, my delivery was there. And the truck was nowhere to be found.
“I don’t know why they did that. I’ve been waiting all afternoon for that stuff to come.”
Mr. Bunyan held up a yellow carbon-copy invoice. “I have an idea.”
“What are you talking about?” I snatched the paper and scanned for the address. “Forty-four Rosewood Lane. They have the right address.”
“They do, huh?”
“Yes.”
He lifted his chin, gesturing behind me to the other side of the kitchen. I was confused at what he could possibly be showing me inmyhouse to provehispoint. Though my eyes widened when I caught on.
His dented mailbox.
His dented mailbox with the number painted on the side: Forty-four.
Oh shit.
“I…” My shoulders slumped. “I screwed up.”
“You think?”
“I’ve walked by that mailbox so many times in the last two days, I guess the number unconsciously stuck in my brain.” I shook my head. “I’ll take care of it.”
“How?”
“Just don’t worry about it. It will be gone in an hour. Okay?”
His answer was a headshake. Mr. Happy turned and started to walk down my driveway. But then I thought of something.
“Hey, Paul?”
He stopped but didn’t turn around. “Is that supposed to be me?”
I closed my eyes.Shit.“Sorry. I, umm…is that not your name?”
“No, it is not.”
