37: The 'I'm Fine' Tone

Sunday went very similar to Saturday, cleaning and organizing. I didn’t finish the cabinets until late Sunday and hope to never have to see them again for a very, very long time. Monday is following in line with the past weekend. Maybe even more boring than the last two days.

I mainly manage the store by myself while Gretchen works with clients back to back all day. Monty has the day off even though I’m sure she doesn’t deserve it. My back and knees seem to be permanently sore reminding me of all my work these past few days.

My phone at perfectly timed intervals of every twenty minutes buzzes with text messages from Avalos. He spews every last detail for Avery’s party as if I care, but since I forgot and inadvertently insulted him with my forgetfulness, he’s forcing me to become knee deep in party planning.

Of course he chose Young & Restless to be the location. He’s been obsessed with it since that first time we went. Who would've thought that I would’ve visited a witch bar more because of humans than actually being a witch.

I had expected some crazy favors to be negotiated to close off a large part of the club for a group of humans, but Avalos claimed that was the easy part. Apparently, he’s dating one of the dancers and she pulled some strings to make it happen. I’m still not sure how I feel about that.

Another ping.* fuschia or magenta?*

*arent they the same?* I reply back. I figure if I give the most vague and non helpful answers he’ll stop...maybe...hopefully.

“Didn’t your boss tell you not to text while working?” The familiar voice jolts me to attention. The second our eyes meet he continues, “did you get your flowers?”

“Yes.” I mumble, my dry mouth barely getting the words out. “Thanks.”

It’s been days, but it feels like weeks since we’ve seen each other. Just seeing his deep brown eyes and messy hair has my heart racing. There’s no knowing if it’s from nervousness, which is crazy or anger, which is realistic.

“I’ve been super busy.” With a louder, almost screaming tone, I shout hoping Gretchen will hear me. She has a break from clients and her door is wide open. “Gretchen has me working to the bone. Long days to the wee hours of the night.”

Her laugh travels the aisles before I spot her. “Maybe it’s because she doesn’t work very much while she’s here.” Her eyes go to Caleb, “nice to see you dear. I have the order in back.”

“I’ll get it.” I hop up on my tippy toes eager to escape Caleb’s gaze.

“No, no, no. I’ll get it.” Gretchen says stopping me in my tracks. “There’s a couple more things that I need to put in it.” She starts walking away without another word.

“What? I’ve been sitting bored out of my mind all day and here there’s work to be done?”

She shoos me with a wave of her hand. And here we are. Caleb and I, alone.

“How’s Gloria?” I ask even though I know I shouldn’t. Why do I bring on a fight? Maybe, because hating him is easier than not hating him.

“I see what you’re doing. Are you hiding something, Hazel?”

“What?!” I don’t need to pretend to be shocked, because I am. I’ve suddenly forgotten how Caleb always seems to be able to see right through me. To pick me apart, easily finding the parts that I want to stay hidden.

“Oh, there’s the tone. The ‘I’m fine’ tone. What is it? Who is it?” He eyeballs me and I look him square in the eye pretending to be unfazed by his accusations.

“Is it the vampire?”

“Gabriel and I are just friends.” I spit out. Are Gabriel and I just friends? I want to slap myself. What am I doing?

“Just friends, huh? Then you wouldn’t have a problem going to the gala with me. As just closer friends?”

I pause. That pause gives him all he needs to guess the answer. He gives me a tight lipped smile and half nod. “I see.”

“Damn it Caleb. Why is that I’m the one made to feel bad? Everything isn’t all black and white, light and dark. I had assumed you would be going with Gloria anyways.”

“Never assume Hazel, because it makes-”

“Here we are.” Gretchen waltzes up to us at the perfect time, seconds before Caleb was going to call me an ass. “Tell Marcus, thank you for his support of the shop.”

“Will do.” Caleb looks to Gretchen and then myself. “I’ll see you girls later.” He gives us a wink, at least I’m telling myself that it was wink to both of us or just Gretchen. Just Gretchen would be better.

I hear a umm-huh hum in Gretchen’s closed mouth.

“Don’t.” I say stopping whatever she’s going to say. It could be something about how sweet he is or how he’s still on team Hazel, but I can’t. Maybe after this Phillip business is all done, when I can clean about all the trouble I got myself into. When I can truly find out if Gabriel and I are more than friends or more than indebted and the one owed.

But if Caleb happens to move on to a wolf before then I’d be fine with that or at least that’s what I’d tell myself.

I avoid Gretchen’s eyes most of the day. I even try to bring up her own boy problems involving Icky, but she quickly shuts me down with something along the lines of ‘maybe’ and then something completely opposite like ‘I’m going solo’. She even throws in a teasing ‘we’ll see’, which is the most convincing out of all of them.

I’m more than thankful for when the closed sign goes up and lights go off. On my walk home, I find an unexpected visitor hanging around out front. He casually leans against the brick stairs that lead up to the front door. “I thought I was going to see you tomorrow?”

He pushes himself fully to his feet.“Phillip has some business out of town and I have to go with him.” He sounds genuinely disappointed. “But I’ll be back before the gala. Phillip won’t miss a party.”

“I’m sure he wouldn’t.” I wanted to say something else, something more insulting, but I keep my lips shut.

“Since you technically found Tessa we can pass the blood drinking.” He looks at me with wide questioning eyes. “If you want.”

“Oh thank God. I’m in desperate need of a week off...maybe for forever.” I say breathily. No gross ass blood drinking. Yes please. And if I tell Phillip where Tessa is, I could be facing no more blood drinking ever again.

Gabriel quickly walks the few steps that separate us. His hand tangles in my hair as he cradles the back of my skull. He places a quick, gentle kiss on my forehead. “I’ll see you Sunday.” He steps away and walks the small distance to his car. “When I pick you up at eight.” He shouts just before getting in. “Oh, I almost forgot. A gift from Phillip.” He lunges into the back seat to retrieve something.

I instantly get terrified. What the hell could it be? I watch in horror as Gabriel pulls out a large black bag, big enough for a body. He effortlessly holds it up, slowly unzipping it.

Time stands still as the zipper slowly travels down, the bag puckers open just slightly taunting me by keeping what’s inside hidden well enough. It’s only when Gabriel yanks it wider that I see black and deep red and lace.

“A dress for the gala.” Gabriel says as if I couldn’t see it for myself.

“I’m not wearing that.”

“Remember that ‘you don’t have a choice’ conversation? You’ll look beautiful in it.”

“It’s a vampire dress. Black and blood red. Did he forget that I’m not a vampire?”

“Witches wear black.”

“And emerald green or cobalt blue or violet. Evil witches wear red.” I don't know where my reasoning is coming from. I’m making excuses to not wear the gown even though it looks gorgeous.

“And evil looks so good on you.” He hands it over to me with his cocked smile.

I quickly become weighted down with the heft of the bag. Gabriel had made it seem weightless, but it is anything but light.

He gives me one more quick kiss. “Sunday.” He shouts as he hops in the car.

I’m stuck standing speechless outside in front of my complex watching his retreating car holding a gown that is another string attaching me to Phillip and his awful cause. Great.