Page 30 of Not Looking
“Sounds good. Besides the first load, anything else I should have the guys get ready for you? Extra stickers?”
He hummed. “I mostly use the stickers I take off when loading. But a few extras are always appreciated.”
“I’ll ask them to throw some in a bag for you.”
“Thanks.” There was a pause. “I should be there in an hour or so.”
“Got it. We’ll be ready.”
“Bye.”
“Bye.”
I restrained the urge to do a little happy dance as the line went dead. I was going to see him… that afternoon.
Nobody had come in while I was on the phone, and I decided I could duck back to talk to the guys in loading. I grabbed a paper sack from under the counter, then headed for the doors to the warehouse.
Forklifts beeped, and the whine of the saws filled the space.
I stopped next to the kiln and waved down the operator.
“Yeah?” he shouted.
“Can I get a bag of stickers for a customer?” I asked at the same volume, holding out the sack.
He nodded and slid several handfuls of the long, thin wood slats into the bag. “That enough?”
“Probably.”
“Ok.” He handed over the bag. “Anything else?”
“No. Thanks!”
He nodded again rather than yell in the noisy space.
I returned the nod, then continued to where men assembled and readied the orders for pickup or delivery.
The supervisor—Carlos—spied me and smirked.
“Here about your boyfriend’s order?” he yelled.
I sighed. “He says it’ll take three trips. He’ll be in for the first this afternoon.”
He grinned and pointed to three wrapped stacks. “We’re ready for him.”
“Great! Thanks!”
I started to turn when he waved to get my attention again. Then he motioned me over.
“Yeah?” I yelled.
He smirked again. “Call Oscar down to man the counter when he comes in.”
“Why?”
“He’ll solid stack it in his truck. Goes faster if it’s a two-man job, and,” he paused to wink, “all my guys are busy today.”
“So is this just a thing now? Is everybody going to give me shit?”
