Page 99 of Seasons of Love
Anne’s chili is the best, but since I’ve been on my own with Sara, I’ve noticed Tyler keeping food behind for me more frequently.
“We saved your favorite before it ran out,” he always says. “Or there was too much because fewer people turned up today.”
It’s a silly game we play with each other. He pretends he doesn’t know I need the free food, and I pretend I eat it just to make him happy.
The truth is, I do need it. Desperately.
I don’t get paid till Friday, and the last of my money went toward today’s groceries, which only covers the vegetables I need to make Sara’s meals. I cook them in a batch and freeze them in little pots, so I know she’ll have food for the next two weeks.
Anne’s chili is the only thing I’ve had to eat today, apart from a piece of toast for breakfast.
I debated whether I should keep half of it to take home for tomorrow, but my gluttony won and I ate it all. Damn Anne’s cooking skills.
With renewed energy from my meal, I tackle the pile of dishes. I start with the big pans because they dry quickly, and I can put them away to make space for the smaller stuff.
The problem with this job is that it doesn’t require much thought. At the store, I need to pay attention to what I’m doing. I don’t want to overcharge someone because I accidentally scan an item twice.
But washing pans requires no brain work. Which means my mind is totally switched to the man on the other side of the double doors.
Ugh, even casually dressed, as he is today, he still looks so good.
Did anyone notice how he usually wears dressier clothes but today he’s wearing jeans and an untucked shirt? I bet not.
That’s the kind of thing I notice because I have a stupid crush on him. He’s not wearing cologne. His shoes aren’t polished. He’s not trying to blend in. He wants people to be at ease around him.
I don’t know him that well, but even I know that’s what he does.
It must be a teacher thing.
Except when it comes to me. There’s no easing or relaxing around Ellis. Just lots of blood flow, feelings, breathlessness, lightheadedness—I should probably see a doctor.
At least he was outside when I had my dinner. I’d be mortified if he knew that chili was my only meal today.
It’s stupid, I know. It’s obvious we come from different worlds.
Maybe Jimmy is right.
Ellis is older, educated, well spoken, while I’m…just Milo.
But even just Milo still has a little pride left.
“I think that pot is as washed as it’s ever going to be.”
I jump at the sound of his voice, sending a big splatter of water everywhere.
“Oh my god. I’m sorry,” I say, grabbing a dish towel and trying to pat his shirt dry.
He laughs. “It’s okay. It’s only water. I’ve been under the rain before and lived.”
I stop, unsure of what to do. “I’m still sorry.”
“I’m the one who should apologize. I shouldn’t have come from behind you like that.”
My cheeks heat at the thought of Ellis coming from behind me for a totally different reason, and I have to try really hard to push away the butterflies in my belly and send signals to my dick, who’s starting to have ideas.
I rinse the pan before putting it on a table to dry and grabbing another pot.
“Have you been volunteering here long?” he asks.
