Page 34 of A Ballad of Betrayal and Beauty

“It’s you again,” I say.

“Me again.”

After staring at his face for a little longer than is probably considered normal, I clear my throat. “I, uh . . . I didn’t think you’d be back. With the amount of laundry you did last week I was sure you’d have enough clean clothes to last a month.”

His eyes sparkle. “Yeah, well, it would seem you underestimate just how many clothes I go through in a week.” He hikes up the basket on his hip and my eyebrows rise when I catch its contents.

“One sock?”

He nods, then settles at the machine next to me. “As I said, the need to get to the laundromat was dire.”

I can’t seem to stop it. A smile blooms across my face so wide my muscles hurt, or maybe it’s just that I don’t use them much. He came all the way here to see me with his one sock. My chest aches with the desire to trust him. That this isn’t just a game he’s playing. Can he really be genuine? With a short laugh, his eyes crinkle.

“Yes, I suppose ‘dire’ is the appropriate word for your laundry situation.”

For a long time we just stand, goofily staring at each other, but I’ve never felt more comfortable. Finally he blinks and dumps his soiled item into the machine.

“Oh, I uh—” He clears his throat. Is he nervous? “I brought you something.”

“You did?”

“Yeah.” He reaches into the pocket of his baggy jeans, and something in me freezes. I’ve never accepted gifts well, what if it’s something important or valuable? What if?—

My thoughts are cut off when he pulls out a small box tied with a red ribbon.

“Laundry detergent?” I ask.

Now it’s his turn for his cheeks to turn pink. “I thought, you know . . . because you let me borrow some of yours last week.” At my silence he fidgets and licks his lips. “Sorry, it’s stupid, I?—”

Don’t give too much away. Be careful.I look sideways at him and allow my smile to pull at the side of my mouth. “Cute,” I say, taking the box and putting it in my basket even though I just want to hold it to my chest like it’s made of gold. Guys have tried to buy my affection before, and it’s never meant anything, but this? This is worth more than any of that.

His shoulders relax. “I’m glad you like it.”

“Thank you,” I say. “That’s very sweet of you.”

A throat clears behind us and there’s Doris, glaring at Joel. He leans in toward me and says, “I don’t think she likes me very much.”

I whisper back, “To be fair, she doesn’t like anyone much.”

“She seems to like you though,” he offers. “Practically ran me out of here the last time I dropped by to see you.”

Feigning ignorance, I arch an eyebrow. “You stopped by to see me?”

“Well, I’d hoped to see you, but she really has a thing against loitering so I made sure I came with laundry today.”

I grin. “Hence the single sock?”

“Single sock for a single man.”

Suppressing my smile, I cross my arms over my chest. “Is this your not-so-subtle way of reminding me you’re single?”

He shrugs. “Just wanted to make sure you didn’t forget.”

I bite my lip and look away, opening the new box of detergent and filling my machine before placing the coins in the slot. After a few moments, Joel does the same, silently gesturing to me for some powder. We make quick work of shutting our respective lids, the water whooshing through the hoses with a loud gurgle, and head toward the window seats.

Doris is still glaring at Joel, but when I give her a look, she returns to hiding behind her magazine.The Price is Rightis on the TV in the background, and I’m overtly aware of the heat from Joel’s body as he sits close to me. I try to keep my eyes on the screen, but I’m acutely aware that Joel is staring at me. Finally, I turn to him.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” I ask.

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