Page 96 of Crystal Iris
His reply is immediate:There’s nothing that would make me happier.
Is tomorrow too soon?
See you tomorrow, firecracker.
“Good thing I have a big truck,” Hoyt says, pushing a cart loaded with my bags. His stubble looks a little thicker than the last time I saw him.
“It’s mostly books,” I reply, wondering how I’m going to stay away from him for an entire season. The past five minutes have been hard enough.
“Books? Haven’t you heard of an e-reader?”
“The kinds of books I like to read aren’t online.”
“And what kind of books are those?”
“Smut.”
He coughs, and I laugh.
“I’m old-fashioned. I like to hold real books.”
“Feel free to borrow anything from my sister’s room.”
“She left books too?”
“She left everything.”
I want to know more, however I know now isn’t the right time to ask.
“What kind of music do you listen to?” he asks, closing his door behind him.
“A bit of everything. You?”
“Here, pick something.” He hands me his phone.
I scroll through his long playlist. “Okay, this is literally… everything.”
He smiles.
I click on a dark grunge rock song I like, but my mood quickly shifts. I change it to a country song I know.
“So, what’s your dinner request?” he asks, singing along.
“You said anything?”
“Anything.”
“Pancakes.”
He laughs. “Pancakes? That’s your wish?”
“It’s my favorite food. Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day.”
“Pancakes it is. Any special kind?”
“Surprise me,” I say, smiling back.
Hoyt is sweating by the time he comes downstairs after bringing my bags to my room.
