Page 32 of Directing You
Chapter 15
Hazel
This was it…mine and Reid’s last night together. My heart squeezed at the thought of this being over. Fully and totally over. I wasn’t ready to say goodbye and yet I think we both knew this was not a sustainable relationship. Sneaking around, never leaving the apartment together was fine for a weekend… not a lifetime.
Onions sizzled in the frying pan as I cooked one of the only fancy meals I knew how to—ground beef stuffed delicata squash.
As the ground beef browned with the onions, I sprinkled in some garlic powder, salt, pepper, and mustard powder. Beside me, my cell phone buzzed against the formica counter top. Cris, my boss from the burlesque club, lit up the screen.Damn. There was only one reason she would be calling, and the last thing I wanted was to go in and shake my booty for a bunch of strangers.
I swiped my thumb across my cracked phone screen—yet another thing that I hadn’t had the money to fix—and answered her call. “Hey Cris.”
“Hazel, I know it’s your one weekend off, but is there any chance you can fill in for Kitty tonight? She called out and we are down one act for the night… she’s supposed to go on in an hour.”
Usually, this was the point I sighed and grabbed my burlesque bag of pasties and props and costume pieces. I wasalwaysthe girl who filled in. Namely because I was always the girl desperate for a paycheck. But for once, I was going to prioritize my emotional health over my financial health. For once, I was going to choose a quiet night in with a guy who liked me. Even if I could use the extra money, for my sanity, I couldn’t do it tonight. “I can’t,” I said. “I’ve got plans already.”
Cris was quiet for a moment and I cringed, awaiting her reaction. Even though I liked Cris and she was always great to me at the club, I’d never said no to her before. “Well, good for you,” she said quietly. I could almost hear her smile on the other end of the line.
“Yeah?” I asked, hopeful. “You’re not… mad?”
“Mad? Are you crazy? I mean, I’m mad at Kitty for canceling with an hour’s fucking notice… but not at you.” Her voice lowered, even though there was no one around for her to hear and she was on the opposite end of town. “Is it a guy? Please tell me it’s a guy…”
I laughed as the front door opened and Reid tossed my keys onto the coffee table, carefully setting two bottles of wine on the counter. “Gotta go, Cris…”
“Aw, c’mon, give me something!”
“I’ll see you Tuesday.” I hung up and spooned the beef filling into the squash cups.
Reid brushed my hair away from my shoulder, exposing the skin at my neck before pressing his mouth there. “It smells delicious,” he whispered.
“Mm,” I moaned arching against his lips. “If you’re not careful, I’ll lose focus and the whole meal will burn.”
He nipped my shoulder, then grazed his teeth up the curve of my neck, resting his mouth against my ear. “There’s always pizza delivery.”
I swatted his hip behind me with the spatula. “Not a chance. I’ve been cooking for thirty minutes. We’re eating this tonight and if it’s charred, you only have yourself to blame.”
His laugh was low and husky, and I felt his chest rumble with it. “Wow, you are cranky when you cook.”
I pointed the spatula at him. “Don’t make me have to use this on you again!” I threatened but was unable to help the grin edging my lips into a smile.
He grabbed the bottle of wine to open it and poured us each a glass. “I wouldn’t dream of it.” He handed me the first glass and I took a sip. Leaning over me, Reid inhaled. “Holy shit, that smells amazing.”
I scooped a bite onto the spatula and held it up to him. “Here, try a taste. Let me know if it needs anything… more salt or whatever.”
He took the bite and threw his head back. “Wow. That’s incredible. Who knew behind all those ramen cups and mac and cheese boxes was a girl who could actually cook?”
“Well, cooking takes time. And time isn’t something I tend to have in excess. Between my hours at the club, and homework, and classes.”
Reid cleared his throat and took a big sip of his wine.
“Speaking of, I probably shouldn’t tell you this,” he paused, clearing his throat again and coughing into his fist. “The writer of the show was really impressed by you.”
My brows lifted. “Oh yeah?” Two nights together and this was the first mention of this I’d heard. “Why shouldn’t you tell me that?”
“Because…” he paused again and undid top button of his polo shirt. “I’m pretty sure after this workshop, he’s interested in working with you. Don’t tell your classmates, though. Can’t let them know I’m playing favorites.”
My heart nearly burst out of my chest when he said that, but my excitement was quickly overshadowed by Reid coughing… again. “Are you okay?” I asked, filling a glass of water and handing it to him.
“Yeah…my throat feels a little...” Another cough. “What’s in that ground beef?”
