Page 61 of Clean Hack
I was about to say something when my phone beeped with the worst timing ever. I held back my frustration as I pulled my phone out of my pocket and dialed the number to call into my messaging service.
I ended the call after listening to the message and let out a sad sigh without realizing it. It looked like I was headed south a bit. If all went well, I could be back by tomorrow morning.
“Duty calls,” she said sending a timid smile my way.
“Yes, it does.”
I hesitated. Like big time. Like my feet were stuck in place while my eyes stayed locked with hers.
“Hey, I get it. Believe me, I do. It’s okay.” She forced a smile and though I believed she meant what she said, I couldn’t help but feel a tinge of sadness coming off of her.
“Would you…like to come along?” I asked not really sure what I was going to do with her while I worked.
I couldn’t pull off telling people she was my assistant. These people knew me and I had worked alone for so many years. Plus there was the trust factor and bringing someone new in without any kind of warning or time for them to do a background check was super unprofessional in my line of work. That part aside, I also didn’t really think that it was a good idea for her to watch me do what I did. I got that she kind of already had at least a few times, but it was a whole different thing seeing it in person. When watching it on screen, you didn’t have all the smells surrounding you.
“Oh, God, no,” she responded, wide-eyed. “I think I will hang back here, if that’s alright with you.”
“You’ll stay?” I asked because I still wasn’t completely sure she wouldn’t bolt without me around.
“Yes.” She smiled sweetly then leaned over to plant a light kiss on my lips. “I will be here when you get back.”
“Okay. Good. Shouldn’t take me long. I’ll be back tomorrow.” I tried to cover the excited thrill that zapped through me. I hoped it came off more smooth that I imagined it actually had.
I stood and went into the bedroom. I changed as quickly as possible and grabbed the bag that I knew was all ready to go. After making sure that I had my keys and phone in my pocket, I headed back through the condo to the front door. I had a storage shed a few blocks away that was stocked with supplies. I was low and so I knew I’d have to swing by there really quickly.
I found Lucy waiting for me by the door with a bottle of water in her hand. She held it out with a smile and I took it and placed a soft kiss on her cheek.
“Oh,” she said suddenly. “I need a computer.”
“I can’t help you there. I go to the library when I need to look something up.” At her horrified expression, I laughed. “There’s a store that might be able to help you out three blocks south. Can’t miss it. There’s a safe under the bed.” I rattled off the combination without the briefest of pause. Maybe I should have been more cautious, but I knew in my heart that I could trust her. It didn’t matter that what I had in there was chump change to what I had over all. It was about getting closer, letting go, and having faith in the feelings.
“Um, thanks,” she said looking a little shell-shocked. “I’ll…uh, yeah. I’ll see how I feel later. And thank you, but I got it covered.”
I was sure she did but I didn’t ask.
I dropped my bag and walked over to her. With gentle hands, I cupped her jaw.
“If you want to wait, I will take you wherever you want to go when I get back. I won’t be long.” I reiterated that fact so she’d know I’d be returning soon enough.
“Thank you,” she said and seemed to relax at my touch.
“Oh,” I said digging through my bag remembering that I had something for her. Something that at the time I had made it, never knew if I’d ever have the chance to give it to her. It was little. And silly. But even then, it meant something to me. I’d made it for her and I didn’t want to wait another moment to show it to her now that I’d remembered. “I made this for you.”
I nervously handed over the small, wooden platypus with the nubby leg and the big bill and the weird eyes.
“Is that…” her words trailed off as she grabbed it and ran a slender finger over every part of it. “Oh my God, he’s so cute. I love it.”
She threw her arms around me and hugged me tightly. I didn’t hesitate to do the same to her. She held on for a long time and I didn’t mind one bit. I could tell that she was a little emotional and maybe it meant as much to her as it did to me.
Before, I never imagined she would be like this. I honestly wasn’t really sure what she’d be like, but this definitely knocked me off my feet. She had this presence about her that was just refreshing and beautiful. It drew me in and rendered me speechless inside. It made me feel like a teenage boy and a strong man all at the same time.
I cleared my throat as she began to pull away. Her lips landed softly on my cheek before she stepped back, the sad looking platypus clenched delicately in her hand. I could sense that she was a little unsure of her outburst. I could have said something but I got the feeling like she needed time to collect herself and filter the things that were swimming around in her head.
“I’ll see you, sweetness,” I said as a way of goodbye. Then I kissed her, taking a few moments longer than I should have.
The drive wasn’t that long, but it felt like it was. Every mile seemed to tick on with a wider distance. I didn’t rush the job, because I’d never do that, but I didn’t stick around long after. I went in, did what I was paid to do, cleaned up, then hit the road again as fast as I could. I really had no reason to complain, it was a pretty easy and smooth job. But those kind of things took time.
Maybe it was a bit sappy and silly, but all I wanted to do was get back to my place. I didn’t think she’d bolt on me but that was still a nagging fear in the back of my mind. I chose to take it as a good sign that everything went as smooth as could be expected and I was on my way as quickly as possible. That it was maybe the universe’s way of telling me things would work out the way they were supposed to.
I drove as safely as I could, you know, with a lead foot against the gas pedal. I couldn’t recall a time I’d been as eager to get somewhere as I was right then.
I didn’t have the first clue what I was going to do withmy little psychic, but I knew I needed to figure something out. As I thought about it, the fact that I called her that for so long seemed a bit ridiculous. And now that I knew everything, well it was almost like breaking this illusion I’d had for so long. But in a good way. The very best way. Deep down I had known that she wasn’t really a psychic, but back when I knew nothing about her, it helped me to feel less crazy to think of her that way. And once the name popped into my head, it kind of just stuck.
Just a few more hours,I told myself as the sun started to light up the sky in front of me. And I smiled, because I felt like it.
