“Hi! Hello.” I stand rigidly. Forcing a smile while my heart is pounding nervously. “Just bringing over your groceries.” I proffer the bags in his direction. There’s a shock of red hair and a beard barely visible under the hood that he’s wearing. He’s still keeping his face covered, even here at his own home.
“Thanks.” He reaches for the bags, fingers appearing from beneath his feathery cape. “The chickens will appreciate it.”
“I added a couple extra ears of corn into your order—” I say quickly, before he has a chance to retreat. “As a thank you for helping with the bike the other day.”
“You didn’t need to do that.”
“You saved my life.”
“It wasn’t a big deal.”
“My life isn’t a big deal?” I take a step toward him, his chest rises and falls visibly.
“Of course it is.” He turns his back to me, heading into the barn. And throws his next sentence casually over his shoulder to me. “I wouldn’t let you get hurt.”
Alice clucks loudly at my feet and he pauses, turning back around.
“Get inside.” His voice hits a low command, I take a step before realizing he was ordering the chicken. The bird struts past him, self-satisfied.
“I’m glad it’s you here.” It takes a moment to recognize he’s talking to me this time.
“You are?”
“I need to speak with you about something.” His words sound almost forced.
“Now?” I ask. “Will it take long? I’m technically on the clock.”
“Can you come back later?”
“Come here?”
“Yes.”
There’s a scolding cluck at his feet.
“Please.” He adds, almost reluctantly.
I glance around the large, slightly creepy buildings. The stark exterior, the splintering wood, the gloomy corners even in the day time. None of it is enough to really keep me from settling my curiosity about Eggward. “My shift ends at nine tonight.”
“Perfect.” He doesn’t sound like he means it. “I’ll be waiting for you.”
The darkness does make the chicken rescue imposing. It’s summer, so the long shadows of twilight are far reaching and Eggward broods in the darkness in front of his building, standing still and stoic as he watches me cross the road.
I wave as I approach, feeling less than spectacular in my off-hours outfit. I wish I’d had a chance to run home and change. I’m wearing a thin tank top and a knee-length khaki skirt that I keep in my work locker. I don’t exactly feel cute. But why do I feel like I’m walking up to a date?
“You’re here.” Eggward says. I can practically feel his eyes raking over me. I’m being ridiculous, I can’t even see his expression, and still my face is getting warm from the imagined attention. He might as well be one of those hot guys in motorcycle helmets on social media.
Crap. I can’t start thinking about those types of videos right now.
“Did you miss me?” I call back, then feeling awkward I add. “I did say I’d come.”
“I wasn’t sure you’d want to.”
“Well, you made it sound important.” I nervously try to smooth my hair but I’m sure it hasn’t made a difference. He shifts on his feet. It’s not an answer, but at least it’s some small chink in his armour. This may not be a date, but he’s nervous about me being here as well. I know almost nothing about him. The mystery is intriguing and exciting. “How did you do it? Stop that bike?” I ask.
There’s a long pause, but I don’t take my eyes off him. “I had an adrenaline rush.”
“An adrenaline rush?” I scoff. “That doesn’t make any sense.”
