MTLNOVEL Chapter 9: Stocking Up
I couldn't even pretend to hide my grin, "That would be awesome, any, uh, requirements?" I asked trying to not get too excited. No need for everyone to know how desperate I was getting. I really needed a job ASAP. A new car, to pay off my two credit cards, my phone was already six years old, I needed stuff for the apartment, food… everything cost money.
Dillon talked about his time at the call center, he spilled all the tea! When we broke for lunch Dillon ordered pizza delivery. To be honest, I thought I'd misunderstood when I heard Dillon asking for their salad pizza… but when it arrived, I was not disappointed.
To my surprise… Jake and Jack sat on either side of me, constantly filling my cup with juice or offering me another slice of pizza. They were also ruffling my hair so much I was sure it must be a rats nest by now.
They'd gotten all the shelves put together, now they were mostly unboxing, washing, and organizing. Dillon was also making a list of things he wanted now that he had more than triple the space of his last apartment. Sadly, the counter space was pretty minimal, so he was considering buying two more of the rolling countertops. He was just waiting for the next holiday sale.
I could feel them hoping I'd open up about what had me so scared this morning. Dillon was subtle, Jack and Jake? Not. As they sat on the couch I hugged my legs to my chest. "Uh, it's silly, really." I admitted, staring at the wall where Dillon had debating placing a TV, if he bought one.
Dillon didn't rush me, signaling to the others to just be patient.
"Uh, my phone, I was uh, ugh, it sounds crazy, I know, but, I was taking bath, and my phone fell. I didn't, uh, think much, but went to wash up, and uh, it was, it was back in the cup." I explained gripping my pants. Jesus, I sound like a loony.
Dillon furrowed his brows, "In a cup?"
I flushed, "Uh, I left my speakers behind, so, I was uh, using a cup, to listen to a pod cast. I fell asleep in the tub, but, when I looked the cup was still on the counter, but, but the phone was in the sink. Then, I took a shower to wash off, and, I probably just don't remember moving it, but, after the shower, it was, it was back in the cup." I was speaking so fast I could barely understand what I was saying, how could the others?
Jack furrowed his brows, "What else?" Jack wasn't asking like he was dismissing the phone incident, but that he clearly knew other things had happened.
I was glad they weren't blowing me off, "Uh, I, I had washed some clothes, but didn't have a mat, so I used, uh, two dirty shirts, and turned the fan on, but, I woke up and, and the shirts were gone, and the fan was off. Then I went shopping, someone ate one of my bananas, and, this morning, six potatoes were gone." I explained in a rush, their gazes were becoming more and more concerned.
Jake turned to Dillon, "Does anyone else have a key?"
Dillon shook his head, "Only me, Max, and the landlord, but he's in Europe. Max, did you lock the inside bolt?"
I nodded, "Yeah, I checked it twice, and the windows, even the one in the bathroom…" My heart was starting to race, it was shady complex, if, if someone knew Dillon had left… I was definitely an easier target…
Jack held my shoulder, "We can check, if someone was in there, we'll find them."
"May, maybe I was sleep walking, I was listening to true crime pod casts, and, and I went to bed a bit hungry after running around all day. I, could have just remembered wrong." Max tried to explain more for myself than to the others. This just sounded crazy… why steal six potatoes? Why not just take the whole bag?
Dillon squatted down in front of me, "Are you okay with us coming over? To look around? Actually, Max." Dillon waited for me to look him in the eyes, "Do you want to go back at all? Don't think about us, are you okay going back?"
I bit my lip, Jake and Jack looked murderous, which was reassuring, but… I was thinking about calling it quits… leaving the apartment… In a perfect world, I could find another motel… "Um, I'm.., not sure." I finally admitted. If the apartment wasn't being broken into… if there was a reasonable explanation… there was no way I was going to find anything cheaper… and surely nothing nearly as nice…
"Max, don't think about the logistics. Listen to your gut. If you don't want to go back, you can stay here tonight. You can stay until you find another place." Dillon promised solemnly.
I blinked back the teers threatening to fall. For fucks sake, I'd gone years without crying, but since finding out Arianna was cheating, I felt like I was always on the verge of bursting like a dam. I took a deep breath, taking my time to mull over my answer. I wanted the apartment to be good, I wanted it all just to be a misunderstanding.
"I, I want to, to at least look around, it's been, a crazy few weeks. I really may have just… remembered wrong." I forced a smile as I tried to sound convincing.
"Max, I don't believe you remembered wrong, I don't believe you're scaring yourself. When we figure out who, and what is stealing from you, moving your things around without your permission, they owe you an apology. It doesn't matter what their circumstances are or were. Don't dismiss these very real, very legitimate concerns." Dillon said kindly, but firmly.
My nose scrunched, then before I could blink them back, teers started falling. Then they wouldn't stop. I used my sleeves to wipe at my face, like they couldn't see me breaking down like a baby in front of them. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I, sob I, I, hick, thought I was, sob going crazy. What, what if someone was watching me? I, I didn't hear them, I didn't hear them in my room, sob, I, I was there, sleeping, sob, and, and they moved my clothes." I curled in on myself. I had been naked that first night. Someone had walked within two feet of me, taken my shirts, turned off the fan, all while I'd been sleeping naked.
Dillon patted my leg while Jake and Jack leaned into my huddled form. Dillon couldn't stop the anger from showing, but it was obvious his anger wasn't directed at me.
I spent the next twenty minutes crying like a child. Between sobs I continued to babble about things moving, being watched, how I had counted out the potatoes after getting home. I just couldn't stop the flood gates after they'd opened. I even started complaining about Arianna starting her affair two years ago, but still accepted my proposal.
As I started to calm down I hid my face in my knees. The relief quickly overshadowed by the embarrassment. Surely there was a hole big enough for me to hide in. I just broken down in front of three almost strangers… they must think I belonged in the loony bin. A grown man, bawling on a strangers couch… over freaking potatoes. Ten pounds only cost two dollars. If the banana was included, I'd only lost a dollar or so… talk about pathetic.
I was so wrapped up in my self loathing I jolted when someone started pulling on my hand. As I blearily looked up, Jack was handing me a chilled bottle of water. They all looked… so concerned.
"Sniff, sniff, uh, thanks," I murmured accepting the opened water bottle to take a few sips. Well I tried to take a few sips. I swallowed wrong, causing me to nearly cough up a lung. I couldn't stop fidgeting under their concentrated stares. For the love of all things holy… I can't even drink properly…
"Max, mate, how about I stay with you tonight? I've got a bat I can leave with you too." Dillon offered after he'd looked around. "I've got a trifold cot, we can also stop by any stores you'd like so you don't have to carry everything back."
The undeserved kindness almost made me start crying again, I fought to keep the sob from escaping as I just nodded. If, if someone else saw… then I wasn't crazy.
"We'll check the place out, if someone was in your apartment, we'll find them." Jack added gruffly, his muscles looked like they were already straining from the urge to punch someone. Repeatedly. Jake just nodded as he rolled his shoulders.
I felt like a child being escorted home by his teachers. Dillon kept his voice soft, soothing. For a moment, I thought I should offended that they were treating me like a child, but honestly I just felt… safe. Like someone was really listening to me. Instead of a department store, Jake had them visit a thrift shop.
I stood stunned… anything that could fit in a regular plastic bag only cost five dollars… there were a few items that had standalone prices like cell phones or laptops, or large items like couches… I tried to keep my hands from shaking as Jake and Jack just started throwing things in a cart.
A metal bat, jeans, shirts, clothes pins, pots, pans, a toaster. Jake literally picked up a six foot shelf and just walked it out to his truck. I had to swallow several times, the lady behind the register just called out the price, completely unconcerned they might just make off with everything.
Dillon bumped my shoulder with a grin, "She's like their third aunt or something, bring her a caramel macchiato iced, and she'll add you to one of her groups where she takes pictures of really nice donated stuff before it's up for sale. Of course, you have to be able to pick it up before opening the next day, but we can make it work. But I didn't tell you that." Dillon added with a conspiratorial wink.
I nodded as I trying to keep from teering up again. I seriously needed to man up, I couldn't keep crying like a baby, crying didn't solve anything damnit.
Jack found a nice coffee table he also walked out to the truck. "Thanks Auntie."
"Uh huh, come over here sweetie," The older tanned women waved me over. Her eyes were also a striking blue. I could see the family resemblance now that I really looked at her. Her loose bun, glasses, and simple dress made her look like the lady who'd always bring over a casserole or soup if you were sick.
"Its nice to see Jake and Jack making friends, they scare everyone away. Come sit with me while they load up the truck. Thank heavens! So much stuff in the back just waiting for room. Here, some sweet tea, oh, and biscuits. You can take some when you leave. What's your name sweetie?" She asked bustling around as she pulled me onto a stool behind the glass counter.
I accepted the cup of iced tea as she offered him a flaky biscuit out of a basket. "I'm uh, Max Ma'am." I mumbled taking a sip. I could feel my ears getting hot from her attention.
"Oh Max! That's an adorable name, you can just call me Auntie or Auntie Mellie like the boys do, new to town? Oh heavens, you all look famished, don't tell me you haven't eaten yet sweetie!" Auntie Mellie asked as she passed over a butter knife.
I accepted the knife as I looked over the half dozen different jams she'd also tucked into the basket. "Uh, we, we ate. Uh, just, you know, a long day."
"Oh sweetie, if you ever need anything you can pop in anytime. Auntie always has something sweet." Mellie added with a playful wink, "Sweets make long days a little better. Oh, you are just adorable, have you come by the lake yet?"
Dillon pretended to look aghast, "Hey! Auntie! You didn't even offer me a biscuit until after I'd started going to the lake parties!"
Mellie shooed him away, "Oh bah, look at you. Blue eyes just like all the boys, but Maxxie here is just adorable. Give Auntie a smile."
I didn't fight the smile as I blushed.
"Oh look at those eyes! Oh, my sister has a daughter! You two would have lovely babies, how old are you sweetie!" Mellie asked pinching my cheek as she found her phone to pull up her niece's picture. "She's playful, but she keeps the boys in line! You have any problems with Jake or Jack and she'll set em straight. Her name's Roxanna, but she goes by Rusty."
I sat stunned as the phone was almost thrust into my face. Rusty was in overalls posing for the picture. She had a hat with giant animal ears, a victory sign as she smiled. She wasn't as tan as Jake or Jack, but her blue eyes were like the ocean.
Dillon put his hands on his hips, "Hey! You've never offered to introduce me to any of your nieces, it's cause I have blond hair isn't it?" Dillon asked in mock indignation.
Mellie rolled her eyes as she shooed him away again, "Oh be off with you Lynn, is it too much to ask for one green eyed baby! Oh just look at you Maxxie, like spring grass." Mellie continued to fuss as the others loaded up the truck, and Dillon's trunk.
Everything had only cost sixty dollars, but Mellie had insisted that if Max would meet her niece, she'd take only half.
"Deal! We'll bring him to the gym after he settles in more! No take backs, also! We demand a dozen biscuits, and two jars of jam." Dillon announced slapping the glass counter.
"No jam until after they meet, but you can take the rest of the biscuits, don't you be scaring off my green-eyed sweetie now Lynn, I'll bite you!" Mellie laughed handing over the entire basket. Dillon snatched it up, then raised his head high like he'd won a victorious battle.
"I'll do my best! Just have the jam ready Auntie, come along Max, now that I've sold you for a good price its time you also count the spoils." Dillon laughed shoving the basket into my arms as I stood dazed, until I was being pushed out the door as he waved. "Thanks Auntie! You're the best!"
"Uh, thank you! Auntie!" I added before I was stuffed into the car. It had all been a whirl… I hadn't even seen most of what they'd bought… thirty dollars… a full truck load, table, shelf… if only he'd waited a day… no. I should be grateful they showed me this place at all. I made a note to save this place as a favorite in my maps. Thrifty Wolves, I also added a note to bring Auntie Mellie a coffee when I found a good place.
Dillon decided to stop by another grocery store since the Market had already closed. Dillon filled half the cart with food. Dillon had already grabbed cereal, box of sixty eggs, orange juice, a gallon of milk, two packs of pork chops, twenty-five-pound bag of rice, cans of soup, nuts, dried fruits, even seaweed strips.
I was mentally tallying up how much this would all cost, but was grateful I wouldn't have to carry it the almost four miles home on foot. When it was time to pay, Dillon used his own card.
"I'm paying it forward, Max, I should have done this the first night, I just forgot until you said something." Dillon explained with a nostalgic look. Then he chuckled as he patted me on the shoulder, "Let's boogie, Jake and Jack are waiting at the apartment already."
I tensed, right, the apartment… the hopefully haunted apartment. Because… if someone was breaking in… I felt goosebumps rise all over my body.
"Max, we're here with you. I promise, when you find out who's been messing around, you will get that apology." Dillon swore solemnly as he started the car.
I was holding the basket to my chest, if… if someone was breaking into the apartment… should they call the police? Or, was it because of the area that they didn't bother? I was silent as they pulled up. Jake and Jack looked ready for war, both holding bats.
I dropped the keys into Jake's outstretched hand. Everyone who'd been in the second story hallway had retreated as soon as they saw Jake and Jack. I also realized they were wearing those construction gloves again.