I woke up almost panicked as my alarms went off like sirens, if they were this loud… I snatched my phone up to look at the time. Nine forty-eight a.m. Shit! Dillion's gonna be here in ten minutes!!!! How had I slept through the first three alarms?! Half hopping into, half yanking my clothes on as I practically threw myself from the bed. I was just glad they didn't stink since I hadn't been able to do laundry since I'd arrived. I was slipping into Dillion's hoodie as someone knocked on the door.
"Yo Max, you up mate?" Dillon asked from outside the door.
"Yeah! Just a sec!" I called stumbling toward the door as I tried to slip my old sneakers on. How freaking embarrassing!!! I was mortified as I heard light chuckling only muffled by the door. When there was a pause and low murmur my heart sank. Shit! Did Dillon bring that friend with a truck?! I glanced around, using my fingers to brush my hair out of my face as I reached for the door.
Of course, I tripped over my own feet, nearly falling on my face as I stumbled to the door, slinging my backpack over my shoulder, "Ready!" I announced swinging the door open. Dillon had his face turned to the side with a grin, I glanced down the dimly lit hall… but no one was there. Maybe he had headphones in? As Dillon turned his head… empty ears…
"No rush mate. Did you make sure you grabbed everything so you can move in tonight?" Dillon reminded glancing to the bed with some papers strewn about.
I hesitated, gritted my teeth, then turned around, "Uhh, two minutes, I, uhh, don't have much." I called as I ran to the bathroom, stuffing my backpack until it was fit to burst. When that was so full it couldn't even close, I started stuffing my two reusable shopping bags.
Dillon grabbed one of the overstuffed shopping bags and backpack from me, "Did you check out already mate?" he asked glancing over the shabby room.
There was a hint of nostalgia in his voice that I didn't understand, but I just shook my head. "Uh, not yet." I led the way so I could check out. I'd only been here three nights, but between food, taxies, bus fares, and now another $160 in motel stays… I had less than $800 left. $788.12 was all I had until I found a job…
I absentmindedly placed my bags on the ground of Dillon's car, "Uh, thanks, for waiting, and um, picking me up." I added as the silence continued. Dillon seemed startled for a moment before grinning. I couldn't be picky… or… I'd have to stay with family… that just… fuck… under dad's roof again?
"All good mate, life if ruff. Besides, I can use the extra hands, it's a small place but its crazy how much I've accumulated over the last few years. Glad I can leave lots of the big stuff behind." Dillon added as he waited for a hazardous pedestrian to cross.
I couldn't help but notice the pronunciation… I almost asked, ruff, I shook my head, I could just be hearing Dillon wrong. "So, uh, how many friends will uh, be helping?" I couldn't afford to step on any landmines.
"Two friends, Jake and Jack, I know, I know, but they're cousins, always great if ya need extra muscle. Oh, I ordered ahead from the diner, hopefully same as yesterday for you is okay. I just need to run in and pick it up." Dillon added.
"Oh, um, thanks, really appreciate it." I agreed with a quick nod. Dillon kept talking about Jack and Jake, then their plan of attack for the packing. As they pulled up, two big guys were leaning against an older pick-up truck. They were in overalls, wearing bandannas, and construction gloves… Extra muscle… was an understatement.
"Yo! Yall are always on the ball! This is Max, possible tenant. Dillon, big boy in red is Jake, in blue is Jack." Dillon greeted as he grabbed the four take out bags.
I nodded, they were giants, both had to be well over six feet, maybe closer to six' five. Their gaze barely passed over him to land on the takeout bags. I wasn't sure if they were just really tanned from days in the sun, or it was their natural skin tone. They had the palest blue eyes I'd ever seen on a person before though. They both had dark hair, but I wasn't sure if it was brown or black, you could almost mistake them for full blood brothers.
"Hurry yer ass Lynn, and for gods sake stop with the damn dog jokes." Jake half growled as he started stomping up the stairs.
I almost thought the rusted old stairs would give under their combined weight. Dillion winked as he followed them up.
"You know you like em, it half my personality at this point. Come on Max, don't let their bark scare ya." Dillon added as he jogged past the two to his door. With practiced ease he opened the door and held it open with his foot as the three bodies walked past.
I awkwardly stood off to the side as the two larger guys slipped their shoes off and headed for a rolling shelf. To my surprise they slid it away from the wall without a word, then raised a wooden ledge I hadn't seen.
"Chairs shorty." Jake called as they secured the ledge's lock.
I jumped at the gruff voice, since I was the shortest one here, they could only be talking to me. I glanced around to see three folding chairs, I grabbed two intending to bring them over, when the first one fell open causing me to stumble. I shut my eyes, bracing myself for impact, only something caught my arm in a painful grip. I gasped as I was jerked up.
"Careful shorty." Jack growled taking the chairs in one hand as he steadied me.
Jake raised a brow, but didn't say anything as Dillon brought the food to the table.
Dillon grabbed a gallon of orange juice as he settled at the table, "Nice save, you okay Max?"
I just nodded trying not to rub my forearm, "Uh, yeah, oh, thanks. Uh…" Blue was… who again… My arm was still stinging… so they were fast and strong. Should I worry about my kidneys… No way I was outrunning a three legged cat, let alone these giants.
"Jack," Jack reminded as he sat down to pour the juice for all of them.
I nodded, "Right, Thanks Jack." I added as I measured the distance from the rolling counter to the far wall… it was at least eight feet...not a big space, but how had Jack caught me so quickly? I tried not to hunch in on myself as Jake stared at me. The whole makeshift table rocked. When Jake stopped staring at me I let out a breath I hadn't even realized I was holding.
I was half convinced someone had kicked Jake… still I was thankful for the unnerving stare to have moved on.
Dillon grinned, "Relax mate, Jake is super intense, but he's got a heart of gold."
I knew my smile had to be weak, "Oh, uh, okay." How should I respond to something like that? Thankfully I could mostly listen as Dillon spoke, and the cousins made gruff comments. They kept eyeing me warily. Like for real… if anyone is a threat in this room… I should be the last person on that list. Heck… a foldable chair almost took me out.
"Max, you mind wrapping all the dishes in paper, or between clothes then putting them in these few boxes?" Dillon asked as he set aside two large sets of dishes, then seven smaller sets back in the cupboards. The rest were stacked along the counters.
"Sure!" I was relieved to be working, Dillon started playing some music with fast beats, explaining it was his gym playlist. The cousins were fast with their hands, piling the contents of shelves along walls as they dismantled the rolling countertop they'd used as a table. I snapped a picture of the brand, it had been super convenient.
As I glanced around, Dillon had really made this place feel like a home… to see everything being packed away… I turned back to the dishes as I swallowed my emotions down. I was here to work.
I was mostly in charge of packing small or delicate items as Jack and Jake made trips with filled boxes to the truck. I had to admit… I was surprised no one stole the unattended items from the unlocked, unsecured bed of the truck.
"Okay, we're going to make a quick trip to the new place to unload, you can ride with me Max," Dillon offered wiping the sweat off his forehead with his sleeve.
I nodded as I taped up the latest box I'd been working on. Most of the shelves had already been taken apart, the bedroom mostly packed, all that was left was the living room, bathroom, and what had been in the last two kitchen cupboards. I couldn't help but glance over the computer that was just on the floor under the large living room window… Dillon… wouldn't really leave it behind… I mean, it's a thousand dollar laptop…
I slid into the passenger seat with a box of delicates on my lap. The car and truck had to be breaking half a dozen laws with how full they were. Luckily, the ride was only about thirty minutes. I slid out of the car gaping at the apartment complex. Not only near the city center, but it was a new construction… Banners were still hanging on the walls…
I stared enviously at the clean hallways, security guard who buzzed them in… Dillon had probably only been in the other place to save up… not because it was all he could afford. I stared at the pristine carpets… then at my shoes that had holes… I just… felt so out of place.
"Max mind grabbing the door?" Dillon called propping the box against the door. Dillon hadn't been able to keep the box from falling, and unlock the door.
"Oh! Yeah! Sure!" I jolted grabbing the keys, after a bit of fumbling with my own box I managed to get the door open. I darted in quickly to keep it from closing. The apartment still had that new smell. I tilted his body to the side to let the others pass. Jack and Jake bringing in a shelf piece from the truck that had been used as a makeshift weight so nothing flew free during the drive.
Dillon grinned as he set the box in the living room along the wall. "Let's just get everything in the living room today, not going to lie, securing everything in the truck took longer than I thought."
Jake used his sleeve to wipe his sweat, "You're picky." Jake casually glanced around then helped himself to the fridge, grabbing waters and tossing them out. Jack caught his with ease.
I only caught the water bottle to my chest on instinct when I turned to see the incoming projectile, "Ah! Oh, uh, thanks Jake." I mumbled as Dillon caught his out of the air one handed.
"I'm thinking we break for lunch, the rest of the day will just be loading the truck for trips. Whacha in the mood for boys?" Dillon asked taking a swig of water as he cracked his neck.
"Steak." Both Jake and Jack chorus at the same time, then without missing a beat they both chugged their water.
"Damn, just put the bottles in a bag for now, I'll sort and recycle later." Dillon called as he pulled his phone out to see what was close by. "Sit down or take out?"
"Take out." Jake and Jack called at the same time.
I watched the dynamic, it was a good thing Dillon did enough talking for all of them.
"You good with that Max?" Dillon asked as he decided to place an order for pick up rather than delivery.
I had to agree, all those stupid extra fees, not worth it. Besides, by the time my food usually arrived it was soggy.
"Uh, yeah, whatever." I agreed.
"Cool, found a burrito place, good reviews, big portions, I'll pass my phone around, place your orders. We'll swing by on the way back. That should be enough time to unload the vehicles." Dillon announced tossing his phone to the cousins. Jake caught the phone without hesitation and started placing his order.
I couldn't help but watch their familiar ease a little enviously, I hadn't bothered opening any of my socials in days. Sure, I'd been busy… but Arianna had been blasting me everywhere from the moment I confronted her in the hospital. I jolted out of my thoughts as Jack waved the phone in my face. I was glad he hadn't thrown it…
"Oh, thanks! Sorry, distracted," I mumbled accepting the phone, I felt my eyes go wide. Eight jumbo burritos, double meat, extra fillings, extra sides, Jesus Christ… I looked at the pictures… ordered one burrito, a side of chips, and a root beer. The total was already over $250. I handed the phone to Dillon, watching his reaction.
Dillon didn't even blink as he put in his own order, then frowned, "Max, you sure this is enough? Don't go hungry mate."
Jack raised his head from putting his shoes back on so they could start unloading the truck. Jake bumped shoulders with Jack, then they both left after a shared look.
"No, it's a big burrito, really." I explained waving the concern away, ordering more than I could eat, that was a good way to piss someone off, especially if someone else was footing the bill.
Dillon shrugged, "I'm going to double your burrito order just in case, we'll probably have a late dinner, so just in case you get hungry later. I added a few extra waters too, hydrate or die yeah?"
I hesitated, hydrate or die? Was that a regular saying around here? When I realized Dillon was still waiting for an answer, I nodded in agreement. I slipped my shoes on then went to grab another box from the car, I definitely wasn't trying to escape Dillon's concerned, questioning glance. God, did Dillon know how broke I was? Were they trying to be considerate? I flushed with embarrassment as I lowered his head. To my added humiliation, Jake and Jack were holding the elevator… they had clearly been waiting for me.
I was practically staring at my chest as the doors closed. The silence was stifling.
"Relax." Jake groused shifting a bit as they watched the numbers go from twelve to the basement.
Despite my best efforts… I stiffened even more. God, if I could just burry myself somewhere that would be great. Where was that hole when you needed one? I heard shuffling behind me, out of morbid curiosity, I used the blurry metal walls to see the cousins, they were shoving each other with their shoulders.
Jake and Jack immediately went to their truck to grab more furniture pieces. I on the other hand… stood beside the locked car door like a moron. With a sigh, I shifted over to the truck to grab three of the shelf boards. I followed the cousins back to the apartment pretending that this had been my plan all along.
I pretended to not see the shared look between the three larger men, ugh, if I could just stop acting like a kicked puppy, they might not walk on eggshells around me. I just couldn't do anything right today… it was all my own doing, making things needlessly awkward. I kept kicking myself as they made more trips… something! Anything to talk about!
"Uhh, how'd you guys meet? I mean, not you guys, cause your cousins, I mean, meet Dillon," God above please send down that lightning, so I had an excuse for my stupid mouth. No freaking duh!
Jack glanced down at me before answering. "Gym, swapped jogging tips."
I grabbed onto that sentence like a lifeline, exhaling a sigh of relief, so Jack was the chattier of the two, which wasn't saying much. "Oh, cool, uh, you still go? Together I mean?"
"Yeah, twice a week. Few others too." Jack nodded as he adjusted his bandanna.
"Nice, I've been, uh, meaning to go, just, time ya know?" I said sheepishly, god could I sound any more desperate.
"Tuesdays, Fridays, 8 a.m. Wolves Den." Jake nodded as the elevator doors opened again.
"We can bring someone with a membership, check it out." Jack added as they walked to the truck. Jake leapt into the bed to pass over a smaller box.
I quickly accepted the box, that jump had been crazy, "Do you guys like uh, parkour? That was an awesome jump." For the first time Jake smiled at me. It was an amused smile, but still, score for not sounding like a total moron, maybe I've been upgraded to a halfwit.