Page 67 of Sundown Somewhere

“Is that…soup?” Margeaux asks.

I shake my head, not at all following what we’re watching.

Mrs. Ngo stops at the edge of their table, saying something to Jeff directly, ignoring his date. I can’t hear what she says, but I can tell by her head movements that it’s stern and rough.

“What the…”

Before I can finish my question, Mrs. Ngo swiftly overturns the pot, dumping the soup directly on Jeff. He screams, leaping up from the table as the hot liquid hits him.

My hands fly over my mouth, my guffaw escaping despite my efforts. Alice, Emily, Rose, and Margeaux are right behind me, the chorus of our laughter echoing off the furniture, attracting the attention of the rest of the patrons. Not that we care. Because the show that just came with dinner was worth every dirty look we’re getting. And then some.

“That taken care of,” Mrs. Ngo declares, reappearing at our table, empty pot still in hand. “You with other one now? Holes in ears?”

I burst into laughter again, her description of Hux’s ear gauges more than enough to push me over the edge. Nodding, I bite my lip to try to stop, unable to.

Still looking at me sternly, she nods. “Okay then. Better choice. I bring you fortune cookies.”

“See, even Mrs. Ngo has your back,” Alice comments once she disappears.

That she does…

18

HUX

I throw myself back in my desk chair, running my hands down my face, feeling as if this day couldn’t drain the life from me any more if it tried. And it’s really trying.

The large, well-decorated space at Hayes headquarters is at least comfortable, adding one small consolation to the day. No, two—it’s also quiet. Much quieter than my office at the lumber and paper mill, that I don’t think could be soundproofed to save my soul. No matter what we’ve tried, you can still hear the sounds of the saws and machines running. Some days the hum of it all is the perfect background noise. A white noise that I can get lost in as I work. Other days, like today, I’m thankful Auggie insists that we all maintain a space at headquarters.

Even if I do share the space with Anton, our desks catty-corner to each other, with a set of four guest chairs in the middle forming a circle. Although he’s here even less than I am, spending most of his time either in the fields, the greenhouses, or the agriculture lab playing around with crossbreeding fruits.

I inhale slowly, letting my lungs expand, trying to remember the breathing techniques that Dolly taught me. The ones I was only half paying attention to because they were making her chest push forward, jiggling her boobs, and that was stealing all my attention. Much like I would really like them to steal my attention now.

Wonder what it would take to get her to send me a picture…

I chuckle to myself, already able to see the sassy, you have to be fucking kidding me look she’d give me if I asked. Then again, if I dared her, I’d still get that look, but I’d also get the picture. She’s never been one to walk away from a dare.

My computer dings, and I groan, sitting back up to see who it could be now. Because if it’s payroll again about time sheets, I will actually scream. No one should have to answer that many questions to get their employees paid. No one.

Especially not a man who is trying to build a playground.

To my surprise, it’s James Brennan from the Department of Natural Resources. My pulse stutters, trying to find its balance again from seeing his name, not sure if I should be worried or not. James is a good guy, but not someone I communicate with regularly, so him popping up in my inbox could go a lot of ways.

Here goes nothing…

Hux,

Thanks for sending over Hayes’s sustainability plan. It’s nice to see y’all so committed. That said, think you could up some of your replant commitments? We’re trying to increase our percentage as a whole across the state, and a larger commitment from a company like Hayes would go a long way. Think about it!

Best,

James

Up my replant commitments? For fuck’s sake.

Just one more way I’m not good enough…

Could I? Yeah, I probably could, but that would cut into my profit. And as much as I love and care about the environment, at the end of the day I do have to turn one of those. Something I’ve always been damn good at. Hayes Industries is a business after all.