Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 42829 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 214(@200wpm)___ 171(@250wpm)___ 143(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 42829 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 214(@200wpm)___ 171(@250wpm)___ 143(@300wpm)
“Mack! I’m Onelia. Go take a shower and I’ll have breakfast for you.”
“Hi, Onelia. Don’t go to any work for me. I can grab some peanut butter toast or something.”
“I take care of Mr. Grey and his guests. Do you like eggs? Scrambled? Maybe some ham and cheese inside?”
“That sounds amazing, Onelia.”
“Go shower. I’ll fix you some breakfast. Bring any clothes you need washed. Today is laundry day.”
“Oh, I can do my laundry,” he assured her.
“I’ll throw it in with Mr. Grey’s and save water,” she told him.
He nodded. What else could he do?
After showering and dressing for work, Mack picked out the worst of his dirty clothes. He carried them to the laundry room off the kitchen.
Onelia plucked them out of his hands. “This isn’t all of them. Go get the rest.”
He’d already turned around when he realized he’d just admitted to not bringing everything. Shaking his head at her perceptiveness, Mack went back and picked up almost everything in his suitcase. When he returned, she nodded and continued sorting.
“Go eat. It’s under the warmer on the table.”
Spinning on his heels, Mack spotted the plate with a metal plate cover, like they used in catering at Armando’s. He took a seat, noticing it was the same chair he’d sat in last night and where he’d had chocolate milk with ice cubes in it to drink. Laughing at the obvious reminder to let his food cool, Mack took off the cover and dug in.
“This is so good, Onelia,” he called as a compliment.
“You let me know what you like and don’t like, Mack. I can cook anything but tofu. You’re not one of those lacto-ovo-vegetarians, are you?”
“Lacto-ovo-vegetarians?”
She emerged from the laundry room and pulled out a chair to join him. Mack noted she didn’t sit in Grey’s place. “Lacto-ovo-vegetarians,” she repeated, pointing to his milk and eggs. “Oh, wait. I put ham in there. That wipes out the vegetarian options.”
“I’m not a vegetarian,” he assured her, making a face at the thought of only eating green things.
“What are your two favorite vegetables?”
Mack thought for a while before answering, “French fries and corn on the cob.”
“Those are both starches, but I’m glad to know that, too. Keep eating. Don’t let your eggs get cold.” She waited until he took a bite before continuing, “Now vegetables? Carrots? Green beans? Broccoli?”
“Carrots are okay. Those baby ones. I like the crunchy green beans, like with almond slivers. Not the soggy ones from a can. And I don’t eat anything that tickles on the way down.”
She laughed and tapped her temple. “I’ll remember that. Are you willing to try new foods? Anything you just don’t like?”
“Sure. I’ll try anything once. I’m not a big fried food fan. It all just tastes like grease. But you don’t have to do anything special for me. I’m good with a peanut butter sandwich for dinner,” he rushed to assure her.
“That might happen on the weekend, but not during the week,” Onelia assured him. “I take care of Mr. Grey. He’s a good man. I’m sure you are, too. Besides, cooking for two is more fun than cooking for one. You liked the soup?”
“It was amazing,” he answered with a smile.
“I’m glad. What time do you leave for work?” she probed.
“I need to figure out the bus schedule. I need to be at work at ten forty-five.”
“I use it every day. Where are you going?” Onelia asked, pulling out her phone.
“To Armando’s. It’s near Mr. Grey’s work,” Mack said, unconsciously using her name for him. The title and his first name went well together.
I wonder if there’s a story that goes with his name?
“Oh, that’s easy. There’s a bus that picks up three blocks from here and goes straight there. Let me find the number.”
In just a few minutes, Mack had a note in his phone that he could follow to get to and from work. “Thank you, Onelia. You’re a lifesaver.”
“You are very welcome. Would you eat more?” she asked, pointing to his empty plate.
Mack groaned. “No more, please. I’ll roll to the bus stop if I eat anything else.”
“You have time to brush your teeth and head to catch the ten-thirty bus if you hurry.”
A short time later, he stood at the bus stop with pleasant people—much different from the usual crowd at his previous location. He got off the bus and turned the corner to walk a block down to Armando’s. Mack was almost there when his phone rang.
“Hi, Mack.”
Grey’s voice really was as yummy as he was in person. Mack stepped out of the foot traffic on the sidewalk and leaned against a wall as he answered, “Grey. Onelia does have a million things she wants to know. She’s doing my laundry with yours. I hope that’s okay?”
“My briefs are ecstatic to be close to yours, Mack,” Grey answered with a laugh. “I just saw you walk by. Did you take the bus?”