oversized packages stacked

lax. See th

er, a flicker of co

ee t

red onto that cargo tricycle. The ones marked in

an f

or the first time, something l

me... to c

re the most obvious

worship? I paid two thousand five hund

ll si

flickered through th

. And beneath it, somethin

e turned and walke

unted on its wooden shipping frame,

s to lift it, plus a tip to

oden frame with one hand, braced his back and

ke lifting a s

nearly

kpo

ewolf. This was my person

rator to the tricycle

ooked bac

iting. For ord

patted his dust-

going. There ar

ft to his chi

at me in d

undr

The truck l

urning away to

the thud of boxes hitting met

worked

house without air conditioning, he di

p line of his jaw, soaking

eat and sweat

He would be hauling anothe

ok was

ough t

inding nev

ade my own

ht, I handed him a boxed dinner w

u did we

he food but d

oser. His tall frame c

his nose was almost brus

as hot again

ad

e, voice hoars

l terr

ht he'd overworked himse

Did you strai

oward his l

uched his muscle, his

t-hard enough to m

lf in, his grip loosening t

s darkened. His brea

. I want to bi

ed in r

kplace injury. It's normal. You're a w

om my drawer-the one I'd meant to snack

It'll keep

he jerky betw

ond, his expres

ing grew even