A New Resolution by Ceri Grenelle Read Free Book Online Page B

particular brick wall had a neon-green scrunchie in her teased-to-hell hair.
    “Ma’am, I’m telling you,” the neon-green scrunchie postal worker said through loud chews of her gum. “There is no such place as you’re describing.”
    “I assure you there is. Now please just accept this package and mail it.” She placed her hand on the thick manila envelope and laughed lightly as if she were telling a joke. “May I ask why you care if it doesn’t get where it’s going? It’s my package.”
    The woman looked as if Lore had called her mother a whore. “Ma’am, this is the United States Postal Service; we always care that your package gets where it’s going. Where do you think you are? UPS?”
    A tall and well-made male body leaned against the counter on Lore’s right. His brown eyes sparkled in the usual mirth she was lucky enough to see every Sunday, only this time they were directed at the scrunchie-wearing postal worker. “Well then, tell me what happened to the three-hundred-dollar headphones I mailed my cousin last Christmas? Those sure as hell didn’t get where they were going.”
    “Kieran!” Lore smiled, placing her hand on his arm in equal parts thanks and warning. A second body, this one larger with dark skin and eyes a contrasting hazel, leveled their gaze on the postal worker. “Yeah, Kier, those were some nice headphones, but I’m sure if you were helping us then, ma’am, you could have located them.”
    “Nolan.” What were they playing at?
    “Absolutely, sir,” Nineties-hair Postal-service Lady said with a fierce nod. Thank goodness there weren’t any people behind Lore in line. There would have been a riot by that point. “I take pride in my job, and I know if I send this out, it’s either gonna get lost or it will be sent back. I’ve been living here for a few years now”—as opposed to Lore residing there her entire life, but of course this woman knew the area better—“and I know there is no such storage facility in the zip code she is sending this package to. There is nothin’ out there.”
    “It’s all that’s out there,” Lore muttered.
    “Well, then it’s no longer your responsibility,” Nolan spoke over Lore, leaning in toward the postal worker, his perfectly white teeth sparkling in a gleaming smile. “You have illustrated the dangers of sending this package to this particular zip code quite clearly. She understands, even if she is ignoring your warning.”
    “Mail at your own risk, Lore,” Kieran chided, looking appropriately like a parent scolding a child.
    The woman wasn’t satisfied. “Yeah, but she’ll come back and be all annoyed—”
    “I assure you, if that happens, we will rein the little hussy back and even bring her in ourselves.” Kieran dropped his voice conspiratorially. “Just so you can say ‘I told you so.’”
    The woman glanced at Lore, considering the tempting offer before switching back to the charming men. “You two will be there?”
    “Absolutely,” Nolan agreed.
    “Just to laugh in her face.” Kieran was having too much fun with this.
    “Hmm, it’s tempting…”
    “Is this legal?” Lore asked, not able to keep quiet any longer. Kieran pinched her side in reprimand beneath the counter.
    “As long as you two come back, I guess I can handle it.” She slapped her hands on the counter, decision to accommodate Lore made. “All right, gimme the package.”
    “Thank you,” Lore said through gritted teeth.
    “You’re welcome.”
    * * * *
    “To laugh in her face?” Lore pinched Kieran on the arm once outside the post office and out of sight of the devilish postal worker of the neon-green scrunchie.
    “Don’t fuck with post office workers, Lore,” Kieran warned, grabbing her hand before she could pull away. “Seriously, if you listen to nothing else I tell you ever again, just listen to this. Do not fuck with the post office. They will eat you alive.”
    “And you’ll never get your mail again,” Nolan added