Chicago | hs au

29 - Blizzard

We wake up the next morning to a ferocious snowstorm. Ice pellets pound against the glass window and the city beyond is hidden by the storm.

Harry turns over and groans, "What?"

"Storm."

"I can tell that."

I sit up and stretch, ruffling my hair off the back of my neck. Glancing at the clock, I sigh.

"We have to be to work soon."

"How soon?" I ask, rubbing my eyes.

"Hour." Harry rolls over and slides his legs over the edge of the bed. I can't help but glance at his inked arms and torso.

"I'm sorry for getting irritated last night, yesterday just, well, it sucked." I admit.

"It's okay, Katie. I understand. But you're safe, Brandon isn't getting you. Push it from mind."

"I'm trying, Harry, I really am."

"We're going out tonight, right? I promise it'll be fun." Harry smiles, but he seems hesitant.

I meet his eyes, "If you think it's safe."

"Of course. We can go to dinner someplace far from here, maybe even on the Eastside of the city. When was the last time you went to Millennium Park? I hear it's great in the snow." Harry rambles on, trying to reassure me. I feel a rock in my stomach, but I nod.

"Sure."

I gulp.

We get ready for work, not saying much else. I tie my hair up in a pony tail as I listen to the raging storm outside. Maybe the storm will keep up, and we won't go. I just don't want to disappoint Harry. He's trying his best.

"Want to walk together?" Harry asks then shakes his head, "Sorry. Stupid question. No shit."

I force a laugh.

We bundle ourselves up in coats and hats, but stepping outside still sucks the air from my lungs. My face is blasted with ice as soon as the door opens, and I nearly slip on the ice forming on the sidewalk outside Harry's building.

"Careful there." Harry grumbles, taking my hand to help me down the frosted stairs. I pull my hood down over my forehead and simply stare at the ground as I walk, relying on Harry to guide me.

"We'll get there in a second." He assures me.

I glance up as we pass my apartment, but no one else lingers in sight. I release a breath I didn't realize I was holding.

Eventually, we make it to the cafe. I shake the cold off my shoulders as we step into the back. I smile at Barbara, but not after noting the chalk board that once housed my name was hastily rewritten with coffee specials.

"Paulie needs some help, Katie. Be a dear and help him with his orders?" Barbara smiles warmly, but I see a sadness in her eyes.

"Of course."

"I'll see you at close." Harry kisses my forehead just as Ally pushes through the back door. She rolls her eyes. Her and Harry walk back out to the front a moment later, leaving me alone with Chef Paulie.

"You stuck back here today?" He looks up from the dough he's kneading to offer me a welcome smile.

"I wouldn't say I'm stuck," I sigh, looking around at the stacks of boxes and cake orders, "I do enjoy being back here with you."

"Oh, sure you do. Everyone loves Paulie."

"We do." I agree, looking at the long list of things to be done today, "Where should I start?"

"There's some sheet cakes in the oven, should be done any second-" a timer going off interrupts him.

"Or now." I say.

"Or now." He agrees, wiping the sweat off his forehead with the towel on his shoulder.

I throw an apron around my neck and grab the sheet cakes out of the industrial oven.

"You know, ever since my wife died, I haven't had a regular helper back here." Paulie says casually.

"Did she used to help you?" I venture.

"Oh yes, she was far more skilled than me. She went to culinary school and the whole shebang." He smiles at the memory.

"How'd you two meet?" I ask, being careful not to burn my hands on the hot trays.

"Here. In Chicago, over at the Bean."

"Hey, Harry and I are going there tonight." I add.

"It's so gorgeous," he stops working to talk with his hands, making a sweeping gesture, "when it's freshly snowed and there's a layer on top of it."

"Maybe that's how it'll be tonight." I say.

"Oh Katie I hope so, you'll have to tell me." He goes back to working.

"I will."

My shift flies by. Baking does that--time gets away from me. Before long, there are stack of fulfilled orders sitting on the long metal counter, and a pile of empty trays and mixing bowls in the sink. Harry emerges from the front, pulling his hair back off his forehead and putting it in a bun.

"Ready to go?" He asks, pulling off his name tag.

I glance at the massive pile of dishes, but Paulie answers for me, "Yes, she's good to go."

"But-"

"Oh, they're just dishes. Get on your way." He waves us away.

"Fine." I say, pulling off my flour-coated apron.

"I made reservations for us at nine, so let's get home and change clothes quickly."

"I don't have anything nice at your apartment." I frown, pulling on my coat.

"Did I say dress up? No. You're perfect like this, I'd just prefer less flour and sugar." He smirks and I look down at my jeans, which are now white from powdered sugar.

"I guess."

We walk back to Harry's apartment briskly, hardly zipping our coats all the way up before we take them off again.

"Let me shower very quickly, I smell like a horse." Harry says, lifting his arm and taking a wiff.

"Worse than that." I joke, biting my lip.

"Care to join me?" He asks, half joking. I feel my cheeks burn.

"Go shower, you horse." Is all I respond. Harry winks, pulling off his shirt before he makes it to the bathroom.

Contemplating actually joining him, I realize that I too, smell like a barn animal. I hesitate, hearing the water turn on.

Am I really about to do this?