8. I can handle it

MICHAEL

"Isn't this beautiful?" Jacob said and pointed at the antique bookshelf in front of us. He had stars in his eyes like he had just discovered the national treasure.

To be completely honest, this was the ugliest thing I've ever seen in my entire life, but I kept my mouth shut. "Oh...yeah...gorgeous!" I said instead. No reason to hurt the man's feelings.

"I'm thinking two of us can easily carry this to the truck. You look like you work out," he said and looked me up and down.

Oh, so he noticed.

"I can handle it," I said.

I may have overestimated my strength just a little bit because I spent the next few hours regretting my life decisions.

Moving the ugly shelf turned out to be a major pain in the ass. I was sweating, wheezing, and wishing for someone to put me out of my misery even though I was only lifting one side while he lifted the other. I wondered how he was doing.

I somehow managed to live w