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“That was a test, and now I know exactly how stupid you think I am.”

He only grunts.

We work in silence, pulling down boxes, opening them, and carrying out the contents to the front of the store. The individual games aren’t particularly heavy, but once you start stacking them, the weight adds up. Maybe all this heavy lifting will help when I’m (hopefully) building and moving set pieces for the musical that’s back on schedule. Next, Nathan starts reorganizing the shelves, stacking the older games and making room for new things.

Just then, the door jingles with a new customer. We both turn to find a middle-aged man in a Captain America T-shirt walking in, followed by a pudgy white guy named Lucas from my school. Good Lord, does everyone come to the store on a daily basis? Lucas and his dad were here yesterday too.

Lucas waves at Nathan. “I thought you had tonight off. You aren’t missing D&D, are you?”

“I’ll be there. I’m just doing some stocking for Joel.”

Lucas takes me in with a wide smile. His shaggy blond hair and open expression are welcoming, a bit like a fluffy golden retriever’s.

“So it’s true,” he says. “The prodigal daughter really has returned to the nest.”

“What?”

“Oh, nothing. Nathan and I were wondering if you’d ever come to the store and now you’re here. I’m glad we haven’t scared you off yet.” He puts his hand out to me and I shake it. “I’ve been meaning to introduce myself. I’m Lucas Greenwald.”

“Hi, Lucas. I’m Riley. Though Idoknow you from school.”

“I know. But we’ve never talked.”

“I wasn’t wondering if you’d come to the store,” Nathan says. “Lucas was wondering.”

Lucas smirks at Nathan. “I want to talk more, Riley, but I need to get ready for the game. Come to the back and I’ll introduce you to everyone.” He leaves, and Nathan and I continue to work in silence for another ten minutes. I want this done as quickly as possible so I can get back to musical planning. Finally, the last products are on the shelves.

“I left a bag of peanut M&M’s behind the counter,” Nathan says as he walks away. “If I come looking for it later, don’t call the cops.”

I roll my eyes. “Haha, very funny.”

The next hour and a half goes smoothly. Lots of people come in, but they all head directly for the Warhammer league Dad is running in the back room. I can hear them laughing and chatting with him. It’s weird to experience this side of his life. Somehow, over the years, I’d gotten the impression he was lonely. Maybe I just wanted to believe he was struggling. That he regretted leaving Mom and me. But it’s becoming apparent that, if anything, he’s the opposite of lonely. He’s got friends everywhere I turn, which means that every weekend he spent with me was a weekend he had to give up seeing all of them. I wonder if he was as irritated about those weekends as I was.

A middle-aged white man shoves a board game at me. “I need to return this. It’s missing a piece.”

I look at the board game and back up to him. I doubt it was missing a piece when he bought it. More likely he lost it and is trying to pretend it came like that. I put on my bestcustomer service smile. “I’m sorry, sir, but we can’t accept merchandise that has already been opened.”

He frowns at me. “How was I supposed to know there was a piece missing unless I opened it?”

“I can offer you store credit.” At least, I think I can…It’s hard to keep all the rules straight.

“I want my money back.”

“I’m sorry, I don’t think I can do that.”

“Maybe you can’t, but someone can. Where’s your manager?”

I try to keep my smile in place as I look toward the back room. I was hoping I wouldn’t have to call Dad over tonight, but it looks like I’m overruled. “Just wait here, sir, and I’ll get him.”

I scurry through the shelves of merchandise and into the back room. As soon as I walk in, at least ten faces turn in my direction. There are only two other women in the room and they’re both way older than me.

Dad glances over. “Riley? What’s going on?”

“There’s a customer in the front who wants a return on opened merchandise.”

He sighs and puts down his iPad. “There always is. I’ll take care of it.” He looks to Nathan, who is sitting in the back corner with his friends. Nathan must be his right-hand man, because he comes over before Dad can say anything. “Sorry to keep doing this to you, but do you mind running this game for a few minutes while I deal with something?”

“Of course.” Nathan grabs the iPad, and Lucas waves me over to their game table. I probably should follow Dadinstead of hanging out back here, but I’d like to avoid that entitled customer if possible.