Page 27 of Just A Chance

“Don’t move anything,” the man says.

“Okay.” I replace the jar. He doesn’t like me.

“What’s your name?” I ask him while grabbing tools from my belt.

There’s nothing but the sound of him kneading dough for a full minute. “Grady.”

“Do you like working for London?” I should probably determine if I have competition with him. Though if my humble opinion accounts for anything, he’s way too tall for her. They would be unevenly matched.

“Yes,” he says simply.

“A man of few words,” I say, mostly to myself. But judging by the loudening thud of the dough hitting the table over and over, he heard me as well and didn’t appreciate it.

“Grady? Are you okay?” London’s voice enters the kitchen, a light bright voice to match the aesthetic of the bakery.

“There’s a man on the ground.”

“What?” London shrieks.

Way to sell me out, buddy.

She rounds the table thatwaskeeping me from her view, and I greet her with a smile. “Hey, beautiful.”

“What are you doing here? Again?”

I hold up the door I just removed. “Fixing the cabinet.”

She puts her hand on her hip and aims her prosthetic at me. “I have told you to leave multiple times.”

“Should I call the cops?” Grady asks.

“No,” both London and I say. “He’s not that kind of nuisance.” London turns and strides out of the kitchen.

I stand and follow her. “What kind of nuisance am I?”

She stops in her office and turns. “The worst kind.”

“Which is?” my brow furrows.

She huffs out a breath. A lock of dark hair billows above her eye. I want to brush it away but she beats me to it.

“The kind I can’t figure out. Troublesome teenagers want attention, but you’ve already paid your dues. Why are you still here?”

I step closer. “Isn’t it obvious? I still want your attention.”

Her dark eyes meet mine like she’s trying to read my sincerity. “No.”

I frown. “No? I didn’t ask a yes or no question.”

“I mean… why?” Her gaze darts between my eyes. “Why would you want my attention?”

That shouldn’t be too complicated to answer. “I like you London.”

“No.”

I shake my head. “Is that your word of the day or something?”

“Sorry if I hesitate to believe that the man who dated the entire female population in high school is genuine right now.”