Page 10
Story: With Us
No more smutty books.
Wait, that’d make work even more boring.
No more for at least a day.
Half of one…
A couple minutes.
“No banana muffins?” he asked.
I shook my head. “Big order cleared them out about ten minutes after they were delivered. I didn’t even get to sneak one for myself.”
“Shame. I was looking forward to tasting.” He met my gaze for a moment before looking back to the case. “Would you pick out a few things so he doesn’t complain all afternoon?”
“Sure.” Using a piece of wax paper, I bagged four of the more popular items and handed them to him. “You’re all set, have a nice day.”
His lips quirked up as he took a bill out of his wallet.
I didn’t really think he’d go for the free food, but he’d overpaid both times he’d been in. I might have been a wizard at the perfect fancy schmancy coffee, but even those didn’t deserve such a massive tip. A plain cup certainly didn’t.
Plan B.
I touched the screen, the register sliding open. Taking the fifty from him, I lifted the drawer and grabbed the cash I’d set aside. Quickly adding some coins, I snagged the receipt and held it out to him. “Enjoy the rest of your day.”
His eyes widened, scanning the money. “You had the correct change set aside.”
“Lucky guess.” When he made no move to take it, I set it on the counter between us. “Enjoy the rest of the day.”
“Go out with me.” Spoken like a command, there was no question in his tone.
Other than my love affair with Netflix and HBO Go, my romantic life was nonexistent. Actually, my social life in general leaned more toward blanketed hermit, not wild party girl.
A couple of brief interactions with a random guy wasn’t completely changing that, of course. Even if he was really, really ridiculously good-looking.
What do I have to lose? Even if he ends up being a total walnut, at least I can say I went out with a man who was supermodel hot. Maybe I can even sneak a couple pictures of him during the date for proof and memories and… reasons.
“Okay,” I agreed. When he opened his mouth, I continued. “But I have some stipulations.”
“Well, I don’t have my contracts or briefcase with me, but I’ll try to negotiate without them.” Placing his hands flat on the counter, he leaned in slightly. “What’re your conditions?”
I pushed his change closer. “No more crazy tipping. If we’re going to go out, I don’t want to feel like some sort of…” My words trailed off, but he just arched his eyebrow, forcing me to finish. “I dunno, pastry prostitute or something.”
His lips tipped up, though he was quick to hide it. “Deal. Next point?”
“We plan ahead of time, and I meet you at the restaurant.”
“Worried you’ll need to escape?”
I fought to keep a straight face. “Maybe you’re an awful driver. Or, I don’t know, listen exclusively to Justin Bieber or stock market updates or something.”
His full lips pursed as he hesitated before muttering, “I… honestly don’t know what the most offensive part of that was. I’m leaning toward Bieber.” He nodded. “Okay, deal. Anything else?”
I held up my hand, my thumb and forefinger a small distance apart. “Just one tiny thing.”
“Yes?”
“I kind of have to know your name.”
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10 (Reading here)
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
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