Page 22
Story: With Us
I began separating the items before thinking better of it. Dumping them back into the bag, I grabbed it and the shoebox and went into the bathroom. My teeth-chattering-chills increased as I stripped the still damp clothes from my body. In only my underwear and bra, I quickly pulled the items back out of the bag.
The black, stretchy pants were beyond soft and warm. I wanted a full body suit and hat made of the material. Hesitating for a second, I ditched my still rain dampened underwear and pulled the new pants on. Since going braless wasn’t an option, I tried using a paper towel to dry off, but it did little. Giving up, I picked up the new shirt and found a tank top. The tank had a very secure looking built in support. Adding my bra to my ditched panties, I pulled on the top.
Check out my cleavage!
This thing is like a million times better than my bra. It lifts. It separates.
And nothing is digging in!
I double-checked that everything was securely in place before pulling on the fitted short sleeved tee. There was a lightweight hoodie that I almost didn’t want to wear and risk ruining.
Almost.
Tugging it on, I sighed at the feel of the soft inner fabric as I transferred my phone into the pocket. I swapped my wet shoes for the new ones, the arch support nearly making me weep. Hurriedly dumping all the wet stuff into the bag, I dropped it off in the breakroom.
I rushed to unlock the door and start coffee. I barely had my apron tied before a long, steady line formed.
After nearly two hours of smiles, nods, and what seemed like an ocean’s worth of coffee, the morning rush slowed. I took advantage of the break and grabbed my phone.
Me:I hope I’m not waking you. Everything fit perfectly. Thank you.
Theo:Not waking me, but I wouldn’t have minded if you were. I’m glad it fits. Are you warm?
Me:Very. I may never remove this hoodie.
When there was no reply, I returned my phone to my pocket. I fixed a cup of hot coffee and dug into my banana muffin. Only then, when I had time to think, did a couple thoughts strike me.
How much should it have bothered me that, down to my shoes, Theo knew my sizingandmy style?
And how bad was it that it didn’t bother me?
Like, at all.
???
“Dahlia, do you have a second?”
My official shift had ended two hours before, but inventory had kept everyone late. My new shoes were infinitely more comfortable than my old ones, but eighteen hours on my feet still took its toll.
Thank goodness tomorrow is my day to sleep in.
Hiding my disappointment at the hold up, I turned around to face the grocery store manager, Jerry. “Sure, what’s up?”
He ran a hand over his balding head as he looked down at the clipboard. “You’ve worked late every night this week. I was looking at tomorrow’s schedule, and I’m going to have Sophie jump over to cover your department. Take the day off.”
I could see Theo.
And sleep.
“Are you sure?” I stupidly asked.
Good going, now he’s going to change his mind.
I knew better than to tempt things when luck was in my favor.
“Yes, Bill overstaffed half the departments anyway, so this will actually help me lower the labor cost.” Looking up at me, he smiled. “Take the whole weekend. Have fun. Be young. Just don’t be late on Monday because he understaffed.” He returned his attention to the clipboard as he walked away, muttering something I couldn’t make out.
If my feet didn’t feel like they could fall off, I’d have skipped out the door. There was a definite pep in my trudging, though. I took out my phone as I moved. There was a message waiting for me from earlier in the evening.
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22 (Reading here)
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45
- Page 46
- Page 47
- Page 48
- Page 49
- Page 50
- Page 51
- Page 52
- Page 53
- Page 54
- Page 55
- Page 56
- Page 57
- Page 58
- Page 59
- Page 60
- Page 61
- Page 62
- Page 63
- Page 64
- Page 65
- Page 66
- Page 67
- Page 68
- Page 69
- Page 70
- Page 71
- Page 72
- Page 73
- Page 74
- Page 75
- Page 76
- Page 77
- Page 78
- Page 79
- Page 80
- Page 81
- Page 82
- Page 83
- Page 84
- Page 85
- Page 86
- Page 87
- Page 88
- Page 89
- Page 90
- Page 91
- Page 92
- Page 93
- Page 94
- Page 95
- Page 96
- Page 97
- Page 98
- Page 99
- Page 100
- Page 101
- Page 102
- Page 103
- Page 104
- Page 105
- Page 106
- Page 107
- Page 108
- Page 109
- Page 110
- Page 111
- Page 112
- Page 113
- Page 114
- Page 115
- Page 116
- Page 117
- Page 118
- Page 119
- Page 120
- Page 121
- Page 122
- Page 123
- Page 124
- Page 125
- Page 126
- Page 127
- Page 128
- Page 129
- Page 130
- Page 131
- Page 132
- Page 133
- Page 134
- Page 135
- Page 136
- Page 137
- Page 138
- Page 139
- Page 140
- Page 141
- Page 142
- Page 143
- Page 144
- Page 145
- Page 146
- Page 147
- Page 148
- Page 149
- Page 150
- Page 151
- Page 152
- Page 153
- Page 154
- Page 155
- Page 156
- Page 157
- Page 158
- Page 159
- Page 160
- Page 161
- Page 162
- Page 163
- Page 164
- Page 165
- Page 166
- Page 167
- Page 168
- Page 169
- Page 170
- Page 171
- Page 172
- Page 173
- Page 174
- Page 175
- Page 176
- Page 177
- Page 178
- Page 179
- Page 180
- Page 181
- Page 182
- Page 183
- Page 184
- Page 185
- Page 186
- Page 187
- Page 188
- Page 189
- Page 190
- Page 191
- Page 192
- Page 193
- Page 194
- Page 195
- Page 196
- Page 197
- Page 198
- Page 199
- Page 200
- Page 201
- Page 202
- Page 203
- Page 204
- Page 205
- Page 206
- Page 207
- Page 208
- Page 209
- Page 210
- Page 211
- Page 212
- Page 213