Page 27 of Kiss Collector

“’Sup, girls?” One of his dark eyes is hidden behind his black hair. He smirks, all sexy like. I look at his yummy lips for a second and then his eyes again.

“Nothin’.” I cross my arms.

“Zae, right?” he asks.

I want to choke him. We’ve only been going to school together for five freaking years. Does he even remember dancing with me in middle school?

“What was up with you last night?” He runs a hand through his hair.

I shrug. “Just having fun. Nothing I want to repeat.”

“Burn,” Monica says under her breath.

Rex laughs and puts a hand to his heart like I’ve hurt him. It’s true, though. I have no plans or desire to kiss him again, no matter how good it’d been. I’d gotten what I wanted, and now I’m ready to get it from someone else.

“Pretty sure you enjoyed it,” he says.

“Yep. I did.” It’s my turn to smile. “See you later, Rex.” I turn and catch the mirth and disbelief in my friends’ eyes.

We walk away and don’t give him a second glance. The girls can barely hold it together, tittering under their breath until we get around the corner and they let it all out. I can onlylaugh. I have no idea what’s come over me.

My eye catches a Help Wanted sign in the window of Clara’s Bowtique, a cute jewelry and accessory shop. “Hold on a sec,” I tell them.

We go in together, and while they browse, I approach the ancient-looking lady at the register.

“Hi,” I say. “I saw your sign. I’m still in school, though, so I can’t work during the day.”

“I need someone to work weekends and summer,” she says. She leans down and gets out an application, sliding it to me with a pen on top. “Do you have transportation?”

“Yeah,” I say.

“I prefer ‘Yes, ma’am.’”

My eyes go wide. “Oh, sorry. Yes, ma’am.” I almost laugh because I get awkward when I’m embarrassed.

She looks down at the application with her hands behind her back, and I realize she wants me to fill it out now. My friends are giving me funny looks, but I ignore them and fill out the application as quickly as I can. I’ve never had a job, so there’s a lot I have to leave blank.

“Zae?” the woman asks.

I nod, then quickly say, “Yes, ma’am.”

“Interesting name. I’m Mrs. McOllie, the owner. I will call you to set up an interview.”

“Yes, ma’am. It’s my spring break, so you can call any time.”

I hope she doesn’t call too early.

She gives a curt nod of dismissal, so I leave with my girls trailing behind me.

“Did you just apply for a job?” Kenzie asks.

“Yeah.”

“Cool,” Monica says. “I love that store. Do you think you’ll get a friends’ discount?”

I think about the strict old lady. “Doubtful.”

When we get back to the pizza place, the crowd has cleared out. I peek in the arcade to make sure Zeb is okay, and then we find a table with four plastic chairs. The baseball guys are still there, being loud and obnoxious as their family members buy out all the tiramisu to get the team every penny possible.