Page 16 of Bad Kind of Love

Like perfect clockwork, Jerry called my name, snapping me back to reality. Wes never wavered his eyes off mine, like he was trying to find the answer in their depths.

“Look.” I whisper low enough to where Jerry wouldn’t hear. “I’m a nobody, and want to keep it that way. If I were you, I’d avoid me too.” And with that, I wheel around him, centimeters away from brushing our shoulders together. His fresh smell wafted through the air and hit my nostrils, dissipating the moment I scurried past him.

As I was about to enter the back room, Jerry shot his foot out in front of the rolling bucket, stopping the wheels altogether. “Work isn’t the place to socialize. Do that on your own time.”

With my head down, I can sense that Wes is still here and heard every word that Jerry spat. A rush of rage and embarrassment coursed through me as I stared down at Jerry’s ugly brown boots that were bouncing up and down waiting for my affirmation.

“Hey, are you the person in charge here?” Wes announces, catching me completely off guard. Twisting around, I find him leaning against the counter leering at Jerry.

What the hell is he doing?

“That would be me. Who’s asking?” Jerry stands a little taller while staring back at Wes like he’s trying to size him up.

“Yah, hi I’m Wes.” He shoots his hand out for him to shake. Jerry glances down at it and hesitantly grabs it.

“What can I do for you, Wes?”

“I was just seeing if you guys were hiring? I just moved here from Cali and could really use the extra cash.”

What the hell?

No way was I going to work with Golden boy.

No fucking way.

“Jerry...” I interrupt, but am completely cut off when he raises his hand in the air to shush me.

“Have you ever worked at an ice cream shop?”

I didn’t like where this was headed. Not one bit.

Giving him a megawatt smile, he answers. “No sir, I haven’t. But I have worked in construction, so I’m not afraid to get dirty.”

Gulping, I had a feeling he wasn’t lying.

“Don’t you have football?” I quickly add causing both their heads to turn in my direction. “Can’t let the team down by having a job. Right, QB?”

Tugging on his lower lip, he slightly drops his head, suppressing a laugh. “You’re right. But I have my weekends off.”

As I stand with the mop handle still in my hold, I wait for what seems like hours for Jerry to say something.

“You know. We could use the help on the weekends. Why don’t you come in next Saturday? Becca will train you.”

My mouth drops low as I gape at the both of them.

You’ve got to be kidding me.

“Awesome, thank you. I’ll be there” Wes grins, directing his attention on me. “See you at school.” Tossing me a wink, he says goodbye to Jerry and stalks out of the building with a confident stride in his step.

Still trying to process what the fuck just happened, Jerry spins around, giving me his signature dickhead leer. “I don’t pay you to stand around all day.”

You barely pay me at all.

I wanted to say, but refrained.

After wheeling the mop back, Jerry left soon after, leaving me to clean up and close everything down.

Typical.

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