Page 23 of Acid

She ignores me, and I bite my lower lip before saying, “It’s about the diner,” and she looks up. I try to squash the anger that builds at the fact that she’ll only discuss work. I admit, “Money is missing.”

She raises her perfect brown eyebrow, and sneers, “And you’re what, blaming me?”

I hum and admit, “I did think of you for a moment.” She scowls. I smirk. “I thought maybe you’d do it to try and get Hammer to stop guilt-tripping you into staying here.” She rolls her eyes. Still, they widen in shock when I say, “But I know you’d do it for two months and leave plenty of cracks so we’d catch you; this person has been taking a grand a month for six months, changing the books to make it look even.”

“What the…” she stutters in shock, and I nod before groaning with frustration, running my hand through my shaggy hair.

“It’s bad enough this has happened for so long without getting caught, but I just, fuck, have you noticed anything, Tinker?”

She furrows her brows for a moment before she leans forward and asks, “You’re looking for some inside scoop.”

I give her my most charming smile and flutter my eye lashes, causing a small smile to play on her lips, making my heart race.

That’s the first real smile she’s given me since before her dad died.

“Pretty please with a strawberry on top,” I rasp, knowing she hates cherries. Her smile turns into a grin that lights up her face, and everything inside me calms.

Fuck, she’s beautiful….

“Okay, here’s the goss.” She leans forward, and I meet her halfway. “Prudence has been complaining about how much breast enhancement surgery costs; she’s a patch chaser, by the way.” I snort, already picking up on that a few minutes ago. “Troy’s car broke, and when I saybroke,I mean the engine blew up after his roommate found out he was screwing his girlfriend, and he’s being kicked out. Helen cheated on her husband so he’s divorcing her, leaving her with nothing, and Shane’s wife has cancer, she’s dying.” She sighs sadly before stating, “That is all I know so get Piston on it, I’m sure he’ll figure it out.”

I chuckle and nod before I swallow hard and admit, “I miss this.” She stiffens, her gaze dropping from mine. “I miss you, Tinker.” At the nickname, her gaze meets mine once more.

Sorrow shines in those light blues. She leans forward and kisses my cheek before pulling back. I grin wide, making her chuckle before she looks down and whispers, “I’m sorry.”

I grip her hand, causing her to look at me, and she squeezes my hand. “After Dad died, I couldn’t cope, you know?” I nod because I know her dad was her everything. “I saved him, Ollie, before he went into the ambulance. He had a pulse….” Her eyes tear up, and I squeeze her hands tight. She clears her throat. “Then, at the funeral, Cass mentioned that Mom had an affair, which is why she he left her nothing, not even a part of his ashes.” My eyes widen in shock while she continues, “And I just spiraled…and then Cass left, and I’ve, I don’t know…I felt like was adrift.”

I nod in understanding. It’s a feeling I have daily. “How about I help you close, and we can have some root beer floats, like old times?” I suggest, hoping like fucking mad that she’ll agree.

She smiles, a dimple showing on her right cheek, and she asks, “You mean after I’d kick your butt?”

I playfully narrow my eyes and lie through my teeth, “I mean, after Iallowedyou to kick my butt.”

She laughs, and instantly, I’m mesmerized.

Fuck, I have missed her.

“Closing,” she confirms, and I grin wide before she kisses my cheek again, grabs the menus, and leaves me to it. With her touch on me, everything in my head quiets.

My mind only focuses on her.

That woman owns me body and soul. I just fucking wish I could overcome my past.

I spend the rest of Perrie’s shift watching her while going over the books four more times, coming up with the same figures.

I shake my head, wishing the numbers would change.

How in the fuck did I miss this for six months?

Too fucking busy trying to bury my head in the stand, that’s how….

“Here,” Perrie says, putting a root beer float down on the counter before me, and I smile at her.

Everyone has gone home, the place cleaned, and now it’s just me and my Tinker.

“Thanks, Tinker,” I mumble before closing the folders, shaking my head.

“Is the amount still the same?” she asks as she sits beside me and grabs the long spoon from her glass. She takes a large mouthful of ice cream before she groans and grabs her head, muttering about brain freeze.

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