Page 74 of Late Fees

Tilly

1996

“Fucking Daylight Savings Time,” I muttered under my breath as I trudged down the street, already ten minutes late for my shift at the store. The Monday after Daylight Savings was the worst. I had tried to weasel my way out of working that day, but no one was willing to take my shift.

And so, I’d forced my crab-ass to suck it up and go to work. Besides, it was only a four-hour shift. Before I knew it, I’d be back in my apartment, wearing my comfy slippers, and watching Melrose Place. It was my guilty pleasure, and I couldn’t get enough of the crazy drama, the over-the-top scheming, and the deliciously hot men. All in one apartment complex.

“Hey,” Kevin greeted me at the door of Spotlight…which was odd. Usually, he was aloof and understated like he was playing hard to get. Not that it mattered—we’d gone on a few dates, and the spark had yet to appear. I was ready to just be work friends, but judging by the overly friendly expression on his face and the kiss he gave me on my cheek, he wasn’t thinking like I was.

“Oh, um, hi. What’s up?”

“Nothing. Just wanted to say hello. How are you?”

“Other than getting my ass kicked by Daylight Savings, I’m fine. You?”

He laughed, but it sounded forced, rehearsed…weird. “Same.”

“Who else is here?” I asked, glancing around the store.

“Emmett’s reorganizing the video games, and Marley’s clocking out. So, it looks like you and I are manning the desk.”

“Cool. Well, I’d better clock in.”

“No,” he said, standing in front of me.

“Um, excuse me? Kevin, what are you doing? Why are you being weird?”

“Oh, no…” he said, looking past me. “Forget I said anything. Go…clock in. I’ll be here.”

“You really shouldn’t smoke crack during work hours,” I said, a slight bitterness to my words. Normally, Kevin’s odd behavior wouldn’t have bothered me, but I was too grumpy to cope.

As I walked to the back room, I waved to Emmett and Marley, who were standing at the threshold of the game room saying their goodbyes for the day. With a dramatic yawn, I made my way to the time clock, punching in my card before raising my arms above my head to stretch.

Wake up, Tilly. Geez.

“Hey, did Kevin give them to you?” a voice asked from the door. I turned to see Marley, wearing her corduroy peacoat as she leaned into the doorframe.

“What are you talking about?”

“Someone came by for you…didn’t give his name. But he left…a couple of things at the desk.”

“Oh, really?” I asked, raising an eyebrow and feeling a flutter in my stomach. Wyatt flashed through my brain, and I wanted to smack myself for being hopeful that the person Marley was talking about was, in fact, him. “What did he look like?”

“Dark blond hair, bluish eyes, I think, fair skin. Really, really cute…if you don’t mind my saying so.” Marley blushed, tucking her hair behind her ears.

Wyatt.

It had to be Wyatt.

Forcing myself not to jog back up to the front, I followed Marley to the desk, looking as calm and collected as possible under the circumstances. Kevin was hunched over the return bin when I reached the desk.

“Hey, is there, uh…did someone leave something for me?”

His eyes met mine as he dropped a stack of videos harshly on the counter. He looked at Marley, then back to me. His nostrils flared as he attempted to look unaffected. “Oh, right. Yeah, some guy came by.”

“And?”

“I mean, he was kind of an ass, but whatever.”

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