16
Emersyn
Saturday at the museum meant more filing in the musty storage room and more Jecca calling me Emily.
I got her coffee first thing in the morning, ordered and picked up her lunch from the deli across the street, and sorted what seemed like a month’s worth of her junk mail.
I didn’t eat lunch with Lindsey and Alexis when they dropped by the basement to invite me.
“Jecca says I have to work through lunch,” I told them. “Says I’m not here long enough to get a lunch break.”
Alexis rolled her dark chocolate eyes. “For fuck’s sake. We’re here six hours today. It’s thirty minutes. Those files have an inch of dust on them. They can wait another half hour.”
I shrugged. “Just not up for pissing her off today. I have plans after I get off and I don’t want to stay late for a lecture.”
“Gotcha.” Lindsey nodded, pulling her thick, red hair into a bun. “We’ll bring you something. Grilled chicken wrap?”
“That would be awesome. Here,” I answered, pulling a ten dollar bill from my pocket to give her. “And a diet Coke or something. I’m dehydrating down here.”
I thanked them as they left. Part of me was jealous that they got to work for Joy and actually spend time in the museum instead of being stuck in a dark, damp basement. But if I got the scholarship, it would be worth it.
To my surprise, it was Collin who brought my food down fifteen minutes later.
“I finished eating before them. Didn’t want you down here starving to death,” he said, handing me the clear plastic container with my wrap and a large styrofoam cup.
“Aww, thank you.” I took a long drink and sighed at how good it tasted. “I needed that.”
“You’re very welcome.” Collin’s eyes roamed over me in a way I was used to from Drew’s teammates, but had never experienced from him.
I was wearing Stacy’s black pencil skirt and a pink sleeveless button down shirt. I didn’t think it was too revealing but the clothes were still a size smaller than I actually needed.
Thankfully Aiden was taking me shopping later today. The clock seemed to be moving backwards since I was counting the seconds until four.
“Well,” I began awkwardly. “I’m going to work while I eat. Thanks again for bringing this down.”
“No problem.” Collin lingered, not picking up on the cue I’d sent him that it was time to go. “Hey, you’re from Elksboro, right?”
I nodded. “Yeah.” Turning to continue filing with the hand not holding my soda, I did my best not to encourage him to hang around.
“Cool. I live in Davidson. Maybe we could hang out sometime.”
“Um, yeah. We should ask Alexis and Linds when they’re free. Maybe we can all get together outside of this place sometime.”
Collin seemed sweet the few times I’d been around him. He was around my height, lean with angular features. I’d thought maybe he and Lindsey would end up being an item as they seemed to have a lot in common.
He cleared his throat. “Yeah, maybe.”
I offered him an apologetic smile. I knew what he was asking, and I wanted to decline as politely as possible.
I pointed to the stack of files. “Better get back to it. Have a good day, Collin.”
There, that was more direct.
Before he made a move to leave, the door opened and Jecca stepped inside, already glaring at me.
“What’s going on in here?” She glanced at Collin. “No wonder you can’t finish the filing. You’re down here playing footsie with your little friend.”
Collin held his hands up and backed out of the storage room. “Later, Emersyn.”
