CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Ingram
“Oh, girl,” Tricia said as she practically ran down the aisle to where I’d been stocking the cereal. “You have got to see this guy.” Her voice was hushed but not quite a whisper.
I giggled and shook my head at her.
She was nice to me, maybe even almost a friend while I was at work. She’d told me once that she liked me because I wasn’t competition. I didn’t know what she meant by that but I had a feeling that I didn’t want to compete in the things that she did. So I was alright with that.
I’d learned by now that she liked to catch the attention of men. I’d watched her flirt with two customers already today.
She was a couple of years older than me. Tall and had long blonde hair. She was beautiful and the complete opposite of me. She had taken to me from the first shift that I’d worked with her and she often kept things fun around here.
I didn’t think anything about her words because she thought just about every guy that walked through the doors was attractive.
“Don’t give me that look,” she said her eyes dancing with humor. She knew she was a big flirt and she wasn’t offended when anyone said anything about it. “He’s really yummy. Not like the usual types we get in here.”
“We get all types of people in here,” I said with a tiny eye roll.
“No, I mean it. We never get bikers in here. He’s even got one of those vest things with all the patches.” She dramatically fanned herself.
That got my attention right away and had my back going stick straight. And then the hairs on my arms were standing on end.
“Oh,” she whispered, her head closer to mine now. “Don’t look, he’s right behind you.”
I didn’t have to turn around to know it was him. A shiver slithered down my body as I heard the booted steps pound closer. Then there was a smile that overtook my lips and I couldn’t hide it if I wanted to.
I turned, Tricia swatting at my arm as she harshly whispered that she told me not to look.
“Hi,” he said with one of his smiles that made me feel warm inside as he came to stop just inches in front of me.
“Hi,” I breathed out and yes, I was aware that I sounded a little breathless.
This caught me off guard.
Sure I was used to seeing Mouse now. And I had gotten good at hiding the way I felt around him, or so I thought. However, this I wasn’t prepared for. He was at my work and it was very unexpected.
“What are you doing here?” I rushed to ask.
“Oh, uh.” His hand came up as he rubbed the back of his neck like he might have been nervous. “I ran out of those snack things you get. The ones for Chry. I might have tried one earlier and ended up eating the last half of the box.”
“The banana ones?” I asked with a hint of excitement. He gave me a nod followed by a shrug. “They are good.”
I might have had a handful here and there when I gave Chry some.
He let out a short laugh and seemed to relax.
“You could have just sent me a text message. I would have grabbed some more,” I told him.
Tricia snorted behind me but I didn’t turn to look at her.
“Not going to introduce me to your friend?” she asked when I didn’t acknowledge her.
There was this strange feeling that came over me. I didn’t know what it was but I was sure I didn’t like it at all.
“I’m Mouse,” he clipped out and his lips went flat as he gave her a tiny nod of his head.
Then his eyes were back on mine, causing the uneasy feeling to flee as fast as it had overtaken me.
