Ask Me for Tomorrow by Elise K Ackers

over to pass around drinks and pastries that she’d bought across the road. Dean had thanked her, reached for his wallet and utterly spoiled the mood. She hadn’t come back.
    She’d been quiet when he’d arrived early this afternoon. He suspected a potent mixture of regret, embarrassment and shyness ruled her now, but she’d remained professional. He wanted to talk to her about it, if not drag her back into the storeroom and promote their almost-kiss into a fully fledged one, but he hadn’t counted on the crowd, so he’d been forced to wait.
    The trick was in not waiting too long. She’d already had almost twenty-four hours to think about it, which to his mind was the female equivalent of a man’s week-long contemplation. There was precious little time left before her pride closed the door she had nudged ajar.
    He stepped into the reception area, ready to share a smile with her, but she didn’t look his way.
    ‘I haven’t seen you much today.’ He was stating the obvious but he needed to start somewhere. ‘Do you have plans tonight? I could make us some dinner.’
    Alice’s fingers stilled over the paperwork she’d been filing. ‘Thanks, but—’
    ‘Whatever Ben said about my cooking, he was lying. He ate all of it. I can make something else he likes.’
    ‘He had a great time,’ she replied, setting the pages down on the desk and swinging in her chair to face him. ‘But I can’t tonight.’
    ‘Can’t or don’t want to?’
    ‘Can’t.’
    He nodded. ‘Another late night for you, then?’ Dean had dropped Ben off at nine o’clock last night and she still hadn’t been home. ‘You dating or something?’
    ‘You think I’d kiss you if I was dating someone?’
    Dean raised a finger and stepped closer. ‘I’ve been wanting to talk to you about that.’
    ‘I would never have guessed.’
    ‘Today’s been a bit odd. I haven’t been avoiding you – I had a number of things to do that couldn’t wait.’
    She crossed her arms by way of disagreeing with him.
    ‘Come to dinner, we can talk properly.’
    Alice shook her head. ‘I said I can’t.’
    ‘You’ve already got plans? Will Ben be with you?’
    ‘That’s none of your business.’
    Dean scowled and glanced at the clock. Any minute their privacy would be interrupted, and so far their conversation had resolved nothing. ‘I’m sorry, but I thought you kissing me entitled me to a few questions.’
    ‘Nope, it doesn’t.’ Alice’s voice was friendly, but flippant. She turned her seat back to the computer and began clicking on the mouse.
    Before Dean could insist they continue this conversation, Ben, Rowan and Nina stepped through the front door, their noses and cheeks flushed from the cold.
    Ro and Neenz ran to Dean, flung their arms around him and immediately began a download of their day. Ro talked about his friends and Nina talked about something she had done by herself, which brought to mind what Ben had told him yesterday. Dean still hadn’t decided how to tackle that issue. Ben walked over to Alice, hugged her, and begun gushing about how he’d done on a surprise test.
    The sun reflected off the windshield of a truck turning into the warehouse driveway. Dean stared at it, unprepared, then started moving very fast.
    ‘Alice, I need a favour. Kids, go out to the garage, everybody’s there.’ They hurried to the door and tumbled through it, squealing and laughing at they squashed past Liv, who was trying to edge inside.
    ‘Liv!’ Dean stumbled towards her, forgetting for a moment that he was mid-conversation with Alice. ‘I need you to keep everyone in there. Especially Ethan. Don’t let him leave the garage, you understand?’
    Blindsided but quick on her feet, Liv nodded and hurried back out to the group. As the door closed behind her, he heard her say, ‘Who wants to hear a story?’
    Dean rounded on Alice. ‘Please don’t leave yet, I need your help. There’s a white box in my office, second drawer. Would you get