too. I didn’t even bother turning around, pretending to be too busy reshelving the books alphabetically in the Romance section.
“Yes,” I answered sharply. “Fantasy’s against the back wall over there,” I said, pointing. “Books are shelved by author’s last name. We’ve got a ton of his stuff, so you can’t miss it.”
“Jenna,” he softly whined.
“Go away, Evan,” I deadpanned. I left my cart in the middle of the aisle and headed toward the back, deciding this would be an excellent time to take my break. Pushing through the door labeled Employees Only , I weaved left, then right, and into the small employee’s break room. All we had was a small table, mini refrigerator and a sofa, ‘cause typically only about three of us worked the store at one time. I pulled a soda out of the refrigerator, praying the caffeine would help fight the pulsations that were growing in my head.
How the hell did he keep finding me? Granted, I wasn’t off the grid as much as I was when I lived with Robert, but still, I’d only been in Rutland for two weeks now. And to show up at my job? How the hell?
But crap! I slammed my soda down on the table. Tiny amber droplets burst through the opening and misted my arm. My other hand rubbed at my face, trying to soothe the tension away. I was still trying to repair my relationship with Robert. Evan hounding me was the last thing I needed right now.
Fifteen minutes passed on the clock and I groaned, dreading my return to the sales floor. I checked myself in the mirror, noticing the paleness of my skin. Good. Maybe if I resembled a pasty vampire he’d get turned off and rethink chasing me down. I left the safety of the back and made a beeline for the cart I abandoned, finding it right where I left it. Continuing with my work , I fought my curiosity to scan the bookstore for him, refusing to give him the satisfaction of knowing I was thinking of him, wondering about him, which unfortunately, I couldn’t stop doing. No point in letting him know that though . If he was still around, he didn’t approach me again, and I made it through the last two hours of my shift standing my ground.
But he came back the next day. I didn’t know how long he’d been there, but I was leading a customer to the New Age section when I spotted him in one of the leather arm chairs we kept off to the side. He looked up from his book and caught my gaze, and I threw him an annoyed glare until I disappeared down an aisle. I offered to stay and help the lady find whatever she needed, desperately trying to keep myself busy to keep him at bay, but I honestly had zero expertise about the subjects of New Age. So when I made my way back, of course he stood in the path between me and the help desk.
Anger flared in my chest and I didn’t know why. Was I really that mad at him? I had tried so hard not to think about him, to downplay what happened. Sure, I played my part in this fiasco, but a little resentment still resided toward him for instigating it.
My eyes remained hard, even though the softness of his facial features used to melt my heart. “What are you doing here?” I snapped, crossing my arms and shifting my weight onto one leg, my stance screaming get the hell away from me.
His hands went up in surrender. “I just wanted to say I’m sorry. About what happened.”
I couldn’t stop the eye roll. “About kissing me? Or getting caught kissing me?”
His lips pressed together as he thought on it. “I don’t regret kissing you, but I do regret the way it went down. I didn’t want you to break up that way. I wanted you to break up because you wanted to be with
“Yes,” I answered sharply. “Fantasy’s against the back wall over there,” I said, pointing. “Books are shelved by author’s last name. We’ve got a ton of his stuff, so you can’t miss it.”
“Jenna,” he softly whined.
“Go away, Evan,” I deadpanned. I left my cart in the middle of the aisle and headed toward the back, deciding this would be an excellent time to take my break. Pushing through the door labeled Employees Only , I weaved left, then right, and into the small employee’s break room. All we had was a small table, mini refrigerator and a sofa, ‘cause typically only about three of us worked the store at one time. I pulled a soda out of the refrigerator, praying the caffeine would help fight the pulsations that were growing in my head.
How the hell did he keep finding me? Granted, I wasn’t off the grid as much as I was when I lived with Robert, but still, I’d only been in Rutland for two weeks now. And to show up at my job? How the hell?
But crap! I slammed my soda down on the table. Tiny amber droplets burst through the opening and misted my arm. My other hand rubbed at my face, trying to soothe the tension away. I was still trying to repair my relationship with Robert. Evan hounding me was the last thing I needed right now.
Fifteen minutes passed on the clock and I groaned, dreading my return to the sales floor. I checked myself in the mirror, noticing the paleness of my skin. Good. Maybe if I resembled a pasty vampire he’d get turned off and rethink chasing me down. I left the safety of the back and made a beeline for the cart I abandoned, finding it right where I left it. Continuing with my work , I fought my curiosity to scan the bookstore for him, refusing to give him the satisfaction of knowing I was thinking of him, wondering about him, which unfortunately, I couldn’t stop doing. No point in letting him know that though . If he was still around, he didn’t approach me again, and I made it through the last two hours of my shift standing my ground.
But he came back the next day. I didn’t know how long he’d been there, but I was leading a customer to the New Age section when I spotted him in one of the leather arm chairs we kept off to the side. He looked up from his book and caught my gaze, and I threw him an annoyed glare until I disappeared down an aisle. I offered to stay and help the lady find whatever she needed, desperately trying to keep myself busy to keep him at bay, but I honestly had zero expertise about the subjects of New Age. So when I made my way back, of course he stood in the path between me and the help desk.
Anger flared in my chest and I didn’t know why. Was I really that mad at him? I had tried so hard not to think about him, to downplay what happened. Sure, I played my part in this fiasco, but a little resentment still resided toward him for instigating it.
My eyes remained hard, even though the softness of his facial features used to melt my heart. “What are you doing here?” I snapped, crossing my arms and shifting my weight onto one leg, my stance screaming get the hell away from me.
His hands went up in surrender. “I just wanted to say I’m sorry. About what happened.”
I couldn’t stop the eye roll. “About kissing me? Or getting caught kissing me?”
His lips pressed together as he thought on it. “I don’t regret kissing you, but I do regret the way it went down. I didn’t want you to break up that way. I wanted you to break up because you wanted to be with
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