away from the counter and walk backwards, heading for the back cooler. Not paying attention to the register as usual, I don’t realize I have a customer.
“Can I get forty on pump five?” I don’t even have to look to know whose voice it is. It’s a voice I now look forward to hearing. I know I smile crazy every time I’m around him, but I just can’t help it.
“You sure can, stud.” I flirt.
“I’ll definitely take stud over cute guy,” he says, handing me his money. “Listen, what are you doing after work tomorrow?”
“I’ll have to check my busy calendar.” I pull my phone out of my back pocket and act like I’m scrolling through it. “What would the time be?” I ask professionally.
He just laughs at me. “Whenever’s good with you, Darlin’. My calendar is always open for you.” I catch Gage walking up towards the front, empty handed. He doesn’t look very happy. He looks downright pissed. Holden catches my gaze and turns his head to see what I’m looking at.
“See you at six, Danielle,” Gage says as he pushes the door open. Holden looks back at me as I just give him a weak smile. I try to pick back up where we’d left off by answering his question as if the whole Gage thing isn’t a big deal. Because, in all reality, it isn’t. I’m friends with both of them.
“How ‘bout tomorrow at five then, but only if you quit calling me Darlin’?”
Holden flips his hat around backwards. “See you then, Gorgeous.”
I see Gage pull up at ten ‘til six. I finish laughing at something Adyn and I are talking about before clocking out.
“Hey,” I say as I hop in his truck.
“Are you hungry?”
“I’m starving. That freaking convenience store food is going to make me fat,” I say as I try to pooch out my stomach.
“Guys like curves, Danielle.” He gives my body a onceover before giving me an appreciative smile.
“Well, there’s a difference between curves and rolls. My curves are slowly turning into some brown and serve rolls.” He just laughs at me. He knows I’m not one of those ‘overly obsessed with my weight and looks like a high maintenance’ chicks in the world. I’m pretty simple when it comes to all that jazz.
“More cushin’ for the pushin’, baby,” he teases and I smack his arm.
“Leave it to you to take it there.” I roll my eyes.
“Some things just never change,” he admits. “So, where you wanting to eat?”
“Umm, how ‘bout Ken’s. Pretty sure they got that buffet going tonight.”
“I’m sure their pizza is really good for you,” he says sarcastically, since I was just complaining about shit food.
“You’re right. But I don’t care. Plus, their ranch is the best,” I say licking my lips.
“Gotta quit that,” he says, and I smile as I turn to look out the window.
I don’t want dinner to become awkward, so I attempt to make small talk with Gage. Random little shit between bites. Music, movies, my job, mechanics, friends. Anything and everything to keep him from bringing up what happened earlier at the store. I can’t bear to see the look of sadness and disappointment in his eyes. I’m not doing anything wrong, but hanging out with another guy isn’t something he’d want me doing. To him, that’d mean any chance he has is gone. But, even after all of my hard work, it doesn’t pay off. As I’m eating my yummy dessert, I see him shifting in his booth seat. I can sense it coming, and I search for something, anything, to say to detour it. But I got nothing.
“So, that guy that was at the store earlier.” I still as the words come out of his mouth. “Are you guys dating?”
I finish my bite as I sit the rest down.
“No. We’re just friends,” I say before I take a drink of my soda.
“Oh, well, it just looked like more from where I was standing. I mean, I know you guys hang out a bit.” He tries to keep an even tone, but it’s starting to mix between sadness and a bit of anger.
“Well, I do like him.
“Can I get forty on pump five?” I don’t even have to look to know whose voice it is. It’s a voice I now look forward to hearing. I know I smile crazy every time I’m around him, but I just can’t help it.
“You sure can, stud.” I flirt.
“I’ll definitely take stud over cute guy,” he says, handing me his money. “Listen, what are you doing after work tomorrow?”
“I’ll have to check my busy calendar.” I pull my phone out of my back pocket and act like I’m scrolling through it. “What would the time be?” I ask professionally.
He just laughs at me. “Whenever’s good with you, Darlin’. My calendar is always open for you.” I catch Gage walking up towards the front, empty handed. He doesn’t look very happy. He looks downright pissed. Holden catches my gaze and turns his head to see what I’m looking at.
“See you at six, Danielle,” Gage says as he pushes the door open. Holden looks back at me as I just give him a weak smile. I try to pick back up where we’d left off by answering his question as if the whole Gage thing isn’t a big deal. Because, in all reality, it isn’t. I’m friends with both of them.
“How ‘bout tomorrow at five then, but only if you quit calling me Darlin’?”
Holden flips his hat around backwards. “See you then, Gorgeous.”
I see Gage pull up at ten ‘til six. I finish laughing at something Adyn and I are talking about before clocking out.
“Hey,” I say as I hop in his truck.
“Are you hungry?”
“I’m starving. That freaking convenience store food is going to make me fat,” I say as I try to pooch out my stomach.
“Guys like curves, Danielle.” He gives my body a onceover before giving me an appreciative smile.
“Well, there’s a difference between curves and rolls. My curves are slowly turning into some brown and serve rolls.” He just laughs at me. He knows I’m not one of those ‘overly obsessed with my weight and looks like a high maintenance’ chicks in the world. I’m pretty simple when it comes to all that jazz.
“More cushin’ for the pushin’, baby,” he teases and I smack his arm.
“Leave it to you to take it there.” I roll my eyes.
“Some things just never change,” he admits. “So, where you wanting to eat?”
“Umm, how ‘bout Ken’s. Pretty sure they got that buffet going tonight.”
“I’m sure their pizza is really good for you,” he says sarcastically, since I was just complaining about shit food.
“You’re right. But I don’t care. Plus, their ranch is the best,” I say licking my lips.
“Gotta quit that,” he says, and I smile as I turn to look out the window.
I don’t want dinner to become awkward, so I attempt to make small talk with Gage. Random little shit between bites. Music, movies, my job, mechanics, friends. Anything and everything to keep him from bringing up what happened earlier at the store. I can’t bear to see the look of sadness and disappointment in his eyes. I’m not doing anything wrong, but hanging out with another guy isn’t something he’d want me doing. To him, that’d mean any chance he has is gone. But, even after all of my hard work, it doesn’t pay off. As I’m eating my yummy dessert, I see him shifting in his booth seat. I can sense it coming, and I search for something, anything, to say to detour it. But I got nothing.
“So, that guy that was at the store earlier.” I still as the words come out of his mouth. “Are you guys dating?”
I finish my bite as I sit the rest down.
“No. We’re just friends,” I say before I take a drink of my soda.
“Oh, well, it just looked like more from where I was standing. I mean, I know you guys hang out a bit.” He tries to keep an even tone, but it’s starting to mix between sadness and a bit of anger.
“Well, I do like him.
Similar Books
