The Monster (18+)

Chapter 10: Who is He?

Chapter Ten
"Who is He?"
Five Years Ago — May

SAVANNAH

   "How are you smiling right now?" My co-worker, Kim, groaned as she plopped herself next to me.

   I chuckled under my breath in embarrassment, but my hands continued moving as I re-folded all the shirts a group of teens messed up minutes before. They'd gotten an eye-full of our spring collection before store hopping. It would be normal to feel some sort of resentment afterwards, but working in Manhattan, I'd gotten used to tucking the clothes back in their places.

   "I'm smiling because of the shirts," I admitted, lifting the shirt I was currently gripping. "These are so bad that they're funny."

   Trailing her gaze to where I was signalling, she snorted but couldn't help but smile too. "These are atrocious."

   "Graphic tees are in," I teased, flattening the creases on the shirt before laying it on the pile with the rest of them. "Even if they are ugly."

   She nodded and stuffed her hands in her pockets before glancing to the ceiling. I watched in amusement as her face contorted in a pained grimace. "I'm here for another three hours. Time is going by so slow." Her eyes fell on me. "When are you done?"

   I twisted my head toward the clock and grinned in excitement when I saw it was almost six. "A few more minutes, actually."

  "Jealous," she sang, but I quickly shook my head with a small laugh.

   "I've been here since opening. Don't be," I joked, even though I was grateful to have such a long shift. The bigger the paycheck, the better.

   She pretended to gag. "And I only got in an hour ago." Patting my back sympathetically, Kim sighed. "You poor child."

   "You're a year older," I reminded her with a laugh.

   "Technically a year and a half," she chirped before reaching for the lump of shirts I hadn't gotten to yet. "You're born in October, right?"

   I nodded and stretched my back. "On the seventh." At least, that's what dad told me. But something told me that he didn't even remember what year I was born. He was busy drinking and gambling money away to even remember the date.

   "A Libra," she sang, and I smiled at the thought of zodiac signs.

   "My sister is obsessed with that stuff." According to her, she's a Gemini. Libra's and Gemini's work great together, and she uses this to explain why we're so close.

   "Then I'll get along with your sister," Kim teased with a proud smile. "I don't necessarily believe them, but I like to read it."

   Shaking my head softly, I tsked with a smile. "My sister likes to do this thing where she agrees with all the good things about her sign, but denies any association with the bad things."

   The way Kim's lips split into a wide grin, I knew she was about preach that she does the same thing. But I never got a chance to hear her reply because in that second, two arms wrapped around me from behind, pulling me into a hard chest.

   I gasped in surprise but didn't try to pull away, already familiar with the body and his cinnamon scent.

   Leaning in, I laid my head against his bicep and smiled. "Hi."

   Feeling his hot breath caress my neck, I shivered. I felt his lips pull into a satisfied smile before he pressed a kiss on the curve of my neck. "Hello, moye solnyshko," he murmured huskily against my skin.