Write Me A Love Story

18:

"Hey!" Nancy's hands appeared around the cereal shelf, and I nearly jumped out of my skin. Clutching my chest, I looked at her with wide eyes. It'd been a long shift, and the last thing I needed was to be scared to death.

When I didn't speak, Nancy' came into the aisle and scooted my inventory box with her foot. "Didn't see you at lunch. You weren't at your register. It is eight forty-five, my friend." She crossed her arms. "Is this where you've been all day?"

I reached for the box she moved and placed it beside me again. The fruity cereals called to my growling belly. "I've been at my register. I'm just bouncing back and forth. See?"

Across from the cereal aisle was my empty station. Do you know what's worse than a long workday? A long slow one. There were five customers all day. And because of it, I was given extra tasks; but kept close enough that I could still ring someone up if needed.

That someone didn't come.

"Okay, well, you didn't call me." Nancy raised her brows and poked out her lips. "What happened?"

"I just told you," I pressed the cereal box neatly on the shelf, "it's slow so I'm here putting away food—"

"Girl!" Nancy scoffed. "I'm not talking about work! I'm talking about you last night with that fine specimen of a man!"

My eyes widened. My hand quickly shot out and pressed a finger to her lips. Frantically, I shushed her. "Are you serious?" I hissed.

"No, I'm nosey," Nancy said with her lips squished by my finger.

Of course, she was nosey. Last night, when I said his name, she was thirsty for the tea. And I did say I'd call her. But before work, I was with Reece. And on the way to work, I was writing the story on my phone. I didn't have time to call her.

Responsibilities. And desires.

Bending over the box, I grabbed more cereal. "He spent the night," I whispered.

"What?" Nancy whisper-shouted. "Girl, I knew there'd be more than tea and reading. So, how was it?" She came closer. "If he stayed, then I know, you know, happened."

Shooting her a side glance, I bit my bottom lip. "No, not really. We didn't have," I shrugged, "you know. So, it was a little one-sided."

Nancy's brows pinched together. She scoffed, rolled her shoulders back, and pursed her lips so hard she'd give herself premature wrinkles. "Oh, that motherfucker!"

The cereal fell out of my hand. "Shhhhhh!" I tried to shush her, but she saw red.

"How's he going to go to your house unprepared and expect you to—"

Oh, I knew where she was going with this. She'd experienced it. A man who wine and dined her, only to expect offers in return. That wasn't Reece. He was far from it.

"I didn't!" I grabbed her hands and shook her. Then reddened, because when I thought of last night, every part of me came alive. "Reece took care of me."

"He what?" Nancy leaned back with a look of disbelief. "His clothes stayed on?"

I nodded.

She came closer to whisper, "But yours came off."

"Sort of," I whispered back.

"What do you mean 'sort of?' Either you were half naked or—"

Pulling my bottom lip into my mouth, I quickly grabbed the fallen cereal box and used it to hide my face as I said, "He moved my panties to the side."