Seeds of Tomorrow

32

"Fuck!" Rocco flinched, jerking away.

Annie, the counter girl, had just crept up behind him to put an ice cube down the back of his shirt. He had to untuck the back of his shirt so it fell out.

"You're fucked up for that!" he told her reaching into the ice bin for a few pieces of ice. Annie squealed trying to get away but he grabbed her in a bear hug, dropping the ice down the front of her t-shirt.

"That's not fair!" she wailed, "That went down my bra!"

Rocco cackled, "Fucked around and found out," he teased, picking up the ice cubes that had fallen on the floor.

"I hate you!" Annie told him, fanning the front of her shirt.

He flashed one of his notorious Rocco grins, "Pshh, you love me and you know."

Annie fought back a smile on her plump lips, turning her back to him. Rocco couldn't help but check out her perky ass as she walked away. He felt guilty for a brief moment but looking and touching were two separate things.

"You two would seriously be such a cute couple," Amber, his shift lead, said after Annie disappeared into the walk-in.

Rocco began to stock cups, a smile playing on his lips that he desperately tried to hide, "You know I have a girlfriend."

"I'm just saying," she grinned, "That's all. If it doesn't work with her, I'm pretty sure someone likes you."

Yes, Annie was cute. And funny. And he maybe did like her but Evie...

Annie was different from Evie. While Evie was reserved and a little shy, Annie was as outgoing and goofy as he was. He liked that she matched his energy in a way that Evie didn't and even if she did like him, he would feel shitty breaking up with Evie after they'd had sex to pursue someone else.

Now if she broke up with him...he shook off that thought. He wasn't Mark. Or Fernando. Or even his dad.

"How's the driver's Ed going?"

"It's going, got a few more weeks. Should be all licensed and ready to drive once school starts," Rocco told her hopefully, "My grandpa was saying that he might get me a car before my birthday."

Amber gave a small clap, "Yay! You know what you're going to get?"

"I want a WRX but my dad is saying hell no," he rolled his eyes.

"If you wait until you're eighteen he doesn't get a say," she pointed out.

"Good ass point! I knew I liked you for a reason."

"My charming personality isn't enough?" Amber teased, pushing the button to her headset, "Thank you for choosing Panera, how can I help you?"

Rocco hurried to the stockroom to grab a few sleeves of lids so he could finish stocking the front before he left for the evening. Annie had been coming out of the walk-in as he passed, accidentally bumping into him.

"Watch your fat self!" She said, playfully swatting him.

"Well, there goes the rest of my self-esteem. Gee thanks, Annie," he replied with a grin, hitting her with a karate chop.

"Ah, hush," Annie told him, "You have more than enough self-esteem. Probably too much." 

He gave one of her short pigtails a playful tug before grabbing the sleeves of lids. Annie pulled a package of napkins off the shelf, "You doing anything fun tonight?"

Rocco hesitated, "Just getting a movie with a couple of friends." He replied, leaving out the fact that by friends he meant Evie, her best friend Sasha, and Sasha's boyfriend, Jamison.