More Than You Know (h.s)

Chapter Fifty Four.

ROSALIE'S POV ❁

"Thank you guys so much for everything today. Have a good night and get some rest." I wave my hand kindly at three of my employees as they step out the back door of the shop only twenty minutes after locking the doors.

The school year is beginning soon and summer is coming to an end, which has for years been the busiest season for birthdays and weddings and all sorts of parties that call for cupcakes. Each day I've been working my fingers to the bone since opening to closing at the shop and I can't find it in myself to take a personal day. I worry too much everything will somehow be ruined without me present and I can't handle the pressure of knowing that I'm potentially close to losing some other major thing in my life along with my marriage.

After giving my employees the remainder of the evening off to get home to their families and their beds to get some sleep, I'm left with a full sink of dishes and a shop that needs to be cleaned from top to bottom. The floors in the kitchen have recently become so coated with flour, sugar, and vegetable oil spills that I'm beginning to worry someone will slip and fall and I'll be sued. With everyone running amuck trying to please the customers, no one can predict what sort of injury could come about within seconds of one wrong step.

Nearly an hour later I've finished washing dishes and have moved on to wiping down counters and restocking supplies. My exhaustion is obvious but I hope to drown out the thought with upbeat pop music pounding through the speakers of the shop that are usually filled with light-hearted sing-alongs to please the customers.

Just as I'm about to begin with sitting down to make a note of supplies I need to order or restock the following morning, a soft knock is heard at the back door in the kitchen. My brows furrow together from confusion and worry as I pace slowly towards the large metal door and open the handle to allow a small crack to open.

"Hello?" I ask softly, peaking my head out. My eyes land on a familiar sleek black car in the alleyway and I roll my eyes just as they connect with Harry pacing slowly towards the door.

"Hi, Rosie." He greets with a giddy smile once he's standing in front of me. I keep the door open only a half a foot and stare emotionlessly back at him.

"Sorry, we're closed for the day. If you'd like to make a purchase you can come back tomorrow morning when we open." I say monotonously, then move to shut the door. He reaches his hand out to stop me while his smile disappears from his lips.

"Don't... Don't close the door. I just wanted to come say hi. I was driving past and I saw the lights still on and wanted to come check on you." He tries to step in closer so that I'll have less room to shut him out, but it only makes me want to do it even more.

"I'm doing just fine, thank you. By the looks of it I can imagine you're just as well and we can spare ourselves the small talk." My hands place themselves on my hips as I stare up at Harry with no guilt whatsoever. My bitter moods towards him is only natural and I don't feel as though I need to explain it to him.

"I haven't missed getting rejected by you lately. That's the kind that hurts the worst." He says thoughtfully while leaning against the brick wall on my building. His new stance leaves us only a foot in distance between each other and I find myself staring up at him with an amused smile.

"Well, I'm sorry to put a crack in your precious ego that has never been challenged before. It's no secret that you're charming and can pull women in even when you're obviously under the commitment of a marriage. I just pray that your next wife knows what she's getting herself in to with you." I step back to allow him to step in to the shop with me and his eyes send me a look of gratefulness.