Reverse-Harem Cafe!

XXVIII. Birthday Suit Surprise

(The next day)

I watch as the last customers leave and flip the open sign to "closed".

"Hurry guys! Ervin is going to be back soon!" Toby calls out while looking at the clock. Today we're throwing a surprise birthday party for Ervin and sent him to run an errand while we set up.

We rush to wipe down the cafe and start cooking the nabe. Toby pulls an electric hot pot cooker and sets it on one of the tables.

"Mae, can you get the clay pot from the storage room?" He asks while trying start up the cooker.

"Sure." I walk past the counter, to the storage room and look around for the clay pot. Finally I notice a cardboard box labeled "pots and pans" stacked on top of several other boxes. Ugh I'm too short again!! I walk back out and grab a metal folding chair before returning to the storage room. Carefully, I step onto the chair and stand on it. Oh crap, still too short. Why does this happen to me?! Somebody trade legs with me.

I stand on my toes and extend my arms towards the box. I nearly reach it when suddenly I feel the chair start to shake. To my horror, it collapses beneath me, sending me falling backwards towards the concrete ground.

My back hits something...but it's not the floor. I feel two arms pull me into an embrace, pressing my back against a broad chest. I tilt my head up, trying to make sense of it all. I'm surprised to find a pair of olive-colored eyes staring back at me.

"Are...you okay?" He asks with a concerned expression.

"J-Jacob?!" I let out an astonished gasp, seeing the person I least expected. Even so, my heart pounds fast at the sensation of his body against mine.

As soon as I say his name, a look of realization washes over his face and he lets go of me.

"S-sorry, I'm..gonna go.." He says while awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck. As he turns to leave I call out his name again. I need a little help getting the box.

He slightly glances over his shoulder. My eyes widen at his suddenly cold expression. I guess...he still hates me.

"N-never mind." I dismiss him and he exits the storage room. I stare up at the box hopelessly and step outside to ask for help.

"Toby, the "pots and pans" box is too high for me to reach." I tell Toby, who is busily emptying the cash register.

"Oh no." He chuckles, "I forgot to tell you, it's actually in one of the boxes on the floor labeled 'lemons'. 

(A/N: ahhh they found my collection of sexiness)

What the actual hell?! That could have saved me the experience of falling and being caught by Jacob!! Arghhhh!! I feel my face blush with anger and embarrassment. Who the heck labeled those boxes anyway?!
"Did something happen?" Toby asks. "Your face is awfully red."

"Nothing happened." I sigh and go back to retrieve the clay pot.

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"Shhh, he's almost here!!"

"Where? I don't see him"

"Shut up guys." I giggle from my hiding spot behind the counter. The lights are off and we struggle to stay silent as we see Ervin approach the cafe door. As soon as the bell sounds his arrival, we jump out from hiding.

"SURPRISEEE!!!!"

Ervin looks at us with a stunned expression but then fades back into a poker face. "I should have known something was up when you asked me to buy inflatable underpants." He huffs and walks on in.