A Little Bit of Sugar

Chapter 7: Wednesday - Molly

Tuesday Evening

"Hello?" I answered my phone, tucking it into the crook of my neck and shoulder as I shifted my takeout bag into the other hand while simultaneously trying to open my door to my apartment with one hand.

"Molly, dear." My mother's soothing voice came on. "We didn't hear back from you so we were just wondering how things went..."

Crap. From forcing my current boss into giving my job, and almost losing said job when I spilt coffee on his crotch, and pissing him off for no unseen reason, I had completely forgotten to tell my mom and my dad if I had gotten the job or not. I was far too worried about Hunter's mood swings than about everyone else.

"Oh, right!" I said as I stumbled through into the apartment once the door unstuck. It did that. You had to give it a good push before the door would open for you. I mentioned it a couple of times or two to my landlord but he just waved his hand, nodded his head in mockery, and extended the palm of his hand, asking in silence for my first rent cheque.

"Well..." I huffed, kicking off my shoes and dropping my greasy dinner onto the kitchen counter. Instead of opting for another bland tasteless frozen dinner, I had picked up some on sale Chinese food in the shopping mall down the street from the café. The thing about living in Toronto is that a quick bite to eat was just a ten minute block away.

I was stalling. How was I going to say this? That their daughter that went through four gruelling years in University had become a barista. Surely, that wouldn't be the story a parent would want to brag about the next time they're with their friends and colleagues.

"Molly was top of her class and right now, she's working in a small café." I shuddered at the thought of my dad actually saying that.

"I got the job!" I exclaimed, fake cheering and laughing when I heard the giant high pitched squeal from my mother.

"George! George!" My mother cried for my dad to come on. "She got the job! Molly got the job!"

Guilt flooded my senses. I was lying to my own family to save face and pride because I just couldn't do it. While I was making a living or at least a pay cheque that could help pay for my costly expenses, I still felt ashamed that I was a barista. I sunk down onto the kitchen stool that came with the apartment and buried my head in my hands as my parents went crazy with joy. They kept telling me how proud they were and how they just knew that if I waited a bit more, held onto faith, I would land the dream position I've always wanted.

If only they knew...

Wednesday Morning

"I have to go and buy some ingredients for tomorrow's desserts." Hunter said with his back facing towards me. He unknotted his apron and placed it on the shelf. "Don't go anywhere. I need you to watch over the dough. I'll be right back."

"Okay." I drawled, rolling my eyes only because I knew he couldn't see me. Ever since what happened yesterday, Hunter had been more distant than he already was. He barely spoke to me, opting for more gestures to get me to do things, and only spoke when I asked him which table the drinks belonged to. If I hadn't known, I would have thought he couldn't speak.

But that was certainly not the case. While Hunter was quiet around me, he was a different guy to the regulars that came in. He recognized faces, remembered their names, and engaged in friendly conversations as he fulfilled their orders. Although he still seemed distant and somewhat rough, he was more responsive and welcoming than before. His eyes even light up slightly when he sees children with their parents and even offered small treats to them completely free. When the last customers left and it was just him and me, the warmth drained from his face and the walls went back up. No matter how he acted around me, I knew Hunter wasn't all what he seems.

I just couldn't understand him. I thought to myself as I mopped the floors, making sure to reach all the corners so that his kitchen would be sparkling clean. It was getting boring mopping the floors and I was getting too much into my own thoughts about my boss. Opting for some music to spice up my evening, I turned on the café's radio and hummed along to the sweet melody of an Ed Sheeran song.

Soon, I was dancing around the kitchen, pretending my mop was my partner. I swirled in circles, feeling the rush of wind lift my white skirt as I got more and more into it. For a brief minute, I felt free. I was free from my guilt that I lied to my loving parents about my career. Free from all the pent up anger at myself for not being enough to land a great job. Free from feeling less than everyone else because I couldn't reach the one goal I wanted so badly and worked my way up for when I studied at University.

Just as the song was finishing, I spun my last circle before stopping, breathless and slightly dizzy. The floors were sparkling wet with soapy water so when I caught sight of Hunter standing right behind me, I lost my footing and stumbled right into his arms. He caught me swiftly, one arm wrapped around my shoulders, and another around my waist.

Another soft melody flowed through the air as we looked deeply into each other's eyes. Hunter didn't let go of me. Instead, he studied every inch of my face, making my blood rush all towards my face. With no words or explanations, he let my shoulders go but caught my hand, keeping another on my waist, and we danced.

Slowly and smoothly, we did small circles, never breaking our eye contact. Hunter pulled me in closer so there was little to no room between us. My heart thudded in my chest as he hummed the song in my ear, sending shivers down my spine.

Without a word, he lifted me up onto the clean kitchen counter I wiped down not too long ago, and wedged his body between my thighs. My skirt rose higher, revealing my pale milky thighs as he kept a firm hold on my waist with two hands, and his mouth inching closer and closer to mine.

Yes. Please. God yes. I didn't even realize how badly I wanted to kiss him until we were so close I could feel the muscles under his shirt tense. My hands rested on his shoulders, shaking, while my heart skipped uncontrollably. I needed him to kiss me but all he did was hover and linger over my mouth.

Gripping him by his shirt, I yanked him flush against me and covered his mouth with mine, savoring the taste of him, deepening the kiss till all I could think about was him. The prickle of his beard on my cheeks only made the kiss more exciting. Running my hands through his luscious dark locks, I moaned. I was hot and ready. I was yearning for more.

"We need to stop." Hunter pulled away from me but I kept a good grip on the fistful of his t-short in my hand. He was breathing just as hard as me when I blinked slowly, opening my eyes, slipping out of my euphoria.

I knitted my brows with confusion, jutting out my lower lip. The sensible person in me told me he was right. We were boss and employee and we needed to keep it professional. But the irrational person inside me wanted him to kiss me senseless again and this time his shirt needed to come off.

"Please." I said softly, tugging his shirt gently this time.

"Fuck." Was all he said before he pulled me in for another kiss.

Deep down I knew, I was playing with fire.