Double Dare (Racetrack x Reader)

Making It Up

~Y/N's POV~

I didn't really want to get up. I couldn't miss work. I had just been moping around the tailor's office, taking measurements and orders. Maurice was probably disappointed or displeased by my giant mood swings of work. I had been extremely productive during the absence of Race for two weeks, trying to keep my mind off of him. Now, after knowing the situation, I coped in the completely opposite way by doing next to nothing.

"Y/N," Maurice called me to the front after I was organizing the fabrics.

Thinking that there was a customer, I walked out with a small pep in my step and with some false confidence. There was a customer and Maurice went to get fabrics as I took measurements. I talked to the older fellow a bit before the shop bell rang. I looked over to see Davey and what I assumed was Les. "Ah, these are my boys!"

I was a little shocked that they were this man's sons since they were newsies and the fellow was ordering a special tailored suit. I smiled quickly at them and asked them to have a seat. Les didn't oblige and I soon had to tell him stop over and over again and I got fed up. "Les, either you sit down with your brother or you can't be in this shop. It's disruptive."

Les looked flustered and scared, scrambling back to Davey's side. Once I took his measurement and recorded the mans specifications, they left. Well, Les and the man left, Davey lingered behind.

"Do you need anything?" I asked, leaning up against the front counter.

He didn't say anything and just slowly approached me. I didn't really care until his hand forcefully gripped my side. It didn't hurt, but I didn't like it. His other hand caressed my face. I tried to back up, but I was against the counter. He started leaning in. "No!"

He stopped, backing up. "What?"
"No," I answered, more feebly this time.

"Sorry, I'm so sorry," he quickly apologized.

He let go of me and we both awkwardly stood there. "I...I just got in a fight and I don't know."

"No, it's my fault. I tried to kiss you without consent."

We had an awkward goodbye. He left the shop, bell ringing behind him.

I turned and placed my elbows on the counter, burying my face in my hands. Maurice came from the back room, bellowing a song. "That boy was weird, he tried to kiss my worker, he left embarrassed, and forgot his fancy shoes!"

I laughed at Maurice's made up song as he sung more in his native language. He jigged over to me to hand me a pair of shiny black shoes. I put them in a the little box spot with the address of the man getting the new outfit.

I tapped on the counter, thinking and collecting myself. "What is wrong?"

"I don't need a guy right now. I need to focus on myself!"

Maurice nodded. "Understandable. You are like a daughter to me and I don't like most men hitting on you. I also worry about your mental state."

I didn't really respond. I never though Maurice saw me as a daughter. Maurice took my hands in his big, burly, calloused ones. "Y/N, you really are my daughter. I raised big strong men and I am raising you. You will be big strong woman."

I smiled, "Thank you."

"Besides, you can get free things with flirting."

I let out a big ugly snorting laugh. Maurice smiled, his smile outlined with wrinkles and his brown eyes squinted. Once he pulled his hand away, I saw a small ring that once belonged to his wife. She always wore this one on her pinky.

"She wanted you to have it."

I found myself crying to having something of hers. One I wiped away my tears, I saw what was engraved on it. The word mine in cursive was on it. "You are always your own person. No one else's. She was my wife, but she was hers before me."

I put it on. A perfect fit. Maurice gave me a big dad bear hug. We cried together for a little before Hugo came in with crates of bright colored thread. I looked down at the ring on my finger once more before going off to unpack and organize the thread.

Mine.