Little Cigars Little Muffins: Racetrack Higgins

Chapter Nine

My shift at the bakery is about to end when I hear the familiar sound of the bell ringing above the door, signalling someone is here. Wendy isn't here today, she came down with the flu so it is only me in the shop. I see bright blue eyes meet mine from across the counter. What is Race doing here?
"You weren't at home so I thought you would be here" Race says, answering my question.
"Just caught me I was just on my way out" I say taking off my apron as I start to clean up the shop for closing.
"Slow down speed racer, I might of came here to buy something" Race says lighting his cigar.
"No smoking in the store" I say, "could be a fire hazard".
"Whose going to stop me" Race says with a smug smirk.
"Me, it's my job" I say taking the cigar out of his mouth and putting it out on my shoe.
"I could of put it out" he says looking at the now unlit cigar in his pocket.
"But would you have?" I question, knowing the answer.
Race falls silent for a second before pipeing up again,"I want two of those muffins we had" he says looking in the display.
"Blueberry? They are three cents each" I say hoping behind the cash register. I don't know why I do though, I know I can't take his money. As I say the price, Race shifts in his shoes a little before reaching into his pocket. "I'm not even going to pretend like I am going to take your money" I speak up.
I take out a paper bag and stick the largest muffins in the bag before handing it over to Race.
His eyes light up and his signature uneven smile appears across his lips.
With the transaction completed we walk out of the building, and I lock it behind me.
"Do you mind if we go on a date, like right now?" Race nervously asks.
"I don't see why not"
With that Race grabs my arm and starts to walk. Along the way we encounter another couple of a higher class. Without even thinking, my hand is in and out of the girls purse, and I am two pennies richer. When I turn back to look at Racetrack he is frowning at me. I know it isn't ideal that I am stealing, but what else am I going to do. I need to pay rent and this helps me.
"I wish you didn't steal"
"I wish I didn't have to"
The rest of the walk is silent, almost awkward.
As we keel walking the destination becomes more apparent, Central Park.
"I'm happy we upgraded from the lodging house" I tease him slightly. I elbow the side of his chest lightly as I speak.
"Don't act like you didn't like our first date" Race says returning the light elbow.
Giggles start to come out of lips as Race tickles my side.
"Stop" I say in-between my fits of laughter.
"Not until you admit it was the best date you have ever been on" Race says. I mean he isn't wrong, all of my other dates have been quite generic. They would usually take me to a restraunt and we would make tedious small talk.
"Fine, fine. It was the best date I've ever been on" I say, and the tickling stops.
We make our way over to a bench and we sit down. A trees shadow casts over the bench providing protection from the hot summer sun. The sound of crinkling fills my ears as Race opens the paper bag. He hands me one of the muffins as he takes the other.
"So you like blueberry muffins" I say taking a bite out of mine.
"Not as much as I like having an excuse to see you" Race says acting smug. He also quickly touches the tip of my nose. I can feel my face tense at the sudden touch.
"You are such a flirt" I say.
"Sweetheart, I thought you already knew that" Races teases with a pet name.
"My name is Y/N, not sweetheart" I say sternly, but the blush on my face was saying something different. I have a burning hatred for pet names, they just make me cringe slightly. However when Race says it, it settles differently. But I am not going to let him know that.
"But honey you're turning all red" he continues to tease.
I don't say anything knowing I am as red as a tomato.