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Jasmine avoided JJ as much as she could during her next shift at the store. It was hard because they were the only ones in the store so they would have to talk at some point in time. But she wanted to hold off the inevitable conversation for as long as she could.
JJ was sure Jasmine was avoiding him. He was sure she did something that JJ would tease her about, and she wanted to save herself from the embarrassment. But he was fed up with her and how uncomfortable it made the work environment. So after helping a client, he corralled Jasmine at the break room.
"Okay, what the hell is going on with you today?" Jasmine shook her head. "Don't give me that crap. You've been avoiding me, which is impressive because we're the only ones here! Now come on, tell me."
Jasmine shook her head once again, trying to walk around him to get to the front of the store. "There's nothing going on."
JJ squinted his eyes and saw right through her lie once again. "Look, I may be a bit dumb sometimes, but I've grown to know you, Sutton." Jasmine groaned at him and at her for allowing JJ 'to know her so well. "Come on, Jazzy. Is me."
Jasmine threw her head back and sighed. She was going to regret ever telling JJ about this. "Okay, fine." She took a deep breath and opened her eyes. "You were right."
JJ nodded, not fully comprehending what it was about. "I mean, I usually am, but you gotta be more specific."
Right on cue, a car parked outside. It was the familiar red truck that belonged to no other than Brian Earl Spilner. That's when JJ pieced the puzzle together and his mouth dropped in surprise. "I told you!" He looked back at the car to see Brian getting out with a small bag in hand. "Man, I'm a genius."
"Would you shut up, please!" Jasmine was pleading, hoping he was not going to mention anything while Brian was close by.
"After he leaves, I will give you a piece of my mind." JJ waved at the man, receiving an awkward wave back. "Go, go!"
Jasmine scowled at him before approaching Brian. As soon as she was close to him, her expression changed completely. Her sour expression turned into a bright smile, which brought one to Brian's lips. "Hey, what are you doing here?"
Brian held his arm up, showing her the bag. "Thought maybe you would like some lunch. Mia made it extra special for you." Jasmine raised an eyebrow at his words. "She told me to say that."
Jasmine laughed, but grabbed his hand and pulled him inside and to the counter. She got to the employees side and grabbed a couple of napkins they usually have laying around. "Let's see what you brought, Mr. Spilner."
Brian placed the bag in the counter and opened it. He got to sandwiches, one for him and one for her. "She said you like the chicken one, so here." He handed the food to her. He also pulled out two drinks, giving one to her.
"You got the tuna, didn't you?" Brian smiled sheepishly at her. "Tuna on white, no crust," Jasmine said with a deep voice, mocking Brian's order. "God, it's so bad, why do you keep ordering it."
Brian smirked, shaking his head in disappointment. "I do actually like it." Jasmine whispered a faint liar before taking a small bite from her sandwich, moaning in pleasure. "I get you were hungry?" She nodded, taking a second bite.
"Actually yes, I was going to pull a longer shift for some extra cash, so I had to survive with granola bars or something." She took another bite and drank her beverage. Brian was so entranced by her that he hadn't touched his food at all.
"It's a good thing I came, then." Jasmine nodded in contempt, taking another bite. Brian took a napkin and wiped the corner of her mouth that had sauce all over it. Jasmine stopped mid-chew, surprise by the sudden action, but she didn't flinch nor move away from his hand. "There."
They ate peacefully, JJ making sure the costumers were satisfied, allowing Jasmine and Brian to have some alone time. He was sure going to tease her when the blond was gone.
"So, the lady was calling me names and mad as one can be, and the manager came threatening to kick her out if she continued to scream in the store. and it all was because the shows she wanted weren't on her size at the moment." Brian laughed as she finished one of the crazy stories that came from having a job in retail.
"Sounds like a handful. Can't see myself have the patience you have."
Jasmine shook her head, "I was this close to almost snapping at her. But you know the saying the costumer is always right," her voice went down as she mocked the person that came with that stupid rule, "so I had to calm down and allow the manager to handle her."
Jasmine cleaned her mouth one last time before balling the papers to throw to the trashcan. "Thank you for lunch, Brian." He shrugged his shoulder, in an attempt to say it was no big deal. But to her it was. It was those small details and gestures that made her like him even more than before. "I mean it, Bri."
Brian was taken aback by the sudden nickname, but he liked it. Jasmine widened her eyes when the word fell from her mouth, but she was in no rush to take it back. "Hey, can't have you starving now, Jas."
She laughed, turning on her chair to throw away their dirt. "I seem to be thanking you a lot lately." Brian nodded in agreement.
"I gotta go now, but I'll see you soon, right?" Jasmine nodded, walking around and giving him a hug. "I was gonna ask you. should I pick you up at your house or at Mia's?"
Jasmine haven't thought about that, but she was sure she was going to be at Mia's because she was going to help her get ready. "Mia's, please."
Brian nodded, giving her a kiss on the cheek before exiting the store and walking to his car. Jasmine stood dumbfounded at the action, placing a hand against the cheek he just kissed. JJ passed her and saw her in a trance and rolled his eyes. "Jesus, just marry that man, already."
Jasmine pushed his face away from her, making the big man trip over his feet. "Go away, JJ."
"No can do." He leaned against the counter. "This is my time to shine and say to your face: I told you so."
Jasmine, once again, scowled at him, knowing that this man was enjoying being right about her feelings. "Gloat all you want. I'm never telling you anything ever again."
"Oh, I'm going to enjoy this because you finally accepted you like this guy. And it's a good one nonetheless, because your last boyfriend was a tragedy."
It was true. Jasmine's ex-boyfriend, Liam Thorton, was the worse of the worst. To this day, Jasmine didn't know what she saw in him, but at the time she was so infatuated by him that she couldn't see the red flags. But it all came crashing when he insulted her deceased brother and that's when her hand connected with his cheek, leaving a mark and a bruised ego.
"Don't even mention that douchebag. Ugh, what I was thinking going out with him?" she wondered out loud.
"Don't know, but from him, Brian is definitely an upgrade." Jasmine smiled, thinking back at the blue-eyed man that occupied her mind at all times now. She now was one hundred percent sure she was definitely crushing and liking this man more than a friend. And to her it wasn't a bad thing.
She just hoped Brian was not going to break her heart.
