“I’m gonna go see if Adam and Dylan need help.” I lied and followed Desi out. He went straight past the break room and into the lobby. As soon as the door was closed, he turned toward me.
“What the hell was that? Do you know them?” I accused. He sighed, and his eyes went to the ceiling.
“No. You said you needed help hiring people. I helped.” People walked in, so he went behind the counter to run concessions. I followed.
“You picked the first two hot girls to walk in!” I said sharply. He chuckled but didn’t look my way as he took the vampire and his familiar’s order. I heard him call for popcorn, so I scooped some into the largest bucket we had and added the extra butter they wanted. As I sat it on the counter rather hard, popcorn fell out.
The customers wanted sour gummies, and Desi and I bent down to get them. “Are you jealous, Nerd?” He whispered before popping back up with the candy. He slid it across to them and finished ringing them up. Only when they were off to their screening did he turn to face me, leaned against the counter, arms crossed.
“You’re so smug. No, I’m not jealous.” I lied.
“You are, and I want to know why. You don’t seem that interested in me, despite coming all over my hand a week ago.”
“It wasn’t a week ago,” I said in a hushed whisper. I looked around to see if anyone had heard. “And stop talking about it. Arsenio can’t know.”
“Why not? He doesn’t want you.”
“Because he’ll flip out. You know him better than I do. He’s—”
“Wrath?” He smirked. I nodded.
“Yes.” Arsenio’s words from just a little while ago ran through my head. Him finding about Desi and me- he wouldn’t like that.
“Okay, well, if you don’t want me, then I’ll find someone that does. That pretty little blonde seems fun. I wouldn’t mind putting her bare ass on this counter and fucking her right in front of everyone. I bet her pussy is real fucking—”
I don’t know what came over me, but in an instant, I clenched my fist and swung! My knuckles rammed into his jaw.
He let out a yelp and stumbled. His sunglasses fell to the ground with a light clamor. “Wow, you really don’t like that idea, do you?” He laughed as he held onto the spot where I had made contact. He bent down to pick up his glasses and slipped them back on quickly.
“Fuck off,” I said, leaving him behind the counter.
“Aw, am I not a loser anymore?” He yelled. I flipped him off.
“You still are, I assure you!” I called as I went into the back. I grabbed a glass bottle of blood and went to my office, closing the door behind me. A gentle knock came a half hour later. I was tempted to tell them to leave me alone, but it was Arsenio’s voice I heard.
“Come in.” I sighed.
“The girls are with Adam and Dylan, learning the ropes. They’ll shadow them until the men leave. Then they’ll take over their shifts. Are you okay? They have—personality.” He chuckled. I shook my head, unamused.
“I really don’t have patience for any bullshit, Arsenio. Please don’t screw me over with this.”
“I won’t. Call me for anything. I’ll put them in their place. Or better yet, you do it. I trust you.”
Do you?
He saw the look I was giving him, and he offered me a tight smile. “Bad choice of words. You’ll be fine. I’m gonna get going.” He slapped the door frame and disappeared. I got up and slammed my door shut again. Sliding my headphones in, I pulled out my sketchpad, not in the mood for anyone tonight. I only took them out of my ears near the end of the day and could hear people in the break room. It was the new girls. I tilted my head to try to hear what they were saying.
“Are you coming?” The blonde asked.
“I have paperwork to do at the end of the shift. I clock out in an hour.” Desi lied to her.He doesn’t do paperwork. I do.
“I can hang out with you while you work.” She offered.
“Nah. Go on and head home. Thanks, though.”
I couldn’t pin his inflection. Why did he turn her away? He had told me himself that he found her attractive.
“You’re so uncool.” She laughed. I let out a low growl. She was flirting with him. I swear to God if she called him—”
