“I don’t have and haven’t had a boyfriend for a long time.”
“No surprise there, given your attitude.”
“Yes, because yours issocharming. I’m sure your girlfriend loves it.”
I snort. “Oh, sweetheart, I don’t do girlfriends or love. Not even a little bit.”
“No surprise there, given your attitude.” She tosses my words back at me.
She makes her way behind the bar and starts pressing buttons on the payment system. Her brows tighten, a little crease forming between them, and I can tell right away that she doesn’t know what she’s doing, despite her claims.
With a sigh, I step up behind her, watching as her fingers press all the wrong buttons.
“You’re doing it wrong.”
She jumps, glaring at me over her shoulder. “Jesus. You’re like a cat, you know that?”
“A cat?”
“Yeah, an orange one. All stealthy and shit but also mean.”
I barely resist a smile. “Move. I’ll close the register.”
I expect her to argue again, but to my surprise, she doesn’t.
She moves aside silently, and I step up beside her.
“This is how you do it,” I say, going through the steps slowly. “See?”
“No.” She pushes closer, and I freeze.
Vanilla.She smells like a damn vanilla cupcake, and fuck if it doesn’t make my stomach rumble.
“Um, was that your stomach?” she asks with a laugh.
“No,” I lie.
She huffs. “Have you even eaten today? I haven’t seen you since Odette and Noah were here earlier, and I didn’t see you eat then. Unless you keep something stashed in that cave of yours.”
“Cave?”
She ignores my question. “I can make something. You guys keep the kitchen stocked, right? I’m sure I can whip something up.”
She’s already walking toward it before I even realize what’s happening.
“Wait, what? Where are you going?”
“The kitchen!” she calls over her shoulder, almost out of sight already.
She’s moving fast, like she can’t wait to get in there, and I’m sure it’s just because she’s desperate to get away from me. I don’t blame her. I still haven’t apologized.
But that’s the last thing on my mind. What the hell is she talking about, making me food?
“We’re supposed to be closing the cidery!”
“Then you close it! You were so eager to do so just a few minutes ago!”
So were you,I want to say, but I don’t.
