Page 13 of Novice Girlfriend

I needed my job though and I’d put in a lot to get it. Bevin had others to help her and I had schoolwork on my plate as well.

Everything was running smoothly until we were busiest at dinner. I got a message from one of our best people saying the recipient was demanding to talk to the shift manager and wouldn’t even tell him the damn problem. I rolled my eyes and told him I had it, asking he handle a few of the backed-up smaller orders for me and I’d hook him up later.

I had planned to go get them myself, but now I couldn’t. Saturday when break started shouldn’t have been busy, but some event got canceled and now it was Sunday morning. Except I hadn’t been aware of that and only had the skeleton crew we needed until we shut down for the week of break.

Which, fine, shit happened, but then people had to be understanding that they weren’t following the norm and there was no reason for us to have staff.

He sent a message it was fine but to hurry. I sighed and circled over since it was easier just to move my ass and de-escalate whatever the predicament was instead of adding that I took too long to address the problem.

The moment I arrived and a group was waiting for me looking too pleased with themselves, the hair on the back of my neck stood up. I tapped my watch and pretended to send a voice message to my guy saying I was here and to take the next order.

But really, I was pulling the same move Bevin had. She’d insisted we all get the same app on our phones and watches that she had where it recorded at a quick touch. It had come in clutch when that councilman’s son, Conrad Hanson, had tried to force himself on her. She was right that there was too much crazy for us not to be prepared.

I honestly had done it just to ease her mind, but now… She really was smarter than people gave her credit for.

“I heard there’s a problem with your order?” I asked, playing stupid.

One guy who was in front snorted. “Really? You think this is about food?”

I slowly raised my eyebrow. “When you demand to speak to the campus manager of Student Union Delivery and just received food… Yeah, man. So what’s the deal?”

Anger filled his eyes and his cheeks reddened when a few of his friends snickered. “Do you know who I am?”

I nodded, swallowing a snort when that appeased him. Boy, it was fun to burst people’s bubbles. “I’m the manager. I checked the order. Chad Scalf. Pizzas and wings. They cold? Not the right—”

“It’s not about the food, fuckhead,” he snapped.

Clearly.

I stared him down and crossed my arms over my built chest, making it clear to get to the point. Also, maybe not to be stupid and piss me off.

He probably still would, but at least he had enough self-preservation to look nervous.

“Dump Millen,” he demanded.

“No.” I glanced between them. “That’s it? You want me to dump my girl? Like—no. Hell no.”

“You’re not worthy of her or—”

“Yeah, I know that,” I said easily, snorting when that stopped him in his tracks and he looked between his friends. “No shit, man. She’s like a fifteen out of ten. Smart, beyond sweet and caring, the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever seen and—”

“You’re an orphan who isn’t—”

“Yeah, that doesn’t really matter in the real world,” I drawled. “But I get it. You’re from one of those families. You don’t want me with her. Okay, message received. Don’t care.”

“You should,” he warned.

I took a step closer. “Or what?” I chuckled darkly and let him see his death in my eyes. “You don’t deserve her either, fool. If you were better for her or could give her something I couldn’t, then I would consider it. I care for her and what’s best for her, but you’re not better than me.”

“He could give her way more,” his friend defended.

“Really?” I challenged, knowing the shit I was about to pull might get me in trouble or cost me my job, but Bevin was worth it. “You really think so? I treat her like a queen and support her. I’m there for her and patient. I understand her better than any of you fools—”

“You’re not one of us,” Chad snapped. “You’re not from our world.”

“No, but she ran from that world,” I reminded him.

He snorted at me. “Really? And became the head of the Millen family? Yeah, sure, she wants out of the top-tier family world. Keep telling yourself that, buddy.”