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He snorts. “Most people are instructed to speak to the service department to handle these kinds of issues.”
“Yeah.” I enter the sale amount in the credit card machine and wait for the light to turn green. “But I’m not most people, and you’re already here.”
He barks a laugh. “Bring it by the office, and I’ll switch it out for a new one. That way, you can go on with your life, and in the meantime, I’ll look at the broken one. See why it’s glitching.” He taps his card. “For free, since we’ll consider yours research.”
“Perfect.” I set the machine down and wait for the receipt to spit out the top. “And I can assure you, the glitching is definitelynota result of being dropped down two flights of stairs last Monday at approximately ten p.m., when I went out to buy Chinese food.” I hand the man his receipt and take the second for our cash register. “I’ll swing by this afternoon sometime to switch.”
Picking up the box of cakes, I extend my hands and grin as he takes my offering. “You’re welcome.”
“Mmhm.” He turns on his heels and starts toward the door. “Come to think of it, we’re testing a new shock-proof phone cover.” Stopping by the door and glancing to Axel with a pitying look, he brings his gaze back to me. “I’ll set you up with one of those, too. Ya know, as further market research.”
“The things I do for you, Griff.” I exhale like I’m simply too exhausted from selflessness, then snicker as he swings the door wide and strides onto the sidewalk outside. “Tell the crew we said hey.”
“Sure thing.” He releases the door, but before it shuts, he retorts, “Tell Danes he’s gotta get back to work. We’re not running an escort service over there.”
Humored, I pick up a pen and nibble on the end. “I promise to pass that message along.”
The second the door shuts and it’s just me and Axel all alone, I drop my smile and meet his eyes. “Come over about eight. No strings attached, no drama, no talk of forever, and no freaking out about broken bodies or traveling.”
Soft footsteps shuffle along tile, so I peer over my shoulder and find June’s sweet face as she emerges with a terribly decorated cupcake.
“Wow, baby girl! That looks amazing.”
“Thanks.” She bypasses me—I’m boring when Uncle Axe is in the building—and stops between his legs, much the same way I did.
But it’s not the same at all.
Not even close.
“I did this for you, Uncle Axe. See the ‘A’ I put on the top?”
“Thanks, Bug.” His voice crackles with tension as he accepts the dessert and sets it on the table beside the first. “It looks so good. You worked really hard on it, huh?”
“Yuh! Mommy helped at the start, but then she had to help Pres with something in the storage room, so I finished it on my own.”
I choke out a laugh and snatch up the broom settled in the corner behind the counter.
She had to help Pres with something, alright. But it for sure includes his dick nestled deep in her throat.
“I’m not saying a thing!” I tell them both when they look. “I’m just sweeping the floor and doing my thing like a good girl.”
* * *
It’s my job to close Juniper’s Bakery at five p.m., six days a week.
Nicole’s day starts at three in the morning, with baking, prepping, and getting stock to the shop and cakes in the cabinet so I have something to sell. Which means, nine times out of ten, Nicole is done with her day around three in the afternoon.
Just in time for school pick-up.
As a result, I’m in the shop from three till five all alone. Restocking the fridge, mopping the floors. I deep-clean the display cabinets every afternoon, and at five on the dot, I lock up and set the alarms to secure the place until Nicole waltzes in again the next morning.
It’s a routine we both love.
A predictability we each thrive on.
I swear, I have no clue where Axel got the idea I’d like to travel. In his mind, I’m some kind of flighty, free bird like my mom and dad, craving freedom from responsibility, and space to stretch my wings. In reality, I was a child of chaos. I lived inside a noisy home, with parents who couldn’t keep a schedule if their lives depended on it.
We camped in the forest for months at a time, ignored traditional schooling, and escaped the grind of civilization whenever it all became too much.
