My Almost

by Kelsey Cheyenne

  I clock in and my heart stops. Reese’s at the register ringing out a sale for the new release Jordans. I glance back at the stockroom and notice they’re almost sold out already. What. The. Fuck?

  I’m pissed. Is he even allowed to do this? How is that fair? He stole all of our fucking sales. Reese already makes more money than me as an assistant manager, and now he took all the commission on the big release too. It’s not fucking okay.

  When Reid gets here, Reese explains to him that Seth allowed him to open a little early for these sales. It would’ve been nice if he told Reid or me about this little arrangement.

  I’m sure my coworker is as pissed as I am, but I can’t say anything to Reese about this. Not after everything with my history with Aiden.

  Reese’s best friend starts his shift at six and I’m still in a mood when he arrives. I’m not one to let go of my grudges.

  And yet, why I can’t hold my grudge against my ex? He’s already cracked my hard exterior again, and it’s only been three weeks since he destroyed my heart. I’m weak.

  “Hey, what’s going on? Reese thinks you’re pissed at him.” Aiden corners me in the stockroom. At least Reese isn’t a total idiot and has picked up on my cold shoulder. Subtlety has never been my strong suit, anyway.

  I roll my eyes, holding the shoe box to my chest as I turn to face my coworker. “Well, I am pissed at him.” He waits for me to continue, blocking my exit. I sigh. I’m not getting out of here until I spill. “He opened early and took all the sales for the Jordans. It’s fucked up. I need the money and it’s not fucking fair. It’s not my fault I’m not a manager so I can’t be here early to open and get the sales.”

  I shrug, but the tension remains in my shoulders and my jaw ticks. I’m still furious but there’s nothing I can do. I should invest in a punching bag to get out all my freaking anger. And I’ll glue Aiden’s face to it.

  He lets me pass and I run back out to my customer. A couple more hours pass and there’s a loll in the customers, which is typical when we’ve already been open for six hours. “Chels, whatcha bake us this year?” Reid rubs his hands together with eagerness.

  “Cupcakes. They’re in the back.” I lead the group of men to my cupcakes while Tasha stays on the sales floor.

  I pull off the lid to the container and Reid bursts out laughing. “Are you trying to tell us something, Chels? Are you pregnant? What’s with the blue and pink cupcakes?”

  Oh my God, I’m a fucking idiot. It was screaming at me in the face and I overlooked the obvious. My face is probably the shade of red I wanted these cupcakes to be.

  Aiden’s gaze burns a hole in the side of my face. In my peripheral vision I see him and Reese exchange a look. I shake my head back and forth with such vehemence I think I give myself whiplash. “Oh my God, no, no nothing like that. I didn’t have green icing, and the pink was supposed to be red but I didn’t know how many drops I could put in. I’m not pregnant. Nothing like that.”

  If this were a normal situation, I could come up with a witty retort to Reid’s question, but it threw me so off guard I couldn’t think of anything. Aiden relaxes beside me but I think I’m the only person who noticed. What the hell is wrong with me?

  “Thanks for the cupcakes,” Reid walks away, shoving a blue cupcake in his mouth and laughing.

  I back away from the pair of friends, but stop when my name is called. “Can I talk to you for a minute?” It’s not the voice I’m expecting. I nod while Aiden leaves me alone to talk with Reese. This will be freaking weird.

  “What’s up?” I toy with my hair to give me something to do instead of staring at him.

  “Aiden kind of snapped at me for what I did this morning. I fucked up and I’m sorry. I already text Seth to fill him in on what’s going on and he’ll fix it when he gets here.” My mouth falls open to form a response but no words come out. I’m slack-jawed and shocked.

  He yelled at his best friend for me? Why? My eyebrows pull in as I frown, confused. “Oh, uh, thanks.” And Reese apologized for it. I think I’ve fallen into some kind of Twilight Zone here.

  I walk out onto the sales floor and my mind is racing as I spot Aiden standing at the front of the store. By some miracle Tasha isn’t standing with him; she’s helping a kid try on a shoe, Reid is helping a woman, and Reese’s still in the back. My focus is on Aiden.

  I join him in the front of the store and he looks over at me, sensing my presence. I peer up at him, willing all the gratitude in the world to shine through my gaze. “Thank you. For Reese.” I tip my head in the general direction of where Reese is, and a small smile forms on my lips.

  I don’t expect him to say anything. “Anytime.” He says, his voice low, as I’m walking away from him. His voice conveys so much emotion with that one word. This man will be the death of me.

  ∞ ∞ ∞

  Thanksgiving has come and gone and now it’s Sunday afternoon and I’m getting ready to make the trek back to school. Seth gave me the day off and I’d rather bite the bullet and head back to campus now. If I wait too long I won’t want to drive back. I never want to drive back.

  It’s right after noon when my phone rings and I see Seth is calling me.

  “Hello?”

  “Hey, Chelsea, it’s Seth. Did you head back to school yet?” It’s weird for him to be calling me out of the blue. It can only mean one thing.

  “No, why, what’s up?”

  “Reid called out sick. Can you cover tonight? I can’t go in and we’re short-staffed. Aiden’s on tonight. You’ll be closing with him.” My heart doesn’t know whether to sink or rise at that tidbit of information. Either way, the tempo increases knowing I’ll be alone with him.

  “Sure, no problem. When do you want me to go in?”

  “That would be great, thank you. Reid was scheduled at two but if you want you can head in as soon as possible.” I agree and hang up so I can get ready.

  So what if I spend a little extra time styling my hair or applying makeup when I usually don’t bother? It doesn’t mean anything. The better I look the more sales I could get. It’s like waitresses and tipping.

  As I’m walking into the store, my feet screech to a stop. Aiden isn’t here alone. Fucking Tasha is working with him. I’m sure Seth let that bit of information out intentionally since he knows I can’t stand her. Hell, Seth can’t even stand her. He’s kicking himself for even hiring her.

  “Oh my gawd you’re here? I would’ve sworn you’d be back at school already but Aiden here,” she jabs her thumb over her shoulder, “told Seth you’d be able to come in so he called you and now here you are! I wish I closed with you guys because it would be so much fun to be working with you again. Black Friday totally didn’t count because we were so busy but we could catch up today! I have so much I need to tell you. You won’t even believe it.”

  I keep walking past her and it’s like the freaking Doppler Effect. My eardrums wish they could combust at her pitch as I walk past her. The shriek of her voice is not only painful but also irritating.

  The door to the stockroom reopens behind me and I cringe, assuming Chatty Kathy followed me back here. I brace myself but no noise comes so I spin around. Aiden is there in all his gloriousness smirking at me, attempting to hold it together.

  “You did this.” I point at him, squinting my eyes to give him my best death glare. It doesn’t work, though, and he busts out laughing.

  “I’m sorry. I couldn’t deal with her alone and she’s as obsessed with you as she is with me.” He pulls off his glasses to clean the lens. The air between us is as charged as it always has been. The problem is now it’s suffocating, because the chemistry is there and always will be but he doesn’t reciprocate my feelings. I’m sure he doesn’t even notice the tension between us since everything else has always been one-sided.

  “You owe me.” I shove him playfully and he follows me out onto the floor.

  “Looking forward to it.” His smile sends shock waves of pleasure down to my lady business an
d I need to tell her to calm down. Nothing’s happening here. He’s just being his flirty, annoying self.

  Tasha’s shift is over in two more hours—thank God—and since she’s a minor, she still needs a break. When Aiden sends her away, and she leaves the store, the room becomes less stuffy.

  Aiden and I sigh in relief at the exact same moment and we make eye contact, laughing. At least I’m certain even if she wasn’t underage he’d want nothing to do with her. She’s too fucking annoying to put up with.

  We have at least thirty minutes of peace before she returns. I don’t understand why Seth was freaking out about us being understaffed because the store is dead. There’s seldom a shopper in the mall, let alone in our store.

  Aiden and I are together in our spot, leaning onto the folding table at the front of the store. I may have worn a push-up bra under my shirt and he may notice it considering he’s starting at my chest.

  “How are you?” He asks after he drags his gaze back up to my eyes.

  I shrug and decide to be honest. “Not great.”

  He puffs out his chest and I can tell he’s about to say something idiotic. “I’m that good, huh? You can’t move on and even if you could I’ve ruined you for other men.” He’s joking, but he hit the nail on the head.

  I turn my body so my front faces his side. My chest brushes up against his forearm and he glances down at the contact. If he’ll play dirty, then so will I.

  “You know how good it was. You want me, too, just admit it.” I peek up at him from under my lashes and he turns away, always playing the ‘cool guy’ card. But he fidgets with his glasses, forgetting I know him. That’s his tell which means I’m affecting him as much as he affects me.

  We’re caught in a stare-down when Tasha comes bouncing back into the store. I’m surprised she doesn’t comment on our intimate stance. She walks back into the stockroom and as soon as she’s out of sight, Aiden leans down to whisper in my ear.

  “If you want something to happen, you’ll have to make the move.” He eyes me with a cocky glimmer. His eyes are shining but also dark, filled with liquid desire. He doesn’t expect me to follow through.

  He underestimates me.

  I step back, eyeing his back pocket and find what I need. The store keys are stuffed in his pocket and the attached lanyard hangs out, begging for me to take them. I grab the dangling lanyard and he spins around when I take it.

  I walk backwards, swinging the keys around my fingers with my eyebrows raised. Before I turn around, I throw him a wink and then beeline for the bathroom.

  Tasha is sitting back here somewhere which will be tricky to get around, but my mind is too busy racing with other things to focus on her. Do I leave the door open for him or let him knock?

  I see our annoying coworker sitting in the back corner as I hurry into the bathroom. I decide to leave the key in the lock, allowing him easy access. Please, don’t let him stand me up in here.

  The seconds pass. I lean up against the sink, my hands bracing it behind me as I wait. The passing time is agonizing. What if he set me up to embarrass me?

  My eyes snap to the door as the lock clicks and it pulls open. Aiden spots me and in two strides we collide. His hands grip my face, mine fist his t-shirt, and his mouth is on mine. We’re hungry, starving for one another.

  I grind against his leg, yearning for more direct contact so much it’s painful. I whimper into his mouth and my hand finds his erection hiding under his jeans. His hand replaces his leg, and he rubs my clit through my jeans. It’s still not enough. It’ll never be enough.

  We spin around so he’s leaning against the sink and I’m in front of him. I unbuckle his jeans and reach my hand in to grab his cock. He groans, letting his head fall back at the contact and pushing the pants down his legs.

  I kneel in front of him, still gripping him in my hand. There’s no time for teasing. I open my mouth, taking his dick until it hits the back of my throat. I pump him with my hand as I work my mouth over him, taking him fast and deep. His fingers fist my hair and he moans.

  When my hand cups his balls and I swallow around the tip, he groans. I peer up at him from under my lashes and we make eye contact. “Fuck, I’m gonna come. I want you to swallow it.”

  Seconds later he’s spurting hot, salty cum down my throat. I swallow it all and lick him clean. He pulls up his pants and looks at me, his gaze sated with an undercurrent of regret. “Want me to finish you off?” We don’t have time and getting him off pleases me anyway, so I shake my head.

  “No, it’s all right.” Plus, I assume we’ll pick up where we left off later and I’ll get my turn. “I’ll go out first. Mind if I run and get a drink?” Just because I swallowed without arguing doesn’t mean I care for the taste.

  “Yeah, go ahead.” His words are lazy and slow as he smiles. He’s so handsome when he’s sleepy and sated.

  Part of me wants to run out there and brag to Tasha about how I just blew the guy she obsesses over in the bathroom. Oh, shit. Where is she, anyway? Will she be out here waiting for us?

  I walk out of the bathroom and there she is with a shoebox in hand. I stop in my tracks, panicking and yell “Hi,” to her to warn Aiden not to come out yet.

  “Sorry, I know I’m not supposed to leave the sales floor but there was a customer so what was I supposed to do? I had to grab a shoe for him! Where’s Aiden? I thought he was going in there. He told me to wait on the sales floor until he came out. I thought you went for food or something.” She cocks her head and wrinkles her brows. She’s not accusatory, just confused. I can work with that.

  “No, um, he meant I was going in the bathroom and he went out for a smoke. I, uh, don’t feel good. I’m going to run and get a drink. You better get out on the floor before he comes back.”

  She nods and runs out of the room. I smile at how gullible she is. I walk to the food court to grab a drink and when I come back Aiden is standing back at the front of the store like nothing ever happened.

  ∞ ∞ ∞

  Things aren’t back to normal yet with Aiden and I, not that I even know what normal is for us anymore. I thought it was us being together but maybe it’s not. Perhaps normal for us is only painful sexual tension and desire with no outcome.

  No, there’s no way that’s right. That would be torture for everyone.

  We still text from time to time. Okay, we sext because above all else, our sexual chemistry remains through the roof despite whatever problems we have. He still doesn’t want commitment, and I’ll still take him however I can get him.

  The weeks pass and we don’t hook up at work anymore. We don’t hook up at all. Our schedules don’t mesh well, and it seems like he’s distancing himself again. It’s just a matter of time before he comes running back.

  It’s the second week of December and I’m on winter break, hallelujah. I’m taking a long, hot bath when my phone vibrates against the vanity. I reach out to get it, splashing water all over the floor and nearly drop the phone when I see Aiden’s name.

  He knows I’m home for break. Now he could be ready to start things up again. I’m thinking I was wrong to transfer back to Blackshire. Things have regressed with him and I since I came back. As ridiculous as it would seem, I’m considering going back to Queen Silvercrest full time. Then we could come out about our relationship and stop hiding it. I plan to ask him soon what he thinks.

  He may not want a relationship, but if we keep hooking up it could lead to more. In order to be with him, in any aspect, I can’t work with him. Sometimes fuck buddies lead to more and in this case, our chemistry is there. It’s not just sex for us; it never has been. It can’t be this good without having feelings attached.

  What’re you doing?

  God, he’s such a bro. Of all nights for my car to be in the shop why does it have to be tonight? Maybe my mom will let me take her car…

  Nothing, taking a bath.

  Prove it.

  I send him a picture of my legs surrounded by bubbles because that’
s not the picture he wants, but I enjoy being a sarcastic ass. My phone buzzes a second later.

  Cute. I’m at my dad’s place. I need a distraction.

  My phone vibrates in my hand and I see he sent a picture of his own. His erect cock fills my screen. So this is how this conversation will go.

  My car’s in the shop. I can’t come see you.

  I’m at my dad’s in Adamsville anyway.

  He’s hitting me up to get him off, which is fine by me. He’s an hour away and I’m carless. I’m sure when he gets home he’ll hit me up for real and we’ll continue this.

  We talk and exchange pictures for a while, long enough for my mom to knock on the bathroom door and ask if I’m okay because I’ve been in here for over an hour. I drain the tub and go to bed sated.

  In two days I’ll work with him again. Then at least I’ll ask him how he feels about me transferring again. This time permanently.

  29

  Better Than Revenge

  I walk into work on cloud nine. Today’s the day I’ll ask Aiden about us point blank. I’ll put everything on the line, swallow my pride to transfer again, and if I decide to be brave, I may even tell him how I feel about him, as in, the big L word.

  Holiday shopping has hit as have holiday hours. We’re busy from open to close and we’ve upped the staff and the hours each night. Aiden’s the manager tonight, but I wasn’t aware Nate was back.

  I shriek and run to him, throwing myself at him in a hug. “Why didn’t you tell me you’d be back tonight?” This shift just got ten times better. I’ll get my man tonight with my best friend by my side.

  I’m walking to the floor from the back and Aiden’s at the registers. He looks at Seth who’s about to clock out. “Mind if I make a call real quick?” Seth grins and tells him to go ahead. They haven’t seen me standing back here yet.

  He dials the phone, waiting. His face lights up. I can see his full-blown, panty-melting, gorgeous grin form even from looking at his side profile. “Hey, beautiful. I miss you.”