Love, A Curvy Girl’s Guide (A Curvy Girl’s Guide to Shifters)

Chapter 4

FOUR

P resent Day

The fluorescent lights of the pharmacy buzzed overhead, casting a harsh glow on Haley's face as she leaned against the counter, massaging her temples. The day had been a blur of prescriptions, customer complaints, and mind-numbing paperwork. She glanced at the clock, willing the hands to move faster.

"Rough day?" a familiar voice asked, startling her from her thoughts.

Haley looked up to find Ian's piercing blue eyes fixed on her, a hint of something unreadable in his expression. She straightened up, forcing a smile. "Nothing I can't handle," she replied, her voice laced with defiance and exhaustion.

Ian leaned on the counter, his muscular arms flexing as he did so. Haley found her gaze lingering for a moment before she caught herself. "You sure about that?" he teased, a smirk playing on his lips. "You look like you could use a break."

Haley rolled her eyes, the familiar irritation bubbling up. "Are you trying to tell me I look bad? Because we both know that's impossible. No, Ian Johnson, I don't need a break. What I could use is for this day to be over," she retorted, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

As they bantered, Haley felt a strange warmth spreading through her chest, a feeling that infuriated her. It was Ian, after all. They weren't truly friends—they had never been friends—yet she would say that he knew her just about as well as she knew herself. It was uncanny. In actuality, they were just neighbors with too much history, most of it involving Ian being a royal pain in her ass. She pushed the odd thoughts aside, focusing on maintaining her professional demeanor.

"Well, if you ever need a distraction," Ian said, his tone suddenly more sincere, "you know where to find me."

A distraction? Their eyes met, and for a moment, the air between them felt charged with unspoken words. Haley's heart raced, and she was at a loss for a biting comeback. He was the ultimate distraction. How could he not know that? She broke the gaze, busying herself with organizing some papers on the counter.

"I'll keep that in mind," she muttered, not daring to look up at him again.

As Ian turned to leave, Haley caught herself watching him go, her mind a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts and emotions. She sighed, shaking her head as if to clear it. This was Ian. The same Ian who had made her life a living hell since they were kids. The one who always seemed to have the upper hand. She couldn't let herself fall into that trap, no matter how much he might have changed.

But as she returned to her work, Haley couldn't shake the feeling that something fundamental had shifted between them. Something had changed back in college when she kissed him—something they had never talked about, and she didn't even like thinking about it. But she had to admit, never before and never since had she ever been so shaken up over a kiss. And despite her best efforts, a small part of her was curious—maybe even excited—to see where it might lead.

No—that was insanity talking. She didn't want Ian Johnson in any way, shape, or form.

Two hours later, the bell above the pharmacy door chimed, indicating there was yet another customer, pulling Haley's attention from her inventory list. A burly man with a scruffy beard sauntered in, his eyes immediately landing on her. Haley straightened, plastering on her professional smile.

"Welcome to Oakridge Pharmacy. How can I help you today?"

The man leaned against the counter, the smell of alcohol and cigarettes wafting off him. "Well, aren't you a sight for sore eyes? How about you and me grab a drink after your shift?"

Haley's smile tightened. "I'm flattered, but I'm here to assist with prescriptions. Did you need to pick something up?"

"Come on, sweetheart. Don't be like that," he persisted, reaching across the counter and touching her arm.

Just then, Ian's voice cut through the tension. "Is there a problem here?"

Haley's eyes flickered to Ian, a mix of relief and annoyance washing over her. She didn't need rescuing, but his presence was undeniably comforting.

The customer turned, sizing Ian up. "This ain't your business, pal."

Ian's jaw clenched, his eyes cold. "When you're bothering a woman who doesn't want the attention, it becomes my business."

Haley intervened, her voice firm. "Gentlemen, this is a place of business. Sir, if you don't have a prescription to pick up, I'll have to ask you to leave."

The man glanced between them, muttering under his breath as he backed away. Ian's steely gaze followed him until he was out the door.

As the tension dissipated, Haley turned to Ian. "I had that under control, you know."

Ian's expression softened slightly. "I know you did. But I couldn't just stand by and watch."

Haley sighed, conflicted. "I appreciate the concern, but I'm not some damsel in distress."

"Trust me, I know that." Ian chuckled, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "But sometimes it's nice to know someone has your back."

Their eyes met again, and Haley felt a flutter in her chest. She quickly looked away, busying herself with straightening some pamphlets.

"So," Ian said, leaning on the counter, "are you okay?"

The scent of citrus and sandalwood washed over her. It was a far cry from the pushy man who'd just left. Why did Ian have to be so damned appealing?

Ian winked at her, a mischievous grin playing on his lips. "You know, Haley, I'm starting to think trouble follows you around like a lost puppy."

Haley rolled her eyes, but a reluctant smile tugged at her lips. "Oh, please, if anyone's the magnet for chaos here, it's you, Mr. Hero Complex. Always rushing in to save the day, aren't you?"

"What can I say?" Ian shrugged, his grin widening. "It's a tough job, but someone's gotta do it."

They both laughed, the sound mingling in the air between them. For a moment, it felt strangely easy—comfortable, almost. But beneath the surface, an undercurrent of tension hummed, electric and undeniable.

"Well," Ian said, straightening up, "I should probably get going. Try not to get into any more trouble while I'm gone, okay?"

"No promises," Haley retorted, waving him off with a smirk.

As the door closed behind Ian, Haley's smile faded. She leaned against the counter, her heart still racing. Damn it, she thought. Why does he still have this effect on me?

"Earth to Haley." Verity's voice cut through her reverie. "You okay there, boss?"

Haley blinked, realizing she'd been staring at the door. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just... thinking."

Verity raised an eyebrow, a knowing smirk on her face. "Uh-huh. Thinking about tall, dark, and heavily muscled, I bet."

"Oh, shut up," Haley grumbled, busying herself with the next batch of prescriptions.

"I'm just saying," Verity continued, undeterred. "Not every day a guy like that walks up to the counter. You might want to grab onto that before someone else does."

Haley's hands stilled, Ian's smile flashing in her mind. She shook her head, pushing the thought away. "It's not that simple, Verity. We have... history."

"History, schmistory." Verity waved her hand dismissively. "All I know is, if a guy looked at me the way he looks at you, I wouldn't be standing here debating it."

Haley sighed, her resolve wavering. Maybe Verity was right. Perhaps she was being too cautious. But the memory of past hurt lingered, a warning she couldn't ignore.

"Let's just get back to work," Haley said finally, forcing her focus back to the task at hand. But even as she immersed herself in prescriptions and paperwork, a part of her mind drifted back to Ian's smile, his protective stance, and the warmth in his eyes.

And try as she might, she couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted between them. It had started back in college when she’d wanted to save him from the embarrassment of failing chemistry. That kiss had lived rent-free in her mind for years. Try as she might, Haley couldn’t shake the memory. Only Ian had never brought it up after that night. Sometimes, Haley wondered if she’d dreamt the whole thing.

The sun had dipped low on the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink as Haley pulled into her driveway. Her shoulders sagged with the weight of the day, a dull headache throbbing behind her eyes. As she cut the engine, movement caught her attention. In his mother's yard next door stood Ian, toolbox in hand.

Their eyes met, and Haley's breath caught in her throat. She hadn't expected to see him again so soon, especially not after the charged encounter at the pharmacy. For a moment, they both froze, surprise etched on their faces.

Haley's fingers tightened on the steering wheel. "You can do this," she muttered, willing her heart to slow its frantic beating. She took a deep breath and opened the car door.

Ian was already making his way over, his easy smile firmly in place. "Hey there, neighbor," he called out, his voice carrying a hint of teasing. "Fancy seeing you here."

Haley stepped out of the car, smoothing down her wrinkled scrubs. "It's my house, Ian," she replied dryly, fighting the urge to smile back. "Where else would I be?"

He chuckled, leaning against her car with casual grace. "Fair point. How was your day? Any more troublemakers I need to chase off?"

The memory of their earlier encounter flashed through Haley's mind, bringing a confusing mix of irritation and warmth. "Ian, I had things perfectly under control. Every woman doesn’t need a big, strong man to save the day, " she said, her tone sharper than she'd intended.

Ian's grin widened, seemingly unfazed by her prickliness. "Ouch. Well, I like that you at least called me big and strong. Tough day, huh?"

Haley sighed, her resolve softening slightly. "You could say that," she admitted, running a hand through her hair. "Nothing I can't handle, though."

"Never doubted it for a second," Ian replied, gently. He studied her face for a moment, and Haley fought the urge to look away from the intensity in his gaze. "You know, you've always been the toughest person I know, Hales."

The use of her old nickname sent a jolt through her. Ian had never called her that before. Haley's mind raced, torn between the desire to maintain her guard and the longing to lean into the comfort Ian seemed to offer. "Yeah, well," she mumbled, fumbling for her house keys, "someone's got to be."

Ian's expression shifted, a hint of concern replacing his teasing smile. "Hey," he said softly, "I know how stressful life can be. Seriously, I know I can be an ass. But I truly don’t want anything bad to happen to you. Is everything okay? Anything bothering you?"

Haley's heart skipped a beat, caught off guard by his genuine concern. She opened her mouth to brush it off but found herself hesitating. "I..." she started, then sighed. "Work's been overwhelming lately. The pharmacy's understaffed, and I'm pulling extra shifts. It's just... a lot. And you know, with Dad’s cancer back, money is tight, and things are just… a lot."

She bit her lip, annoyed at herself for revealing even that much. Ian nodded, his eyes never leaving her face. "That sounds rough," he said quietly. "Your old man is a good guy. He’s tough like you. I was sorry to hear the cancer came back. You know, if you ever need to talk..."

"Thanks." Haley cut him off quickly, looking away. "I appreciate it. But I've got it under control."

Ian held up his hands in a gesture of peace. "I believe you," he said, his tone sincere. "Just know I'm here if you need anything, okay?"

Haley nodded, not trusting herself to speak. The silence stretched between them for a moment before Ian cleared his throat.

"Hey, I was thinking," he said, his voice casual but with an undercurrent of nervousness Haley had rarely heard from him. “Maybe you could use a break—maybe dinner sometime? Nothing serious, just… neighbors helping each other de-stress.”

Haley looked up, surprised by his tone. There was something different about how he asked—less teasing, more genuine. She opened her mouth to refuse out of habit, but the words wouldn't come. Maybe she did need a break. Perhaps she was tired of fighting her feelings all the time.

“Dinner?” she repeated as if testing the idea. She hesitated for a beat before offering a tentative smile. “Are you cooking? Because as much as I love a Johnson family meal, I don’t want to show up unannounced at your mama’s house expecting to be fed.”

Ian laughed, shaking his head. “Nothing like that. I want to take you somewhere nice. No brothers will be invited. Otherwise, I’d likely never get a word in.”

Haley’s eyes twinkled with amusement. “You aren’t wrong there. I suppose… as long as you promise it won’t turn into some heroic rescue mission, then maybe.”

Ian’s face lit up, and he looked almost boyish for a moment. “I promise,” he said, his eyes locking on hers. “No heroics. Just dinner.”

Haley swallowed, her heart thudding. She could feel the warmth between them, almost tangible, and she found herself nodding. “Okay. Just dinner.”

“Tomorrow night?” Ian asked, his voice full of hope.

“Tomorrow,” she agreed, feeling that fluttering sensation in her chest again.

Ian smiled a slow, sincere smile that melted some of her lingering resistance. “I’ll pick you up around seven?”

“Seven,” Haley echoed, and before she could second-guess herself, she turned and walked toward her front door.

She could feel Ian watching her, and as she slipped inside, she paused for a moment against the door. A smile tugged at her lips—tomorrow night would be interesting, for better or worse.