35| Begging
"Please, Mr. Hemmings!"
I watched, hiding between the shelves. Nathan wanted me here for support but when I saw Mr. Hemmings, I pretended to just be a customer looking around and went and hid.
Mr. Hemmings, as it turns out, is not easy to persuade.
"I'm not even looking for an employee!" Mr. Hemmings gruffed, petting Mia who sat by his legs.
"But I need a job, Mr. Hemmings, please," Nathan groaned, resting his arms on the table.
Mr. Hemmings shot him a glare and he pulled his arms down. Mr. Hemmings snapped his eyes to my direction and I looked down at the book in my hands, pretending to be invested in the book. "Your girlfriend is very horrible at playing dumb," he said. I covered my face with the book, stifling a smile.
"Tell me about it," Nathan scoffed.
I put the book back on the shelf and went up to the front. "Mr. Hemmings, he's only asking for a job. You'll get help around here, come on, please?" I grinned at him.
"And why him? Why isn't the one kid I have around here enough?" he asked.
"The more the merrier?" I said but it came out like a question.
"You," he said, glaring at me, "Get back there."
"But Mr. Hemmings-"
"Leave."
I huffed, walking away, shooting Nathan an apologetic look. "There is a huge stick up that old man's ass," I said to myself while walking further into the shelf, looking for something to read.
"Tell me about it." I got startled and jumped, looking as Liam rounded the corner. "Hey," he chuckled.
"Hi, sorry, you scared the shit out of me."
"My bad. What's up, what are you doing here?"
Oh no. Oh no, no, no.
"Are you the employee? You work here?"
He nodded, "That's me," shooting me a smile.
"Shit," I whispered. He looked at me in confusion. "Sorry, I... If you're the guy working here then there's no way Mr. Hemmings will ever give Nathan this job."
"Why not?"
"You're so sweet, Mr. Hemmings probably likes you. And Nathan is... not sweet."
"But you like him," he said, shooting me a pointed look.
Was that a dig at me because I didn't go out with him?
I looked at him in confusion. "He's my boyfriend. Of course, I like him."
He nodded slowly, "Right, sorry. Um, I'm sure Nathan will get the job," he mumbled. "It'll just take a lot of begging."
"Yeah, he's been trying for 20 minutes," I huffed.
"Then, don't beg. Mr. Hemmings doesn't like anyone. He only let me take the job because he genuinely needed help around here at the time."
"Fine, he won't beg," I shrugged, going back over there.
Being nice doesn't work with this old man.
I got back to the counter where Nathan was trying his hardest not to lose his temper and get frustrated.
"Mr. Hemmings, you will give Nathan this job," I huffed, putting my arms on the counter.
He glared at me. "That doesn't do anything," I said.
"Emma," Nathan mumbled.
"Look, he needs a job and you definitely need more than one person to run this giant place, all right? Give him the job," I demanded. I'm also just hungry and waiting for this to be over so we can go on the dinner date he promised. It's a McDonald's dinner date. I'm hangry now.
"No," Mr. Hemmings said calmly.
I swear this man is daring me to lose my shit. "I'll walk your dog every weekend," I offered.
"No thank you."
"I'll get you McDonald's every weekend."
"Tempting, but no."
"Give it up!" I exclaimed. He stared at me as I groaned, stomping my foot.
Nathan was biting back a laugh while watching.
"You will give him this job and pay him his salary.
He'll be here tomorrow onwards, taking the 5-8 shift.
Liam takes the 6-9 one. Got it?" I said, staring him straight in the eyes.
He looked at me, then at Nathan, still petting Mia. "I like her," he said to Nathan. "The job is yours."
"Thank you," I said before taking Nathan's hand and pulling him out of there and to his car.
"What the hell was-"
"I'm really hungry so you better give me the keys so I can drive us to the nearest McDonald's. Now." I held my hand out for him to place the keys in my palm.
He chuckled, placing the keys in my hand, grabbing my waist with his other hand, and planting his lips on mine. He kissed the living daylights out of me before pulling away. "You still wanna drive?" he asked.
"I don't think I can," I cleared my throat, handing him the keys. "I can't drive with jelly legs."
He grinned, pecking my lips before unlocking the car and opening the passenger door for me.
I climbed in and he shut the door, going to the other side.
"Sorry, I know you're really hungry, I'll drive as fast as I can," he laughed, starting the car and smoothly backing out of the parking spot, driving to the nearest McDonald's drive-thru.
We placed our orders, he knew mine. That's so cute. And then we got the food and then parked nearby to eat. "Can I get a chicken nugget?" he asked, taking one from my box. I stared at him in shock as he took a bite out of it. "What?"
"I didn't say yes!"
"Do you want it back?" he asked, holding the remaining half.
"No," I laughed, my nose scrunching up in disgust. "But I'll take a few fries," I said, taking some from his.
"Can I ask, what the hell happened at the book store?" he chuckled.
"Well, I ran into his other employee," I mumbled, sipping on the large coke.
"Who was it?"
I stared at him, not wanting to answer. "Liam."
"I'm quitting."
"No, you're not quitting."
"I'm quitting."
"Nathan!"
"He asked you out. He asked out my girlfriend."
"That was before I became your girlfriend!" He shook his head, looking out the window. "Nathan," I groaned.
"Mm-mm," he shook his head repeatedly.
"Babe," I sighed, "Come on. I got you the other shift, you won't even have to see him," I shrugged.
He looked at me, leaning his head against the headrest. "I hate that guy."
"I know, but... don't hate the game, hate the player, okay? Don't hate the job, hate your co-worker."
"The saying is don't hate the player, hate the game."
"I know that," I rolled my eyes, "I'm twisting it. You're all grown-up, paying for an apartment that you're getting for free, God knows why you're doing that, but you are. Work smarter, not harder."
"I have to work hard to get paid, babe," he deadpanned.
"Just try out the job, Nathan. You have to."
He groaned, rolling his eyes and shaking his head softly. "I hate you."
"No, you don't," I sang, taking more of his fries. He stole a chicken nugget to even it out and we ate in comfortable silence while music hummed through the radio, softly buzzing in the background.
"I have to go back home tomorrow," he said, gathering all the trash.
"Why?" I pouted.
He took the coke from my hands and finished it before climbing out and tossing all the trash in the nearest trash can before coming back down and taking a seat. "I have to pack up my stuff. I want to move in this weekend."
"That's so quick. You're only staying with me for another week?" I asked.
"Actually, not even another week. I'll have to stay a couple of nights at Brandon's. It's closer to the apartment."
"So, when are you leaving my place?"
"Maybe the day after."
"No," I whined.
"Yeah," he nodded.
"Then how do I come see you? Oh, can I help you pack?"
"Emma-"
"Please, please, please, please, plea-"
"Okay, okay, okay! You can help me pack. Drop by tomorrow after school. I've got time from 6 to 9," he smirked.
"I can come to the bookstore during your shift and you can drive us back to yours. I'll help you pack then I'll walk home, sounds fair," I shrugged.
"Try not coming to the bookstore until the end of my shift, it's distracting when you're there," he said, starting up the car, putting one arm behind my chair while backing out of the parking spot we were in.
"You look really hot while doing that," I pointed out.
"Doing what?" he chuckled.
"Reversing with one hand," I said, "While the other is behind me."
"Yeah, too bad you can't kiss me while I drive," he smirked.
"I can. But that would be stupid and too dangerous."
"I wouldn't mind," he chuckled.
"I would. Can't have the car crashing, babe." The car suddenly halted and came to a stop. I stared at him, suddenly regretting my choice of words. I totally forgot about the crash he went through. "Shit, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to say it like that. Nathan, I am so sorry," I said, facing him.
"It's okay," he nodded, "I just... like that you care."
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