Chapter 17 Dave
I’ve been riding high since my last screenwriting class. I don’t totally suck! My dillhole teacher has worries too! But today I’m back at work and have to face my situationship with Kris. Is it even that? He didn’t do anything wrong by leaving in the middle of the night. It’s not like we’re in a relationship. We’re friends with benefits. As long as we don’t break the friendship, we’re all good. So that means…we’re fine? I swipe a wet rag across the counter. I got here early today because I was too restless to sleep any longer.
So yeah, everything should be fine, but it still hurts that Kris left without saying goodbye. And it feels weird that I don’t have his number to text him. Like, a simple ‘got home safe, see you at work’ would have been nice. I’ll be sure to ask for his number today. Because that’s a normal friendship thing, right? What might not be normal is smelling your pillow to catch a phantom trace of his scent or dreaming of him holding you in his arms. And, yeah, all the additional fucking you’d like to do. That’s something a little beyond the normal borders.
I scrub an extra stubborn coffee stain on the counter. I’ve got to play it cool today, and maybe forever. I’d rather be friends with Kris than nothing, so I will be Mr. Ice. Cool and collected. The door jingles and my eyes flip up immediately to see if it’s him. No. It’s Ari and Gramps. They don’t usually come in the front, but for the past couple of days there’s been heavy construction work in the back. I sigh and gather myself. Ice in my veins. Maybe if I say it enough times to myself, I will believe it.
I’m so busy with the pep talk to myself that I don’t hear Kris come in. Suddenly he’s walking towards me like a rock 'n' roll wet dream.
“Hey boss,” he says.
“Hey,” I respond, my cool fully intact until he smiles at me. Then my cool shatters, but it’s not my fault. Kris’ smile is wicked, and it promises everything I want but cannot have here at work. At least that’s how I read it.
I recall the montage of inappropriate Jaxon/Chip hookups I wrote and reimagine them here at the store. A blowjob beneath the counter. A searing kiss in the stockroom, A quickie in the break room. I’m going to lose my job if I don’t lose my mind first. Meanwhile, Kris has brushed past me and is getting ready for his shift. I turn back to the counter and scrub like my life depends on it.
A large hand grabs my shoulder, and I flinch.
“If you keep scrubbing like that, you’ll strip off the finish.” I turn to see Gramps standing next to me. He follows my gaze across the room where Kris is putting on his apron. “Is something up with your guy?”
I splutter for a second before managing to say, “He’s not my guy.”
“Ah. So, trouble getting your guy. Have you asked him to dinner or told him how you feel?”
“What? No. There’s nothing to tell. It’s just…” I trail off as my cheeks heat.
“It’s obvious there’s something. Every time I’m up here the two of you can’t stop staring at each other. And then there’s the banter and the longing looks.”
“From him too?” I whisper.
“From him too,” Gramps confirms. “Ari and Nate are taking bets on who will find you necking in the storeroom first.”
“We wouldn’t…well, none of that matters because he’s going to leave soon.”
“When? Today? Tomorrow?”
“No, just, sometime in the not-too-distant future.” “That’s fine then. You have plenty of time to open up to him. Maybe buy him a gift.”
“I don’t think he wants a gift. I mean, I don’t know what he wants at all.”
“And how do we solve that?”
“Talking to each other.”
Gramps pats me on the shoulder.
“It doesn’t have to be complicated. Try to get to know him better. Find out if something’s possible. And if it’s not, at least you know for sure.”
“I guess.”
“There’s nothing worse than never knowing.”
“Yeah, maybe.”
I can think of a few worse things, like Kris laughing in my face or never talking to me again. He could call me a square or parade his new lovers in front of me. Just thinking about it makes me queasy. It’s hard to see how a dinner and a chat will change things but maybe it’s worth the risk. I’ll need to work my way up to it. Take some baby steps first. Like a phone number.
Gramps settles at a table and unfolds a newspaper. Kris must notice I’m alone and walks over to me.
“Want to hit the storeroom for a sec?”
“No!” It comes out too loud. After a moment of surprise, Kris nods.
“Alright, boss.”
He turns to walk away, and I touch his arm to stop him.
“No, wait. I mean, I don’t want to do anything in the storeroom with you, but maybe you could come to my place tonight.”
Kris breaks into a radiant smile.
“And here I just wanted you to unlock the cabinet with the filters. But yeah, if you’re inviting me over, I’ll be there.”
“You wanted me to unlock the cabinet?” I can feel my cheeks heating with embarrassment.
Kris shrugs.
“Here are the keys.” I yank them out of my pocket and shove them towards him. “And your salad’s in the fridge.”
“You’re the best, boss.” He waves without turning back towards me and I watch him go.