Total pages in book: 162
Estimated words: 158872 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 794(@200wpm)___ 635(@250wpm)___ 530(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 158872 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 794(@200wpm)___ 635(@250wpm)___ 530(@300wpm)
“I will. Thank you, sir.” As if the Millers care about anything I have to say. They’d replace every last cashier with a machine if they thought it would be cheaper.
“Good night.” He shuffles toward the exit, leaving his cart blocking my register.
Sighing, I scoot around the counter, grab the cart, and push it against the wall.
Something out of the corner of my eye moves—a person at my register. I hurry back, forcing a welcoming smile onto my tired face.
My gaze lands on Wesley. What the hell is he doing here? I glance at the few items he’s stacked on the black conveyor belt. Milk, cereal, gum. He could’ve bought that stuff anywhere.
“What’re you doing here?” I grab the carton of milk, my fingers slipping on the condensation rolling down the side and drag it over the scanner.
He lifts his chin. “Gettin’ a few things for my mom.”
“Shouldn’t you be on campus?”
He shakes his head. “No classes tomorrow. I came home early for the weekend.”
“Lucky you.” My hand curls over the top of a box of Lucky Charms and I lift an eyebrow. “For your mom too?”
One corner of his mouth lifts. “Little brothers.”
“Uh-huh. Why buy it here?” I wave my hand toward the center of the store. “All the grocery items are like double what they’d cost you at Wal-Mart.” Most people only shopped at Miller’s Farms for the fresh, local produce, grass-fed meat, and imported cheese. There’s a good chance the best-by date has come and long gone on the overpriced grocery shelf items. Then again, Wesley’s family doesn’t exactly need to pinch pennies or clip coupons.
“Well, I also wanted to see you.” He can’t seem to meet my eyes and keeps shifting his gaze to the side. Either he really wants a package of beef jerky to go with his Altoids or he’s wrestling with some guilt. “Wade said you’d be here ’til closing.”
“Yup.” I glance at the register and announce the total.
He slides a credit card into the reader. “Look, I’m sorry about the other night.” A furrow forms between his brows. “I don’t remember a lot of it, but I think I was rude to you.”
“Yes, you were.” I punch the enter key on my register. Why does the system always have to take so damn long to process credit cards?
I flick my gaze up. Unfortunately, no one’s waiting in line behind Wesley. I can’t hurry him along using the excuse that I have to ring up the next customer.
Finally, the register beeps and Wesley’s receipt spits out. I turn to hand it to him and realize he hasn’t bagged his groceries yet.
Are you kidding me? Nothing frosts my cookies like able-bodied people who can’t bag their own damn groceries. I flick a paper bag out of the stack behind me and snap it open.
“Molly.” Wesley gently takes the bag and the box of cereal out of my hands, holding them out of my reach. “Are you listening to me? I’m trying to apologize.”
“Okay.” I put one hand on my hip and raise my eyebrows. “And? You want a medal? I’m fresh out.”
His lips twist—in amusement or anger, I can’t tell.
He tosses the box into the bag and slides it down the length of my counter out of our way. Pressing both hands on the now still conveyor belt, he leans over so we’re almost at eye level. His gaze drops to my chest—of course it does. Remembering the alternative he offered to coming in my mouth the other night makes me squirm. I wish I’d worn my sweatshirt over the deep-cut T-shirt with the store’s logo on it tonight. The apron I have to wear doesn’t provide adequate chest coverage.
“Please let me apologize.”
“For calling me a bitch?” I lean in and lower my voice. “Or assuming I’d want to blow you? Or for your charming offer to come on my tits?”
He groans. “Can you blame me?” He sweeps his gaze over my chest again.
“I don’t care.”
“I’ve always liked you.”
Weird way to show it. “Why didn’t you ever say anything?”
“You were Wade’s friend.” He shrugs. “I don’t know. And you were a couple grades below me.”
“So why bother now, when you’re away at school?” Something ugly dawns on me. “You think I’ll be your hometown hook-up when you’re not drilling sorority girls on campus.”
A flash of guilt widens his eyes and his lips part. Yup, that was his plan.
“Not at all,” he scoffs, and shakes his head.
“Really?” I cross my arms over my chest. “You seemed to think that was all I was good for at Hayden’s party.”
“Come on,” he groans. “Okay, okay. I guess I was a jerk the other night. Now I’m trying to say I’m sorry,” he says, as if I’m the unreasonable one. “And…” He pauses like he’s about to offer something really great I shouldn’t miss. “Maybe ask you out. I’ll be home all weekend.”