Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 37695 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 188(@200wpm)___ 151(@250wpm)___ 126(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37695 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 188(@200wpm)___ 151(@250wpm)___ 126(@300wpm)
5
Britney
I check myself out in my bedroom mirror for the thousandth time. My black pants are the right size and length, and the forest green polo fits me well. A ShopMore logo stares at me from the left breast of the shirt.
This is real. I have a job, and it starts today.
It’s been a week since I was hired. After the interview, I went back the next day and filled out all the necessary paperwork. It was hard to grip the pen with sweaty hands, but John seemed totally cool and composed, his blue eyes gleaming. I swear, I could see a corner of that hard mouth turn up when I dropped the pen for the second time, but he merely quirked an eyebrow at me. I wanted to slap him and kiss him at the same time, both of which were totally inappropriate impulses given that he’s my new boss.
But now, it’s my first day and I have an hour before my shift is scheduled to start. I need to get moving. I don’t want to be late, after all. It’s a thirty-minute walk into town, and I better get started sooner rather than later. I don’t want John to think I’m already slacking.
Of course, my brother offered to drive me, but I want to get used to the exercise. I can’t leave Joey here without the car, and I never got my license because our parents died around then, and both Jo and I were too distraught to focus on something so mundane. Plus, getting a license is expensive, so we might as well save the money.
But maybe now that I have a job, I should look into getting a license. It’ll be handy, if nothing else, and then I won’t have to rely on Joey for everything. We’re a long ways from being able to afford a new car, but at least my paycheck will contribute to its maintenance and gas.
But I’m getting ahead of myself. I need to survive my first day before I start spending money I haven’t even earned yet.
“Hey, working girl. You look great,” my brother says when I emerge from my room. “Have a good shift,” he manages in a tight voice.
My brother still isn’t thrilled about my job. We haven’t talked about it since last week, but I can sense it in the way his shoulders tense every time I mention ShopMore even in passing. He’ll get used to it, though. Once I come home with my first paycheck, it won’t be so upsetting.
“Thanks,” I smile sunnily.
“Are you excited?” he asks me.
“I am. I can’t believe it’s finally here.”
This last week has been torture, after all. I’ve been antsy to get started at the store. I wish I could’ve started earlier, but John had to make sure all the paperwork was filed properly. I guess there are a lot of laws governing this type of thing, and he doesn’t want either of us to get into any trouble.
“You’ll do great, Britney. Remember what I said, though. Be careful,” my brother warns.
I fight the urge to roll my eyes. Joey is obviously convinced that something awful is going to happen in the broad light of day. What could possibly go wrong? But I merely smile again.
“I will. I’ll see you after my shift.”
“Text me when you get there.”
“Okay, I will. Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
He goes back to reading whatever fantasy novel he’s on this week. The library is closed, but Joey has a massive collection. He gets them as gifts or buys them cheap from tag sales because books are my brother’s escape. I’ve seen him devour the Narnia series, and The Lord of the Rings is a favorite too.
The walk to the store is quiet and uneventful. I make it downtown in no time, and given that there’s a pandemic, there are very few people milling about. The big blue awning of ShopMore greets me as I step in, and Kathy waves from behind a register. I see her hair is even more red this week.
“Hi, sweetie! Welcome.”
I smile shyly.
“Thank you. I’m glad to be here.”
Kathy grins at me. “Go on back and clock in. You remember how?”
I nod. John went over the sign-in procedures with me when I finalized my paperwork last week.
“But I’m early. Is that okay?”
Kathy waves me off. “Only by fifteen minutes. That gives us more time to train. Mr. Hemsworth won’t mind, don’t worry.”
I make a mental note to stop calling him John in my head because he’s my manager, not my friend. I shouldn’t be referring to him by his first name, even though he asked me too. It would be too familiar.
But then a rush goes through me. I’d love to get familiar with John Hemsworth, if I’m being honest. He’s the sexiest, most dangerous man I’ve ever met, and it’s only highlighted by the fact that we’re in the seemingly inane setting of a grocery store.