~Joan~
“Jo, here’s a cup of coffee and burger. Figured you’d need one,” Matthew said, setting the sealed coffee cup and the burger on the counter with a casual smile.
I returned his smile. That was thoughtful of him. After the long, chaotic day I’d had, coffee felt like a lifeline.
“Thank you,” I murmured, grabbing both items as I turned to the customer waiting in front of me.
The line stretched on, a constant reminder that I’d be staying later than usual tonight. MCCORMICK FRIES wasn’t just a neighborhood joint; it was the spot, and people flocked here from all over. My boss, the good old McCormick himself, had already gone home, leaving the evening shift in the hands of Matthew, Nancy, and me.
Matthew opened his mouth, probably to say something else, but a customer cut in.
“Can I get a pack of fries and peanuts?” the lady asked, her tone curt. I nodded, offering a brief polite smile before getting to work on her order.
As Matthew walked away, I focused on preparing the package, but then something odd happened. The air shifted. It wasn’t something I could explain, but it felt… different. Like the atmosphere had suddenly thickened. My skin prickled.
I paused, glancing toward the door, my instincts stirring. Either someone important had just walked in, or something was about to happen.
Nancy bustled over to me, her cheeks flushed a faint pink. “Hey, can I take over for a sec?” she asked, her voice high-pitched and urgent. I raised an eyebrow, glancing between her and the dwindling line of customers.
“Uh, there are three people left. You can take over after that,” I said, keeping my voice neutral as I handed the lady her purchase. Nancy clasped her hands together in exaggerated pleading, clearly embarrassed by the glare she got from the woman I’d just helped.
“I’ll handle all of them,” she whispered, dropping her voice slightly.
“Okay, what’s going on?” I asked, giving her a sideways look. The blush on her cheeks deepened to a warm pink.
“A really pretty guy just walked in,” she whispered, her tone dreamy. “And I’d like to attend to him. Who knows? Maybe he’s the man I’ve been waiting for my whole life.”
I blinked at her, momentarily at a loss. “Are you serious?”
“A pack of peanuts, please,” a man interrupted, and I shot him a quick smile as I grabbed the order.
“That’s ridiculous, Nancy. I mean-”
“The guy that just walked in is staring at you, Jo,” Matthew interjected as he walked back over, his tone clip. “And let’s not even talk about the way he glared at me. Like I stole something from him. It’s scary,”
Frowning, I glanced toward the entrance. What was up with them? “What guy are you talking about?” I asked, rising slightly on my toes to get a better look.
The moment my eyes landed on him, I froze. Intense, dark eyes locked onto mine from over the head of a woman in line. My skin bristled, and my heart skipped a beat.
Aaron.
What the hell was he doing here? And why was he standing in line like an ordinary customer?
Matthew narrowed his eyes at me as I finished helping another woman. “Do you know him?”
I hesitated. Nancy’s eager gaze bore into the side of my head, practically demanding an answer. “Well… yeah, I do,” I admitted.
Nancy gasped and grabbed my arm, her excitement bubbling over. “Oh my God! Can you introduce us?”
I scrunched up my nose. “Hell no. He has a girlfriend,” I muttered under my breath. A lie. But one she didn’t need to know was a lie.
Matthew opened his mouth to press further, but before he could say anything, Aaron’s voice cut through the air, cold and familiar. “Gossiping during working hours, I see.”
Nancy and Matthew immediately straightened, like kids caught stealing cookies. I just stared at him, trying to keep my expression neutral.
“Good evening, sir. How may I help you?” I asked, injecting as much politeness into my tone as I could muster. He was a customer now, and McCormick wouldn’t tolerate anything less than stellar customer service.
Aaron’s lips twitched as if suppressing a smirk, but the moment his gaze shifted to Matthew, whatever humor he’d been harboring evaporated. His jaw tightened, and his eyes darkened in recognition.
Matthew shifted uncomfortably, looking down at the counter like it was the most fascinating thing in the world.
“We have fries, peanuts, coffee, burgers…” Nancy jumped in, desperate to redirect Aaron’s attention to herself. Her enthusiasm was downright annoying.
“I want nothing,” Aaron said dryly, cutting her off. Nancy’s face turned a shade of red so bright it could’ve been mistaken for sunburn.
Aaron was the last person in line now, and I knew I couldn’t put this off any longer. I undid the apron tied around my waist and dumped it on the counter. “I’ll be back soon,” I muttered, grabbing Aaron’s arm and dragging him toward the back.
Or at least, I tried to drag him. Truth be told, Aaron was not the kind of man you could drag anywhere. He followed me willingly, his long stride easily keeping pace with mine.
I led him to a quiet corner of the building, away from prying eyes and ears. Once we were out of sight, I whirled around, crossing my arms. “What the hell are you doing here?”
He tilted his head, his expression unreadable. “Is that the guy in the picture?” he asked, ignoring my question entirely.
I rolled my eyes. “Seriously? Are you here because of him?”
He didn’t answer right away, but when he did, his voice was curt. “Hell no. That’s ridiculous.” His jaw clenched. “He’s a sorry excuse for a man.”
“You don’t even know him,” I shot back, irritation bubbling to the surface.
Aaron’s gaze darkened. “You’re defending a guy who stares at your cleavage?” His tone was accusatory, his words biting.
“What the hell are you talking about?” I snapped, my confusion turning into anger. He pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling slowly, like he was trying to calm himself down.
Finally, his eyes softened, though they remained distant. “Get your things. We’re leaving.”
I stared at him for a long moment, then scoffed. “Fine.”
I stalked back to the counter, grabbed my bag, and muttered a quick goodbye to Nancy and Matthew. Matthew hurried over, his eyes darting between me and Aaron.
“Are you okay? Is he forcing you to do anything?” he asked in a low voice.
I shook my head. “No, I’m fine. He’s my best friend’s brother. He’s just… looking out for me,” I said, hoping that would be enough to reassure him.
Aaron appeared behind me, and Matthew took a step back, his unease evident. “I don’t like him,” Aaron muttered under his breath as we walked outside.
I didn’t bother responding. Once we were in his car, Aaron turned on the heater, and I let out a relieved sigh as the warmth enveloped me.
But as the city blurred past the window, I realized we weren’t heading toward my apartment.
“Aaron, you just drove past my block,” I said, sitting up straighter. But, he said nothing.
“Aaron!” I yelled and he glanced at me. I hated how his silence made me feel rousing up old memories -pretty bad ones.
“We’re going to my apartment,” he said simply, his voice calm.
“What? No. I didn’t agree to that,” I snapped, my heart racing.
“Relax,” he said, glancing at me briefly. “I’m not kidnapping you.”
But his calm didn’t soothe me. The memories of chaos and blood crept back, haunting me. I trusted Aaron, but the shadows of the past were determined to hunt me.