20

Ashely
I rolled my eyes for the upteeneth time. Leo had this dazzling eyes that made my toes curl but the yearn to smack the grin off his face was endless.
“Looking at you? What are you even talking about?” I heard him ramble on.
I tried to signal him by blinking and batting my lashes but instead I was received with a poker face.
“What?” he repeated again.
“Never mind!” I deadpanned, walking over to get my apron from the storage room. My lips mashed together as I wondered if he was really pretending not to remember what happened between us, few days ago in the storage room or was he pretending to irk me.
I shook my head, trying to tell myself that Leo was unimportant and Mason was my top priority.
Emily snapped her fingers, jerking me out of my mindless thoughts.
“Is there anything I should know?” she asked with a hand on her hip that protuded out of her blue jeans.
I lifted up my hand while trying to tie the ends of the apron around my waist and was met with a look of concern on Emily’s face.
“Of course not, ” I uttered, “Why do you say that?”
“Nothing.” I heard her respond before she dashed out of the room.
A lump made it’s way into my throat and I swallowed impulsively, wondering what was wrong with Emily. Was there anything wrong with her?
I knew it wasn’t her birthday because her birthday was in less than two weeks.
Was it her parents?
I shook my head again. She was probably on her period or sensitive.
I pushed my hands into the apron and walked towards the counter to see Leo chatting with Belinda who was a customer who always made sure to tell me that something was wrong with the pancakes I served or the cakes.
I scoffed as I noticed her laugh and tuck her hair shly behind her back . It was so damn early in the morning and here was Belinda in a suit, flirting with Leo.
I walked over to the counter, annoyed by the way Leo was also laughing and with an inexistent pain in my nerves, I kicked him by the ankles.
“O-Ouch.” I heard him mutter slowly.
“Belinda, it is so nice to see you,” I remarked sarcastically, “I thought I would never see you again, literally.”
“It’s also nice to see you, ” Belinda responded with a poker face.
“This is our new staff, Leo and I can assure you that he is not your type,” I gesticulated with a sharp wave of my hand, “He’s not single by the way. ”
“What are you-” I heard him try to whisper but Belinda cut him off.
“What are you trying to say? I am only praising his good customer service and the pancakes were delightful by the way. ” Belinda expressed with a deadly glare directed at me.
“We serve the same pancakes. I guess you forgot to praise me then.” I laughed while wriggling my brows at her.
“I have a very busy morning and I will not waste it on exchanging words with you,” Belinda blurted out, “Thank you for the service,” she whipped her head and shot a smile at Leo before stomping her heels against the ground in an outlandish manner before exiting the cafe.
I smiled as if I had been victorious over a conquest. Belinda had been on my nerves for the past one year. She had that need to always make a person know that she was superior. She would claim that the pancakes were too sugary or the coffee was too bitter and the tables she sat on were dirty and I would clean it over and over till she was satisfied.
She even dared to berate me in Mrs Ping’s presence. I had never felt so embarrassed before.
“Why are you always so rude to the females who walk in here?” I heard Leo speak and I whipped my head and glanced at him.
“You mean the females that you flirt with?” I suggested with a brow raised.
“I only try to make them comfortable,” Leo admitted with his hands ruffling his hair. I don’t know how I managed to stand there, staring at his bulging muscles or his attractive face.
“Sure you do. ” I shrugged.
“Are you into me?”
The pen that I tried to grab on to, fell on a notebook and suddenly I felt my throat feel a bit dry. I placed a hand on my blushing cheek and chuckled.
“Why would you think that?” I asked.
“Because you are always trying to get women away from me. You want to mark your territory like a lioness. ” Leo voiced out with a chuckle to follow.
“You are delusional.” I deadpanned, shooting another glare at him.
“You are the one denying your feelings for me, ” I heard him respond, “Glaring at me won’t hide it.”
“All I want to do right now is swipe a tape across your lips.” I continued, turning my gaze away from him and darting my eyes towards Emily who was serving a customer with a smile on her face.
“Or would you like to improvise with your lips? ”
I cleared my throat but a cough came right after, making everything look awkward.
“What is wrong with you? You’re such a pervert.” I responded.
“And you are so damn possessive,” he answered,”And it’s so adorable to watch. I would have pulled on your cheeks but I am afraid your response won’t be friendly.”
I scoffed aloud, asking the heavens why this man couldn’t just shut the hell up. He looked like a kid trying to make a new friend and a new enemy at the same time. He definitely would have wooed a lot of women like this.
“I like someone else. You saw him, didn’t you?” I said.
“The unattractive guy you were gawking at, the other day?” I heard him respond.
I inhaled sharply before uttering, “You have no idea how it’s like to resist such an attractive guy like him. Probably because you don’t fit into that quota.”
“I am unattractive?” he replied with a frown.
“Yes,” I tilted my head, “Do you want me to lie?”
I watched as he covered his lips with a hand and tried to stifle a laugh.
“If you want to try to be a good liar, at least do yourself a favor and not blink too much.” he whispered with a wink.
I had no idea that I was blinking. I always did that when I was nervous, agitated or when I was about to lie.
“I hate you. ” I whispered with my gaze directed at the ceiling.
***
The day was slow and really very frustrating with Leo always trying to get on my nerves. He laughed with customers, ignored my orders of getting stuff from the storage room and reminder me every minute that he was obviously older than me.
“But you are the newbie here.” I muttered.
“You are just a bully. ” He laughed while flashing a wink at me.
Somehow that wink warmed my heart and wanted me to smile widely at him but I was determined. I kept a poker face on.
When he began to laugh at my clumsiness in taking a order, I stormed off into the storage room to find Emily, deep in thought with her right hand buried under her chin, her eyes facing the window
I tapped her gently and she turned slightly.
“What is it, Emily? You don’t look yourself. ” I voiced.
“I’m fine. Don’t bother about me.” I heard her whisper.
I sighed, “You are going to have to tell me. You can’t just shut out your feelings, away from everyone and your friends. What is going on?” I placed a concerned hand on her shoulder.
I heard her breathe heavily before turning her gaze away from me.
“Em-”
“I think I like someone, ” I heard her mutter, “Okay?”
I felt relief bathe my skin as soon as I heard her speak. It was as if a huge stone was removed out of my chest.
“And?” I persisted, “Why do you look so gloomy? Have you told him?”
“No,” she shook her head, “He barely makes an attempt to talk to me and he seems to be interested in someone else.”
“And you haven’t stalked to check? ” I asked.
“Why would I? That would be desperate.” Emily snapped.
“No, it’s not but well, I guess you’re right, ” I responded, “What’s his name?”
“It’s-” I heard her sigh, “I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Is he someone I know?” I shot a amused wink at her.
“Oh goodness, no.” she voiced with a grin on her face.
“I was really scared, you know, ” I started,”I literally thought you were thinking about your parents or-”
“Or what?” Emily spoke with her eyes fixated at me.
“You were pregnant?”
“You are crazy, Ash. Why would I be pregnant?” I heard her chuckle.
“I tend to overthink a lot, don’t I?” I responded as I grabbed her shoulders and embraced her for a moment.
“I’m glad you’re okay, honestly. ” I whispered before shoving my hands into the apron. I walked out of the storage room with Emily following behind on my heels and to my astonishment, I was met with an empty counter.
Where did crazy Leo go?
That was the first thought that blazed through my mind. I looked at my watch.
It was just evening.
How dare he leave without saying a word?
“Where did he go?” I heard Emily ask with her eyes searching the cafe.
“I don’t know, ” I whispered, “I fucking don’t know.”
But in my heart, I swore that Leo would start his day the with a truckload of I berating him all morning.
I sighed and smacked my lips while walking towards the counter.
Leo was definitely crazy but as I sat, I suddenly missed his annoying presence and his mouth that never stopped talking.