Lunchtime came fast the following day because of how busy the store was.
“Sundays are always a circus,” Morgan told Tia when she first arrived. “So I can’t let you and Courtney take breaks or go to lunch at the same time.”
“Ok,” said Tia. “I don’t usually do lunch too often anyway, so I don’t need time off for that other than to use the bathroom and grab a drink.”
“Don’t you know it’s not healthy to go that long without eating?” Courtney said with mock disapproval. “Don’t you get dizzy?”
“Sometimes, but dizzy beats fat, as long as it isn’t too extreme.”
Courtney rolled her eyes. “You’re worlds away from fat, girl.”
Despite Tia assuring them that she didn’t need to break for lunch, Morgan insisted when the time finally came. “I’ll worry I’m overworking you to death if you don’t take a break. Go on now. It’s not as busy around this time, so just kick back and relax.”
“Ok, if you insist, boss.” She used the bathroom, got her soda from the mini refrigerator in the office, and sat in an extra chair by the door. She took a long pull from the bottle, then leaned forward and rested her forehead in one hand. A moment later, she heard someone approach her and looked up.
It was Courtney. She brought her right hand from behind her back and held something out to her. “For you,” she said.
It was a blueberry muffin wrapped in plastic.
“Oh, thanks,” said Tia, accepting the treat. She unwrapped the plastic and nibbled on it slowly.
Courtney crouched down in front of her and frowned with concern. “Hey, what’s wrong, sweetie pie?”
“Oh, nothing. Just tired, I guess.”
“Yeah?” Courtney searched her eyes.
Tia felt like she could just melt in those dark, dark eyes that focused on her light ones. They were so dark she couldn’t see the pupils. She was held captivated by a gaze that some may consider a bit intimidating. She smiled softly and said, “Yeah, the neighbors were loud last night.”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Courtney said gently, seeming genuine in a way that touched Tia.
“Come on, Courtney,” they heard Morgan call.
They glanced at the doorway, then back at each other.
“Well, thanks for the muffin,” Tia said.
Courtney smiled, grazed her cheek playfully yet gently, then was gone before she could see Tia blushing.
Tia touched her cheek. It almost burned from Courtney’s touch, but it was in such a heavenly way.
The rest of the day was busy. Tia and Courtney hardly got to talk at all, although Courtney wished her a good two days off on her way out.
A good two days off?
She wasn’t counting on that!
“Have you ever felt this way before? Where you just wanted to know everything there was to know about someone? Have you ever trembled with a desire so damn strong at the sight – even just the thought – of someone you just met?”
“No, I can’t say that I have, Court,” Miranda told her friend. “Can’t say I blame you, though. Tia sure is a little hottie.”
Courtney looked across the street from Miranda’s porch, where they sat, as a car with a thunderously loud car stereo pulled into the driveway opposite them. As soon as it stopped, a dog began barking next door. “How do you stand it, man?” she asked.
“Sometimes I can’t. That’s why I’m not home half the time. Finding a quiet little hideaway in the woods like you’ve got isn’t so easy.”
“Been looking?”
“When I get a chance.”
Courtney took a sip of her soda and exhaled loudly. “Oh, this is just so wonderful yet so frustrating! I want every inch of her right now. Every inch.”
Miranda giggled. “Girl, you do got it bad! Listen to you, you horny bitch.”
“She is one hot little diva, alright.”
“It’s the hair, isn’t it?”
“And the eyes, and the full lips, and the body, and, believe it or not, her sweet little smile and friendly manner.”
“So it’s not just a case of young, wild hormones?”
“No way,” Courtney said firmly.
“Then what are you waiting for? Surprise her with a visit.”
“I don’t want to catch her off guard like that and maybe put her on the spot. Especially if she’s not in the mood for company. I also don’t want to move too fast and scare her off, but I feel so sure of her that if the law came down and said we had to be hitched this instant and she had to live with me forever and ever, I’d be the happiest person alive.”
Miranda laughed. “God, Courtney, I hope I have it this bad for some chick myself someday! This sounds like a lot of fun.
They both laughed heartily, then Courtney said, “You’ll love it. That is, as long as it’s mutual. Miranda, I’ll be so, so heartbroken if it turns out I’m reading her all wrong.”
“You’re usually pretty good at reading others, though I guess it may be easy to get carried away on wishful thinking at times.”
“I sure hope this isn’t one of those times.”
“Ok, I can see not wanting to risk going over there uninvited, but why not call her?”
“I don’t have the number. It’s in the file cabinet at the store.”
They sat listening to the sounds of the city a moment, then Miranda asked, “What is it you think she may be hiding?”
“Don’t know. I didn’t get a chance to ask her about it and didn’t want to make her feel uncomfortable by bringing it up, but she said she has no family. Maybe it has something to do with that.”
“Could be. I mean, that’s got to be rough losing your parents so young. You don’t know when or how they died?”
“Nope,” Courtney answered.
“I can see your mom suggesting that you wait and see if you get along as co-workers before considering becoming friends or anything more, but it seems you do get along as co-workers, so I’d suggest moving on. It still may not have been long, but I’d ask her out sometime next week. If she’s just as interested in you, and you wait too long, she may start wondering if you’re the one who’s not interested.”
“I was planning on something next week, but I don’t know what. I could take her to my place or offer to take her out somewhere, I suppose.”
“You’ve already taken her out somewhere,” Miranda reminded her. “To lunch. A lunch break while at work may not be the same as dinner and the movies, but it’s out, nonetheless. How about your place next?”
“That’s what I was leaning towards. It just sucks that we don’t have any of the same days off, but that’s why Mom hired her; so I didn’t have to keep working seven days a week. Mom’s working seven days as it is. She’s worried she’ll never be able to take a day off. It sucks that we can’t afford to close the store for a day or two each week, or to hire more people so Tia and I could have the same days off.”
“Till then, just have fun playing around in your imagination and hope for the best,” her friend suggested.
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