Two Outta Three (Two Outta Three #1) Read Online Free Page B

was ice between us. It was as if a cold front had blown in and never disappeared.
    “Was it something I did?” I demanded.
    Jesse, who was reaching for his own apron, froze mid-way. “What?”
    “I must have done something for you to stop talking to me.”
    His eyes crinkled at the corners in what I could only describe as amusement. The fact that he could find any enjoyment in this conversation irritated me.
    “Well?” I demanded.
    “Why does it have to be something you did? I stopped talking to Stephanie too.”
    “Yeah, but…”
    “But what? But I was closer to you than I was to her? But we were supposed to be friends forever and I ruined it?”
    “Yeah,” I just about whispered.
    “High school’s over. We had to grow up at some point.” He threw his apron on and was about to turn away when he suddenly paused. “Rocky?”
    “What?” I snapped. I was no longer irritated. I was full-blown angry.
    “Contrary to what you might believe, it is really nice seeing you again. You grew up…nicely.” With that he headed towards the stockroom, leaving me gaping after him.
     
    ***
     
    “And that’ll be thirteen dollars and fifty-eight cents,” I said, forcing a fake cheerful voice. My conversation with Jesse was still weighing heavily on me and the fact that he was only a few feet away inside the stockroom, or The Dungeon as us employees so loving called it, did not make me feel any better.
    As I waited for Mrs. Crenshaw, one of our regulars, to count about four dollars’ worth in change, I felt my ears begin to burn. I could have sworn I felt somebody watching me.
    “Rocky!”
    I looked up and spotted Ethan walk in with two brown paper bags in his hands. He had a wide smile glued to his face and a little jump to his step. He wore a pair of dark brown trousers and a fitted grey sweater. I couldn’t help but think he looked like a private school student.
    Mrs. Crenshaw looked over her shoulders. Once she saw him she looked back at me with a conspiratorial glint in her eye. “So, you and the Malcolm boy?”
    It was odd hearing my seventy year old customer croon so…so… sensually.
    “Hardly a boy now, Mrs. Crenshaw.” I laughed.
    “You’re right. That sucker over there is a full-fledged man who fills up those slacks quite nicely, might I add.”
    “Mrs. Crenshaw!”
    “Word of advice? Snatch him up. From my experience, you don’t get nice boys who look like that every day.”
    “Point taken,” I replied, quickly losing my smile. I couldn’t help but glance over at The Dungeon and felt myself wilt. What if I never liked the nice guys to begin with? What if I liked bad boys?
    As soon as Mrs. Crenshaw left (pinching Ethan’s ass on the way out, I should add), I stepped away from the counter to Ethan’s open arms.
    “Hey, beautiful.” He placed a kiss on my forehead, causing me to stiffen up.
    What the hell was wrong with me?
    Attempting to relax, I hugged him back tightly and inhaled the contents of the bag. Though I really didn’t have much of an appetite, I couldn’t help but feel my mouth water. “You didn’t have to bring me lunch.”
    “Ah, but I wanted to. I felt bad that I didn’t stay after Christmas dinner to take care of you.”
    “Ethan, you didn’t have to.” You’re not my boyfriend.
    “I know, but still. I wanted to make it up to you. Seeing as I don’t know if your stomach feels any better or not, I thought I’d get you some grilled chicken.”
    “My stomach feels good,” I told him. Just not my pride—or my heart.
    Absently, I picked off a piece of lint from his sweater. With his answering grin, you’d think I had given him a foot rub or something. “Your mom told me I was allowed to eat in the break room with you.”
    “Of course she did,” I muttered. Stepping away from his arms, I grabbed one of the bags and began walking ahead of him. “Shall we go?”
    “We shall, Milady.” He laughed and pinched me lightly at my waist. From behind the racks I could make