I hold my breath when three dots bob up on my screen. Two minutes go by. Is he writing me a novel? The dots disappear, then reappear, until finally…
Willy Wonka: Busted.
I knew it.
Another message comes through right away.
Willy Wonka: You’re also not the worst person to talk to.
Kass: Gee, thanks
Willy Wonka: My pleasure.
Kass: Still didn’t answer my question
Willy Wonka: What do you want me to say? I’m texting you because I want to. Or do I need a permit, officer?
Kass: That’ll be $300
Willy Wonka: Ha. Ha.
Kass: Now if you’ll excuse me, I have other things to do than entertain you
Willy Wonka: Like what?
Kass: Like make an important call
Willy Wonka: Ooh, are you giving golden boy a chance?
I know he’s referring to Luke.
Kass: Not quite.
Willy Wonka: Poor fella. Just put him out of his misery and go on a date with the kid already.
Kass: Why do you care if I date him or not?
Willy Wonka: I don’t. I’m just saying you could use the experience.
I frown.
Kass: And what would you know about my experience?
Willy Wonka: Blake was your first, wasn’t he? And, last I heard, you didn’t have anyone else after him. Just putting two and two together.
Kass: My experience is none of your business.
Willy Wonka: Well, well. A control freak who has no idea what to do in the bedroom. Who would’ve thought?
My cheeks blaze. Is that really what he thinks about me? That I’m awful in bed?
Kass: And that’s my cue to stop texting you
His reply is instant.
Willy Wonka: Come onnn
I head inside my bathroom, rest my phone on the counter, and stretch my arm out to start the shower. I strip off my clothes, but my phone pings again.
Willy Wonka: I’m sorry:( come back
Against all expectations, I smile.
Kass: Bye Willy
I switch my phone to silent and step under the scorching water, still with this stupid, unwanted grin plastered to my face. This is the first time Will’s ever texted me.
And call me crazy, but…
I have a feeling it won’t be the last.
Kassidy
Willy Wonka: Do you think honeybees know they’re going to die before they sting you? Like do they have a little bee funeral and say goodbye to their family before they bite the fuck out of you?
Lying in bed with my eyes open a crack, I scoff at the text that pulled me out of slumber and double-check the sender. Will. He’s still texting me?
It’s barely seven thirty. Today is Sunday and my first day working at the pet store. I set my alarm for eight o’clock as I start at nine thirty.
Kass: You woke me up thirty minutes before my alarm goes off for THIS?
A few seconds elapse.
Willy Wonka: Yep.
Kass: I need to have a chat with whoever gave you my number.
He texts back right away.
Willy Wonka: Good morning to you too, gorgeous
When I feel a smile coming dangerously close to my lips, I tap out of our conversation and roll out of bed, marching toward my bathroom to get ready for my first day.
No one’s distracting me today.
Especially not Will.
The bell hanging above the glass door chimes as I walk into the stone building I now get to call work. A nervous wreck, I analyze the squeaky-clean, blue-and-white-painted store. Jenny told me it was renovated recently, hence the modern look.
My gaze shifts across the room. More precisely to my new boss standing behind the counter. She’s just finishing up with a customer. Jenny is a beautiful girl, taller than average—I’d say five foot nine—and rocks auburn, almost red mid-shoulder hair. She has a skinny frame and a rack that’s pretty hard not to notice. I wish I was half as blessed as she is in that department. I can barely fill out B cups.
“Hey, Kassidy. Right on time.” She smiles, gesturing to come closer. The customer heads out, dog food hoisted under his arm.
We make basic chitchat, exchanging how are you’s and complaints about the cloudy weather. Jenny then introduces herself. She’s twenty-two, studying to be an English teacher, and working as store manager to pay off her student loans. She’s been working here for three years.
She shows me around and tells me where everything is. I carry a notepad with me—because that’s the kind of employee I am—and write down as many details as I possibly can. It takes all I have not to stop and stare at the puppies as we pass them.
Lunchtime rolls around and Jenny tells me I’ll get to meet Isabella, Luke’s aunt and the store owner, sometime this afternoon. Apparently, Isabella’s visits are an event to celebrate as she owns a handful of stores all over town, basically making her too busy to breathe.
Another employee shows up for his shift a bit before my lunch break. Jenny introduces the tall, built African American guy as Ethan, who I come to find out is two years older than me. Once we’ve gotten the formalities out of the way, I retreat to the back of the store.
Luke is the first person I see when I pad back into the room thirty minutes later. Braced against the counter and flaunting the school’s varsity jacket, he scrolls through Instagram.
A woman who appears to be in her late forties stands behind the cash register, absently organizing papers. I take in her dark frizzy hair, gray cardigan, and tanned skin. She looks up when I come into view and rounds the counter, heading toward me.
“You must be Kassidy.” Isabella holds out her hand to me.
“That I am. Nice to meet you.” I smile, giving her hand a slight shake.
She doesn’t spare me a smile, nor does she say it back, but I doubt it has anything to do with me. Jenny said she can be a bit rough around the edges sometimes, but she’s a big softie on the inside.
After giving me a brief, professional “Welcome to the team” speech, Isabella says her goodbyes and embraces Luke, her nephew, thanking him for lunch.
