I broke the silence. “Let me finish up. What were you doing, cleaning the shelves?”
“Yeah, you’re starting today?” She frowned. “Do you want the job?”
Of course, I do. “Yes, I need a job. Take a break from cleaning. I’ll finish up.”
Kat looked at me curiously. “Jason, I need your identification for tax purposes. I have to pay you. You know there are always forms to fill out.”
“Right. I didn’t bring my I.D. I thought this was just going to be an interview. I didn’t know I would be hired. I can go get it, the I.D. My bike is out front.”
“You rode your bike?”
“Yes, I live only a few miles away.”
“No, no. You can just bring it in tomorrow. This job, you know it’s not permanent. I just need someone for the summer.”
“Yeah, just for the summer.” I played along. None of it mattered to me. I just wanted to be in her presence.
“Your bike is out front? You can bring it inside. Just put it right outside the back door, in the yard.” “She pointed to a hallway at the rear of the store. I assumed it led to the back door.
“Okay, I’ll get the bike.” I jogged from around the counter and went back outside the front of the store. I picked up my bike and put it on my shoulder to carry it inside. I didn’t want to dirty up the floor. I entered and the bells chimed. She was standing there watching me. She was smiling but I couldn’t read her eyes.
“Just go back this way,” I asked as I pointed to the rear of the shop for clarification.
“Oh, yes, I’ll show you the way.”
“Cool.” I was running out of words.
I followed Kat as she led me by two doors on my left and one door on my right. Straight back and off to the right was a small kitchen area. There were all the regular things a kitchen would have and a few unpacked brown boxes. The back wall housed a door that led us outside into a large courtyard.
“Anywhere back here is good.” She said. “Do you have a car?”
“No, I don’t have a car.” I placed my bike against the brick wall.
“But you’re old enough to drive right?”
It was my turn to laugh out loud. “Yes, I’m twenty. Do I look primary school-aged?”
“No, no. I just wanted to make sure you didn’t need a work permit.”
“I should stop shaving if you’re going to mistake me for a boy.”
“There’s nothing wrong with looking young. You actually look your age. I just wanted to make sure.”
“It’s really nice out here.” My eyes scanned the yard.
There were lawn chairs, a patio sofa, a few small tables, and a fire pit. Christmas lights were hanging from tree to tree. I could see myself playing my music out here alone or maybe with a small audience. That probably wouldn’t happen but I could see it in a daydream.
“My sister sometimes entertains her friends out here. They drink and play cards and stuff like that.”
“You don’t come out here much?” I asked.
“No,” she smiled. “I do not come out here much at all. But I will probably come out here and read over the summer.”
“What are you reading?”
“A book, I read a lot of books that haven’t been published yet. I’m an Editor at a publishing company in the Chicago area.”
“That’s a cool job.”
“While my sister is gone I have two jobs this summer. That is why I need a hand here at the shop. I work from home as an editor. I’m probably going to have a lot of late nights after I close up the store. I have to keep up with my regular job also.”
“I don’t have any restrictions on the hours I can work. If you need to go off and edit a book or whatever, you can. Once I learn everything I’m sure I can handle it. I’m a speedy learner.”
“I will keep that in mind. Where do you live?”
“I live up the way on Timberline Drive. The brown house with all the windows.”
“You live with your parents?”
“No, with my aunt and my uncle. I’m staying with them for the summer.” I hated lying but the truth wasn’t going to work in this situation. Another lie on top of the other lies I’d already told wouldn’t make a difference.
“Have your aunt and uncle been in the area long?”
“A while, yes.” I had no idea if that were true. “David and Fiona Glass, do you know them?”
“No, I’ve been away from Galena for some time. I don’t know many of the people in the area anymore.”
“They have a place right off the river on Timberline Drive.” I was nervously repeating myself. “It’s about four miles up Main Street going west.”
“I believe there are more modern homes up the way.” She added.
“Yes, they have this eco-friendly brown house that doesn’t quite fit with the town’s country décor.”
“Well, everything in Galena can’t be old fashioned. People started building houses and businesses a few decades ago. I think it increases the property value and that’s a good thing.”
“I agree.”
“You rode a bike four miles? Oh my, I don’t think I can ride a bike for four minutes.”
“I’m sure you can.” She had a body made for riding.
“I assure you. I cannot.”
“You look like you’re in great shape.”
“My long-abandoned gym membership thinks otherwise.”
I smiled. I can make you sweat. I can work you out with my cock.
“Let’s go back inside. I will eventually have a customer.”
“I didn’t hear the chimes.”
“Chimes?” She asked.
“The bells on the front door.”
“Right, bear with me. I have to get used to being back inside this store. I haven’t worked here for years.”
I followed Kat into the colorful store. The glass jars were filled with
