“MacKenzie?”
Uh-oh. “Yes?”
“You’re late. Again.”
“I know. I’m very sorry.” Do I tell her about the spray paint? “Do you want to know why?” Might as well give her a choice.
Theresa sighs. “Sure. Why not?”
“When I walked out of my house, someone had spray-painted the wordsluton the outside of the house.” I hold up the picture I took with my phone this morning.
“What?” she screeched. “Did you call the police?”
“No. I didn’t call the cops. What could they do?” I back up so I can tell her about the night before. “I heard footsteps outside my window late last night but didn’t think much about it.”
“You need to dosomething.” She rushes on. “You need to get out of that neighborhood, darling girl. It’s not safe. Anyway, why would someone think you’re a slut, let alone call you a slut? You’re still a virgin, aren’t you?”
I’d love to laugh at that, but it’s not the time. “No. I’m not a virgin. Unless you can be a born-again virgin.” I smirk. “I did have a guy at my place last night, but we didn’t have sex.”
“Of course you didn’t.” Now it’s her turn to smirk. “Do you think someone saw you with him?”
“That’s my guess, but I have no idea who would feel that strongly about me.” I really can’t think of a soul.
“You’re a worry, sweetie.” Without warning, she suddenly reverts back to being my boss. “But you need to get here on time. Okay? You know I love you to pieces, but you’re tardy a lot.”
“I know. I’m sorry, Theresa.” I smile at her, but inside I feel terrible. She’s the perfect boss, and I’d even call her a friend. I don’t want her to feel as though she can’t count on me.
The morning goes very slowly in the store. I wish we had a steady flow of customers because having so much extra time means that my thoughts wander between Sam, the graffiti on my house, and the fact that I’m hungry. My stomach growls, and I peer at the clock. Ten thirty. I’ve got another hour before I can goto lunch. I bend down to pick up the glass cleaner, grumbling to myself, “I should have packed something.”
“Oh, are you hungry?”
I’m startled by the voice. “Jeesh, Bobby, you scared me.”
Bobby lets out a weird little giggle. “Oops, sorry, MacKenzie. I overheard you say you were hungry. Can I bring you anything?”
I smile at him. “Nah, I’ll get some lunch in a little bit. I’m not gonna starve. Look at me.” I chuckle.
“I think you’re beautiful,” he whispers.
“Ah, thank you, Bobby. That’s so sweet.” I know he’s got a little crush on me. I pat his hand. “Well, I’d better get back to work. I was late today, and Theresa wasn’t very happy about it.”
“I saw that.”
“You saw that I was late?”
“Oh, um, yeah. I saw you come in, and I looked at the clock. Did something happen to make you late?”
I don’t feel comfortable telling Bobby about my issues. “No. Just overslept.”
“Oh, I see,” he said, sounding a little irritated. “Remember what I told you, MacKenzie. Watch out. Know your surroundings.”
Know my surroundings?He couldn’t be referring to the graffiti on the side of my house. Could he? “Oh, okay. Well, I need to get back to it. I’ll see you later, okay?” I watch Bobby as he waves at me and walks out the door.
“That boy has a thing for you,” says Theresa as she exits the back room.
“I know.”
“Be careful.”
