“Yes, sir.” I worried that it sounded too formal, and the quirk of the boy’s smile as he stepped back behind the counter and resumed his pizza-making tasks confirmed it.
“You’re here for the job, yes?”
“Yes, sir.”
Nunzio chuckled. “This is not the military, Olive. No need to be so formal.”
Face burning in embarrassment, all I could do was nod.
The boy piped up from the counter, saving me the mental anguish. “Said she’s here for an interview.”
“Ah, yes, that.” Nunzio waved his hand flippantly, dismissing any concern. He turned his full focus back on me. “Are you able to follow directions?”
I forced myself to sound grown up and mature, straightening my spine, hoping I was pulling it off. “I am.”
Nunzio hummed a noise of approval. “And can you count?”
“I…I can.” Previous math classes may have put that statement into question, but it was nothing he needed to know.
He clapped his hands together excitedly, decision made. “Perfect. You’ll start tomorrow. Tyler can show you everything you’ll need to know. Come in at three.” Oblivious to my shock, Nunzio spun on his heel and disappeared back into the kitchen, stopping to declare something in rapid-fire Italian to the chef (who again grunted) before vanishing.
The boy at the counter—Tyler, apparently—looked at me again, impressed. “I mean, that’s pretty standard for Nunzio’s version of an interview, but I’ve never seen it happen that fast. He must really like you.”
I shifted from foot to foot, face reddening. “Thanks.” It must’ve been the pizza ovens making everything feel so stuffy and hot.
Tyler studied me for another second, lower lip jutting out slightly in concentration as he took in my dark, messy curls and green eyes, my summer freckles no doubt already making an appearance in a spray across my nose and cheeks. “Do I know you from somewhere? Do you go to Becker?”
Oh, great.“I do.” Becker High wasn’t the biggest high school in the world, but it was definitely big enough not to know every single person there, and it looked like this Tyler guy was one of them. “I’m guessing you do, too?”
He flicked a handful of cheese in my direction with a wicked grin, laughing as I blinked in surprise. “Guilty.”
“Interesting.” The giggle that slipped past my lips surprised even me, and all I could do was blink again as I picked a stray piece of cheese out of my hair. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you around.”
Tyler gasped dramatically, clutching at his chest. “You wound me, Olive Austin. I’ve certainly seenyouaround.”
My brain hooked on to the fact that he clearlydidknow me—he mentioned my last name without me ever bringing it up. Which brought on another hot flush of embarrassment, because not only did I have no idea who this guy was, but he also caught me.
I opened my mouth to start to apologize, because really, what elsewasthere to do, but he just waved it off with a good-natured smile. “It’s all good. My friends and I have always been more of the stick-to-the-sidelines type. But I’m sure you’ll get to know me a lot better now that you’re a fellow Suburban Slices pizza slinger.” He puffed up his chest proudly, which jerked a laugh out of me.
“Here,” he said, reaching out his hand. “Let me give you my number. In case you have any questions.”
“Questions?” I raised my eyebrow at him unconvincingly. “About what? Directions to get to my place of employment, which I’m clearly already at and need no help getting to?” Still, I placated him and slipped my phone out of my back pocket, placing it in his palm. He tapped the screen for a few seconds before passing it back, proudly displaying my new contact—the nameTylerwith the slice of pizza emoji next to it.
“Nice,” I deadpanned. “Real clever. I never would’ve guessed.”
He shrugged in response. “Sometimes you gotta go for theobvious, right?” His teeth were nearly blinding in the fluorescent lights when he flashed them at me playfully.
The sound of Mom tapping the car horn outside shattered the moment, and I turned back to Tyler apologetically. “That’s my ride. I have to go.” I hurriedly combed the last stray flecks of cheese out of my hair and headed toward the door. “See you tomorrow, I guess?”
Tyler nodded at me, an undeniable warmth radiating from him. “See you tomorrow, Olive.”
And while that was the first night I fell asleep thinking about his deep dimples and meltingly perfect brown eyes, it certainly wasn’t the last.
Chapter Four
Well, at least I had the foresight to bring a decent pillow. I mean,thirteen hours.Good thing it’s comfier than I remember, because my fake-sleeping shifts deep into a real dream about a kidnapping gone wrong—too many crime podcasts—when I’m jerked awake by the sound of the flight attendant’s overly chipper voice.
“Drinks, anyone?”
