“He’s still waiting,” I snapped.
Andre jumped. “Right, sorry.” He took a swig of mouthwash and swallowed it. Nasty man. He followed me down the stairs, then thrust out his hand and smiled. “I’m Andre. You must be Zack.”
“Yes. Nice to meet you, sir.” He gave him a firm handshake and let out an almost imperceptibly shaky breath. Nerves. He seemed to shove them down quick enough while I helped the next customer.
I grabbed the requested shoe and headed to the back. My blinking phone was like a silent alarm raging in the back of my head. Where did Theo get off messaging me like that? As if I cheated on him. Was it to make himself feel better about what he did with Bigfoot? Well, maybe he’d feel a smidgeon of the burning humiliation I did.
I marched from one shoe section to the next, helping customers while Andre conducted the interview with Zack. I’d catch glimpses of them in the stacks. He was explaining the whole inventory system in a mini orientation and introduced him to another manager. That boded well for the interview process. Andre would probably hire him.
My gut twisted. Did I really want to be around him on the regular? Warehouse employees didn’t have to wear the bright green tees. I’d probably have to put more makeup on and stop lurking in the back to text at risk of him tattling on me. But I did get him this job. He’d probably be nice to me. Maybe we could come to some kind of understanding.
The bell dinged.
“Coming.” I shoveled a few more sizes in the sorting shelf and strode out to the shoe window.
A familiar figure skulked from behind the desk. “We need to talk, Nikki.”
My heart throbbed in my throat. At least he didn’t call me ‘baby.’
14
Can I Call You Baby?
Steeling myself, I sorted some shoes a customer must’ve left on the desk. “We don’t have any Zeezy’s.”
Theo scoffed. “That’s not what I’m here for and you know it.”
Of course not. He already had a pair thanks to his other lady.
Edging closer to the desk, he played with his thin neck chain. “I came here because I care about you. Two years means something to me. I thought it meant something to you too.”
“It did.” I squirmed.
“Can’t you spare me a couple minutes then?”
We’d need way more than a couple of minutes to get to the bottom of our breakup. Part of me worried that I owed him that. But I didn’t, after what he did. I shoved some padding into the toe of a shoe. “It’s not going to change anything.”
He threw up his hands. “What do you want me to do?”
I packed in the padding. “How about you take some responsibility?”
“I did. I came here.” He gestured.
“I meant like an apology,” I said.
He leaned his palms on the counter and sighed. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you I was talking to that girl for the Zeezy’s. I’m sorry you got into a fight over me. I’m sorry you had to leave early. And I’m sorry you had to get a ride with some random guy when it should’ve been with me. I’m sorry. Honestly.” With each apology, he slumped his weight to one side and looked at the ceiling like he’d rehearsed this routine with his mommy when he was three. He lowered his head and smoldered, his voice low. “Now, will you please have dinner with me so I can make it up to you?”
My anger wavered, albeit briefly. At least he apologized and was being nice to me.
Normally, I’d let him take me to a steak dinner or buy me a nice pair of earrings. But this was different. We didn’t have a stupid misunderstanding or a bad day. He thought my business and his scam were on the same level. What was going to stop him from manipulating someone else, including me?
I shook my head and lowered my gaze to the boots. “I appreciate the apologies, but I’m not going out with you. We’re done.”
“What do you mean?” He stood up straight. “I can’t return the shoes, baby.”
Why was he still so focused on those damned Zeezy’s? “I’m not asking you to… Ugh, you know what? I think you should leave.” I pushed the boxes to the back counter and started to walk away.
Theo ran around the counter to block the doorway. “I’m not leaving until you agree to have dinner with me.”
