Her phone pinged, so she checked the screen. “Harvey.” She gasped and took off across the store, her coat and hair billowing behind her.
“Wait, the shoes aren’t supposed to leave the area,” I called, then whipped around to Zack, my chest tight. “Those shoes have a security alarm. If she sets it off–”
“She won’t go far. She just wanted to surprise someone.” Zack shifted his gaze over my shoulder.
Sparkles leaped into her tall, pierced-and-tatted boyfriend’s arms in the far end of our section. He laughed and held her close, balancing her and the coffee in his hands. She kissed his face and chatted with him excitedly.
Zack stared into the overhead lights like that was less painful than witnessing their PDA.
“Are they always like this?” I asked.
“Yes,” he said, the word steeped with hollow, disgusted resignation.
The singular time I’d had lunch with this couple, I’d spent most of it tuning them out while listening to my boyfriend’slatest attempts at making an album, although I did remember them smiling at each other a lot. They probably played footsie under the table. Honeymoon phase or whatever. I couldn’t remember the last time Theo had greeted me with anything other than “Hey, baby” and maybe a kiss on the cheek.
Being that excited to see your partner wasn’t normal. Not in a bad way or anything. Just not mature, like Theo and mine’s relationship. Two years changed things. We didn’t need to be all hug-and-kissy.
I played with my watch, then tidied the closest shelf. Might as well pretend to be busy. Not like Zack and I had anything to talk about. He didn’t even ask what year I graduated, the egomaniac.
He cleared his throat. “So, you, uh, work here now?”
“Yeah.” Obviously. Did he think I should be somewhere else? I doubted he’d care if I was on the cover of a magazine. Before I could ask what he did for a living, the cozy couple walked over to us.
Harvey slung his arm around Sparkles’ shoulder and offered Zack a coffee. “Hey, special delivery.”
“Thanks, man.” He sipped his drink, then grunted per caveman standards and vaguely lifted the cup in appreciation. “Much needed.”
Sparkles hugged her boyfriend tight and gave me a sheepish smile. “Sorry for running off like that. I can get you coffee later if you’d like any.”
“No worries,” I said. Coffee stunted growth, and I needed every millimeter I could get for the runway. “Just let me know when you pick your style and color.”
“Right.” She looked at her phone with dedicated studiousness. “Um…”
Harvey leaned over. “Do the high-tops. They’re the same cut as the elf shoes. You liked those, and we’d kinda match.” Henudged her with his combat boots and smirked, a piercing dark against his lip. Was he a punk, a hipster, or totally whipped?
“That'd be nice. Thanks.” She smiled at him like he had hung the stars in the sky instead of suggesting some footwear.
What was with those two? They acted as if hugs and coffee were diamonds and caviar.
I glanced at Zack, who’d zoned out to coffee land, and braced myself for more weirdness as I said, “All you need to do is pick which color. Then, you can be on your way.”
“Finally,” Zack muttered into his cup.
Harvey leaned close to her ear. “What do you think, princess?”
I frowned and tried not to visibly stiffen at the term of endearment. ‘Princess’ was extra, even if it was her profession. Was he being condescending or cute? Most guys who called me that were the former. Harvey might’ve been sarcastic the first time we met, but he probably knew Sparkles liked it. Even Zack the Bodyguard seemed chill, so I was probably overreacting. Pet names were normal between couples. I had ‘baby’ from my boyfriend. That was more than enough sentimentality. I was a strong, independent woman. I even had a stage name.
I glanced at the nearby mirror and crossed my arms over my neon-green shirt. My job title wasn’t part of my ‘brand’ any more than a pet name indicated someone’s affection. I was no longer that invisible girl from high school, but for some reason, I couldn’t shake the ghost of her in my reflection.
3
Surprise
After a whole shift numbing myself out on sorting gym shoes and ‘happy couples’ at work, I had to decompress. I texted Theo for support.
