“I have to go. Thanks for the bear.” I rushed for the door.
“Pidge,” Angel called.
But he didn’t follow me into the crowd like a scene in the movies. He was working, and I was leaving. Only cold winter air kissed my cheeks.
I got into the passenger’s side of my mom’s minivan and sighed, my breath a puff of distressed steam. Why was I flirting with him? If that’s even what it was. Maybe I was too sweet. Too inexperienced. Too tightly-wound for anything fun beyond a cute bear.
My phone pinged with an email to my med school account. It contained a link to the local bar along with it.
I hugged the plushie, comforting myself in its mystery aroma: vanilla meringue.
Just like Angel.
Mom peered at my lap full of goodies. “What’s all this? Something for Jen?”
I rested my cheek against the bear’s and smiled. “She can eat cake. This one’s for me.”
Chapter six
Sweet Sis
It wasn’t like Angel had invited me out for drinks. This was an informal gathering. For mall-neighbors. Coworkers. Friends? I didn’t know what we were, yet.
Besides, how was I supposed to dress for after-work drinks? What time were we supposed to arrive? Was there a designated driver or a carpool to this thing?
The next day, I mulled over my options while playing with chain belts in Kat’s store, Hot Contra.
“Just a few more minutes,” she assured me, sliding belts across mini racks one at a time with dutiful little clinks. “I have to figure out this inventory discrepancy.”
“I don’t mind waiting. You’re doing me a huge favor, driving me home this week,” I said.
“Ah, it’s nothing,” she said.
I rolled my eyes fondly at the obvious lie. It took a lot for her to drive to our house despite knowing who was still inside. “Closing shifts can be kinda annoying if you’re not sure how long it’ll be,” I said.
“I can wait with Victor, which is always a treat.” She beamed. “You could probably hang at the theater if my closing shift ran long. After all, I’m a Westbrook Cineplex V.I.P.”
“Yeah…”
I could wait there. But it’d be weird.
I’d hate to mooch off Victor for free tickets to a partial movie. Sitting in the dark after a long shift only made me want to fall asleep, which meant I might miss her call or have to endure his little jokes about not enjoying the movie. It’d be even more awkward sitting in the lobby, where he lurked to keep an eye on things.
The break room was worse, though. Every time someone walked by, they’d peek in, hoping I was a friend, and I’d look up from reading on my phone, hoping it was my sister. My gaze would meet with a stranger’s. Disappointment would flash across their face, and they’d keep walking. Something painful would shoot through my chest at every failed check-in.
Seriously, how did people become friendly enough with other mall-folk to go to the bar together?
I cleared my throat, running my fingers across the chain belts on display to create a chime effect. “Have you heard of a mall employee hangout thing on Wednesdays?”
Kat furrowed her brow. “Yeah. Why?”
“I was thinking of going,” I said, my voice cracking with feigned nonchalance.
“To the bar?” she balked with delighted scandal.
“I don’t know. Maybe.” I wasn’tthatmuch of a homebody. “This guy invited me—”
