“How many lunches have we had with no customers in here, and you talked about your program and your dissertation? Of course, I remember.”
“I talk about it that much?”
“Enough,” Janine replied with a wink. “You really can’t grab a drink tonight? Or do you just not want to? Either is okay. I guess I’m getting braver after a year of working here and wanting to ask you out but being worried because I’m technically your boss. I probably won’t be for much longer: the owner is coming back to town soon. I’m putting myself out there prematurely, but I might only have a couple more chances.”
“Asking meout? Like on a date?”
“Yeah, on a date,” Janine said and smiled at her again. “You know I like you, right?”
“No.”
“You didn’t? Really?”
“No,” she repeated.
“Well, I do. I have for a while now, but the stupid nametag they make me wear says ‘manager’ on it, so I didn’t want to make it seem like you had to go out with me to keep your job or something. That’s not the case at all. You can totally say no, and it’ll be all good.”
“I’ve got a lot going on right now. I–”
“Ouch.” Janine laughed and took a step back away from the counter. “The too-busy-for-a-relationship excuse? Really, Larissa?”
“It’s true. I’m only part-time here because I’m in school.”
“And school takes upallyour time? You can just say no. For real. No excuses required.”
“I… I don’t get out much. Harlow is always telling me that.”
“That’s the friend staying with you, right? You’ve mentioned her before. A lot, actually.” Janine smirked.
“Yeah, we’ve been best friends forever. She’s always trying to get me out of the house, and I don’t really go even whensheasks, so I think it would be unfair to go out with you.”
“If she’s a friend, I think she’d understand you going on a date. I mean, sex is a possibility when you’re dating someone, not with a friend. Well, I guess you could have a friends-with-benefits thing, but–”
“We don’t,” she interjected quickly. “We’re just friends. No benefits.”
“And you really think she’d be upset that you had the possibility of a fun date, maybe another one or two, and sex at some point? I don’t mean with me; just in general.”
“We don’t really talk about that. I guess once or twice, but not really.”
“You don’t talk about dating or sex with Harlow?”
“Not really. Sex came up once recently, but other than that, I can’t think of a time we’ve talked about that.”
Janine nodded and said, “Okay. Got it.”
“Got what?”
“Nothing. I’ll take it from here if you want to go home and hang out with Harlow.”
“Are we really okay? I don’t want you to–”
“We’re all good.” Janine held up her hands in supplication. “I promise. If you change your mind, let me know, but otherwise,I’ll drop it. You won’t get me in trouble for sexual harassment or anything, right? I made sure I was on the other side of this counter when I asked, and I try to keep my distance when we’re in the storage room.”
“Keep your distance? Why?”
“Because you’re beautiful, and you have no idea. Can you blame me for wanting to be close?”
Larissa didn’t know what to say to that, so she didn’t say anything.
