“Okay, it’s in here, but they’re on the top shelf, and they’re too heavy for me to lift over my head.” She frowns, and we both step into the walk-in closet in the main building. It’s where we sell tickets and where the bathrooms are, so right now it’s fairly empty. I step into the closet behind Bells as she flicks on the light and points out the boxes. I reach for the two boxes and put them on the floor. They’re a little heavy, so I’ll only be able to take one at a time, but it should be fine.
“Can you get the door?” I ask Bells as I pick up the first box.
“Sure.” Bells nods, but when she twists the door handle, it doesn’t move. “What the…”
“Is it jammed?” I put down the box to investigate.
“It’s not opening,” Bells says in a voice clearly trying not to panic.
I twist the handle myself, and sure enough, it isn’t budging. It must lock automatically from the outside, and we are trapped. I don’t know how to tell Bells that without her freaking out.
“We seem to be trapped, but we can call Hattie, and she’ll have us out in a moment,” I say. Maybe providing her with the solution along with the problem will help.
“Sure.” Bells nods, but I can tell by the look on her face and her wide eyes that she’s still freaking out.
I pull out my phone to call Hattie, but I have no service. I try anyway, hoping it’ll magically connect, but it doesn’t even let the phone ring. Shit. Now I really don’t have good news. I try texting her instead, hoping by some miracle that it will send.
“Do you have service?” I ask quietly.
Bells’ eyes widen, and she pulls out her phone. “No.”
“Okay, well, I tried texting Hattie, but until we have service there’s not much we can do. I’m sure Hattie will come get us eventually.” I try to reassure her.
Bells starts breathing heavily, and before she has a panic attack and passes out in here, I grab her hand. After helping her sit down on the stack of boxes, she looks at me, and I try to think of something calming to say.
“I think you do a really good job with the event today.”
Bells laughs. “Ha! You didn’t even want it to happen.”
“I know, and that’s why it kills me to even admit that. But if this many people can show up for a free day, imagine who will show up when we have some big events going on.”
“I tried telling you that.” She cracks a smile. I take a seat across from her, not letting go of her hand.
“I know, but sometimes I have a hard time seeing what’s in front of me,” I admit.
Bells pauses, and I can feel the tension between us. It’s as raw and tight as it was the night we met. Her cherry-red lips are begging to be kissed. Her hand wraps around mine tightly, and we don’t break eye contact. Her hazels warm to my own as I smile. Maybe my friends are right—maybe she isn’t so bad. And maybe there’s something between us after all. Because in this moment, the only thing I want to do is lean in and kiss her. Maybe fuck her against the wall and have her begging me to cum.
She stares at my lips and then back at my eyes. Her breathing is steady again, nowhere near nervous territory anymore. Meanwhile, I can feel my own heart beating out of my chest. She’s lighting a fire in me I’m not sure I want put out. For months I’ve thought that fire is because I’m angry for Benny leaving her the orchard. But maybe I’ve mistaken that fire that is so clearly desire for anger. Now that the anger is gone, I can see Bells in a whole new light.
I lean in, just an inch, to see if this is what she wants. I don’t want to try to kiss her and have her slap me or something. But she moves closer too, her lips pouty and perfect. I reach up, pushing some of her curls out of her face. Then I leave my hand there, holding her chin, and gaze into her eyes.
RING! RING! RING!
My phone rings, jolting the two of us apart. I jump up and answer the call.
“Tills? Where are you? I need help!” Hattie says from the other end.
“Hattie! We’re stuck in the storage closet at the main building! Come quick, please!” I say as quickly as I possibly can. I don’t know how long I’ll have service or if it’ll cut out.
“We? Who’s with—” The phone cuts out.
“Hattie? Hattie?” I say, but it’s no use. My phone says call failed, and she’s gone.
“Was that Hattie?” Bells asks quietly.
“Yes. She should be on her way,” I say.
“Good. We have a lot to do.” Bells’ cheeks are as red as her lips, and she avoids eye contact with me. Gone is our moment, gone is feeling like there are no other cares in the world.
