"Oh sure, of course." The old man smiles and heads behind the counter.
"Now." Keeping my arm around his waist, I spin him with me, making a wall between the counter and the treats we want. "Just talk to me, act normal."
"You’re insane."
"Yes."
"I can’t steal from that man. He’s so nice."
"It’s like a few dollars worth of candy." I reason as I start to pull the candy bar off the shelf.
"Exactly! We both make a lot of money, why wouldn’t we pay for it."
"Because this is a rush."
"This is nauseating."
"Just, get it over with." I squeeze him. "Grab something and let’s go."
"Fine." Rhys reaches forward and takes one, single, individually wrapped, caramel.
"Wow."
"Just, let’s go." He hisses.
I turn over my shoulder. "Thanks so much! We’ll be back soon."
"Have a good day boys." The man calls as the bell over the door rings.
We push out of the store and into a heavy drizzle. Rhys speed walks down the street with his piece of candy clutched in his hand. When we round the corner he pauses and presses his back into the brick wall of the thrift store.
"I can’t believe I just did that." He says panting.
"Your tattoos are deceiving." I admit as I watch this man get seriously stressed out about stealing candy.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, you’re not like a dangerous bad boy."
"Disappointed?"
"Yes."
His eyes fly open. "What?"
"I can’t say the other word today." I shrug.
"You’re an idiot." He laughs as he shoves my shoulder. "But no,"
"Uh, uh, uh…that’s a penalty." I interrupt already thinking how I can use his slip-up to my advantage. "Everytime you say ‘no’ today you get two minutes of touching to be served at a later time."
"Urgh, fine. You areincorrect, I’m a law-abiding musician who happens to like a visual representation of happy memories."
"It works for you." I tap him on the chest with my gigantic candy bar. "Ready for the next adventure?"
With an eyeroll and the hint of a smile Rhys huffs. "Yes."
Chapter fourteen
