I made it through two more customers before I decided that I was pushing my luck and had to change the receipt roll.
I held up a finger, knelt… and groaned.
There, where my pile of scraps had sat, was a gray dollar-store plastic bin. On it, somebody had scrawled “Craig’s Dowry” with black marker.
“Hey! What’s the hold up?” called somebody from the line.
“Just gotta change the printer roll,” I yelled back.
“Hurry it up,” shouted another man. “We’ve got work to do.”
I grabbed a roll from the box and managed to get it into the machine in record time, but that didn’t satisfy the line of busy men.
It was only once I managed to clear out the rush that I had a chance to breathe—and stew over the plastic bin.
I could ask, but my bets were on either Harrison or Emmett. The first was more likely, but the big boss had a sense of humor.
Either way, it was clear that my attraction to Randy was going to be a source of gossip for as long as they remained amused by it.
Chapter 7 - Randy
~July~
Iembraced my sister-in-law, careful of her already small baby bump. “How’s the morning sickness?”
“Dios mío, it does not end,” she replied, voice curling around her accent.
“Does anything help? I remember you liked chamomile tea before.”
“It helps a little. Ginger tea is better this time.”
“At least that’s something. Hopefully it clears up for you soon.”
Pounding feet from the hall as Michelle and Marco emerged from their bedrooms, backpacks bouncing where they already wore them.
Yazmín straightened and met her children’s eyes. “Mija, Mijo, you behave for Tío Randy. Understood?” she asked, using English for my benefit.
“¡Sí, Mamá!” they chirped in unison.
She chuckled and leaned in close. “You will call if they are too much?”
I smiled. “Of course, but you don’t need to worry. It’s one night. Enjoy your time with Jessie instead.”
She grinned. “A night alone with mi alfa. I am looking forward to it.”
“Good.” I hugged her again. “She’ll be back soon?”
“Si. She has gone to the store.”
“Ok. I guess we’ll get going so we don’t miss the movie.”
She nodded, then turned to the kids and knelt. “¡Vengan, mis niños! Denme un abracito antes de irse.”
Both of them ran over and hugged her tight. She kissed each on the cheek, then stood again. “Have fun.”
“Ok!” they both replied, Marco bouncing on his toes.
I laughed. “Come on, kiddos. I’ve got tickets for that new movie you wanted to see.”
