Maybe This Time (Maybe #1)(23)

“What I’m saying is that it isn’t any of your business,” I say, my gentle tone softening the blow of my harsh words.

“Who?” he grates out, his jaw clenched.

“No one!” I huff, sighing in relief when a customer walks in. However, when I see its Reid’s blonde my temper gets the best of me.

“Who is this bitch?” I ask Reid, saying it loud enough for her to hear.

“Don’t talk to her like that, Summer,” he snaps, walking over to the girl and talking to her in hushed tones.

What the hell?

I walk into the office and start sorting through papers, not wanting to see Reid act tender towards another woman. Why is she always around?

It takes about half an hour until Reid approaches me. “Summer, we’ve got customers.”

Without saying a word, I put the papers down and head out the front, serving a couple of girls who had just turned legal.

“What can I get you?” I ask a cute dark haired guy. He looks to be about my age, with a lanky frame and bright blue eyes.

“I'll have a beer,” he says, grinning.

“What kind?”

“How about you pick one for me,” he says, leaning against the bar. I pick out the girliest beer I can find, and hand it to him. He chuckles, shaking his head at me, handing over the money.

“What’s your name?” he asks.

“Summer, you?”

“Harlen, nice to meet you.” He eyes me, taking a small sip of beer.

“You, too.”

“I haven’t seen you here before,” he says.

“I’m kind of a new recruit,” I tell him, pushing my hair behind my ear.

“Can I take you out?” he blurts out, flushing. I find myself leaning forward a little, endeared by his shy expression.

“No chance in hell, Harlen,” comes a growl from behind me. I exhale deeply, causing my hair to blow in the air.

Harlen looks surprised. “She yours?”

“Are you questioning me?” Reid asks, steel in his tone.

Harlen shakes his head. “See you on Thursday, Reid,” he says, throwing a longing glance my way before walking to a table with a few other guys.

I sigh. “That was really rude.”

“You want a boy or a man, beauty?” he asks, his lips pursing.

“I just want you, Reid, but I don’t always get what I want, do I? I learnt that at a young age. You need to stop with the whole ‘if you can’t have me, neither can anyone else’ thing because it’s selfish and I’m getting sick of it.”

Reid scrubs his hand down his face, staying silent for a second before he replies. “You want me to say it's okay for you to be with another guy? Cos that’s never gonna happen. Ever.”

I stomp my foot in frustration. “Where did your girlfriend go?” I sneer.

“She’s not my girlfriend, Summer,” he says patiently.

“Then who is she?” I demand.

“Why, you jealous?” he says, crossing his arms over his chest.

“What do you think?” I snap, copying his stance.

“She’s not my girl, I haven’t had a girlfriend since…” he trails off, looking put out that he let that slip.

“Since who?” I ask, dying with curiosity.

“No one,” he says, avoiding eye contact.

“When?”

“About two years ago,” he says. Two years ago? When he lost his brother?

“Okay,” I say, stopping with the twenty questions.

“Okay?” he echoes, looking suspicious.

“Sure. Hey, tomorrow, can I come in to work a little late? I have a hair appointment.”

“No problem. What you doing to it?” he asks, sounding like he genuinely wants to know.

“Cutting it.”

He freezes, turning to stare at me. “How short?”

I show him with my hands. “Just above my shoulders.”

“You’re not cutting it,” he says, frowning.

“I’m sorry?” I say slowly, sure I didn’t hear him right.

“I love your hair, please don’t cut it,” he begs, taking a lock of my hair and staring at it.

I laugh at his forlorn expression. “So what? If I cut it you aren’t gonna find me attractive anymore?”

“Like that would ever happen,” he mutters, running a finger down my cheek. “You don’t know just how beautiful you are, Summer. Why do you think I call you beauty? You are something else, something special. A f*cking treasure.”

I get goose bumps from his words.

“Listen, I…”

I stop talking when I see a group of people walk in, the moment ruined.





*****


“I don’t like it,” Xander says for the tenth time.

“Can you act your age? And not like my father?” I scowl, pulling up the sweetheart neckline of my black dress. I run my fingers through my freshly trimmed hair, loving the softness and the texture of the layers.

“I’m your brother, it’s my job to look after you. What if this * tries something?” he demands, looking like he’s about to lose his cool.

“It’s just a date! I’ll be back in a couple of hours. I’m not gonna bone him on the first date, Xander!” I explain, rolling my eyes.