“Am I breaking the nonexistent dress code?” I asked, eyeing her own outfit. She was in fishnets, combat boots, a black pleated leather skirt, and a corset top that, if she’d had even a slightly more ample chest, would’ve made her look less like Wednesday Addams and more like Dita Von Tease.
“I’ve just never seen you so… casual.”
“I haven’t slept in two days. My bloodstream is currently 85% caffeine. No brainpower leftover for outfit coordination.”
“Guess that explains your aura.”
“Let me guess, it’s black as death.”
“No… more of a dark red, with lighter orange edges. But there are these little flecks of gold sparkling through…” Her eyes were half-focused, studying the air around my head. “Huh.”
“Huh? What do you mean,huh?”
“You head-over-heels for someone, boss?”
My mouth dropped open. “What?”
“It’s just… that particular mix of frustration, excitement, and terror usually signals a pretty intense crush.”
Color flooded my cheeks. “No! I don’t— That’s not—”
“Hello? Excuse me!” a girl in line called impatiently. “Are you planning to take my order anytime soon?”
“Yep,” I called, not looking away from Hetti. I crossed my arms over my chest and pinned her with my most seriousI’m the boss, I mean businesslook. “Stop reading my aura. It’s creeping me out.”
“Or what?”
“Or you’re fired.”
She rolled her eyes, not at all worried about my empty threat. She knew I would never fire her in a million years. Certainly not today, with an endless line of customers in need of slightly overpriced beverages. “Whatever you say, boss.”
“I mean it!”
“Sure you do.”
Grumbling under my breath about ungrateful employees, I wadded my thin gray leather moto jacket into a ball, shoved it beneath the counter, and grabbed a spare apron from the hook on the wall. By the time I took up position at the register, the girl at the front of the line looked seriously peeved. I pasted on my sunniest customer service smile and grabbed my sharpie.
“Welcome to The Gallows. How’s it hanging?” I grinned weakly at my own pun.
“I’ve been waiting, like, an eternity. I’m dying over here.”
“Then you’ve come to the right place.” My smile never wavered. “What can we get started for you…”
Chapter Thirteen
Putting the die in diet since three hours ago when I decided to eat healthier.
- Gwen Goode, resisting temptation
“Swing by again, sometime!”
I shut the door behind our final customer of the day and flipped the sign from OPEN to CLOSED. A massive gust of air rushed out of my lungs. I’d barely had time to take a breath all afternoon.
We’d never been so busy. I thought I’d been dead on my feet when I arrived. Now, I was thinking death might not be so bad. I needed to be horizontal ASAP — even if it was in a coffin.
“Jesus,” Flo wheezed, collapsing down on the plush green velvet loveseat by the window display. “That was pure insanity. I kept waiting for a lull and it just… never… happened. Nonstop sales.”
“You’re a lifesaver,” I said, falling down beside her and laying my head on her shoulder. “I owe you. Big time.”