I grabbed all the chips and dip I could find that promised lots of empty calories, then groaned when I noticed only one checker was open and the guy in front of me had ten coupons.
I was ready to pay for his groceries if the dude would just let me go first.
“I can help you over here, sir,” a perky voice said to my right.
A slow smile spread across my face as I turned. “Oh wow, thank you.”
The girl blushed and flicked on the little light at her check stand.
“Hmm, going to a party?” The scanner beeped as she ran each item through.
“For my sister. Well, she’s basically my sister. And I’m the tool that forgot to bring snacks.”
“You don’t seem like a tool to me.” Her voice was throaty as she arched her eyebrows.
“Well, maybe you should tell her that, which would save me from having to grovel . . .”
Her eyes lit up. “I get off in ten minutes.”
“Aw, it would only take me five. Tops.”
“What?”
“Your top.” I pointed to her plain white shirt. “Looks gorgeous with your skin tone.”
Her eyes dilated right before me.#p#分页标题#e#
Sometimes, it was just too easy.
CHAPTER THREE
“Finally,” Gabi shouted as she opened the door and jerked the groceries out of my hand in one fell swoop. “I thought you said you fifteen minutes.”
“Did I say fifteen? Could have sworn I said twenty.” And there was that one checker who needed my help, so . . .
Gabi’s eyes narrowed. “You smell like cheap perfume.”
“Gross, right? Who wears Vanilla Fields anymore? I think your grandma still buys that shit, but she’s eighty. She’s allowed to be a creature of habit.”
“You did it again, didn’t you?”
“Did what?” I played innocent while I unpacked the shopping bags. Gabi lived a few blocks away from the University of Washington campus, and I, in turn, lived a few miles away from her. It was convenient for both of us.
I made sure no idiots plagued her with their existence.
And she cooked for me.
Sometimes she even packed me little-kid lunches with smiley faces.
I’d probably starve without her. A point she liked to make on a daily basis.
Gabi rolled her green eyes and quickly pulled her long auburn hair into a low messy bun. “Sometimes I want to kill you.” She exhaled. “Wow, I feel so much better getting that off my chest.”
“That’s what I’m here for.” I winked. “Your own personal therapy.”
She scrunched up her nose. “Seriously. You smell bad, dude.”
I held up my shirt and winced. “How the hell did five minutes with Shopgirl lead to me being a walking perfume commercial?”
Gabi sighed, then pointed upstairs. “Go. Shower. I’ll put out the food. Your extra clothes are still in my room. Just”—she sneezed and wrinkled her nose—“get rid of the skank.”
“She has a name,” I teased. Not that I actually remembered it. But in my defense, while her lips were wrapped around me, her head was blocking the view of her name tag. See? Not my fault.
“One day.” Gabi shook her head. “You’re going to get smited.” She frowned. “Or is it smote?”
“Oooo.” I shivered and leaned in, pressing a kiss to her cheek. “Sounds dirty. Can’t wait.”
With a hard shove, she pushed me off of her and slapped me on the ass. “Upstairs. Go, before you start attracting more.”
“Attention?”
“Girls with no future.” Gabi nodded seriously. “You know, the type you like to give quick—”
“Lex!” I interrupted her on purpose when my best friend sauntered into the kitchen. He was six foot five inches of pure muscled man-slut.
Worse than I was.
Which meant he probably deserved some sort of medal.
Or badge.
Or at least a patch with the letter W for “whore.” His own dirty scarlet letter.
Next to me, Gabi tensed.
“I’ll just go take that shower,” I said, leaving them alone. I knew full well that it was best to stay out of the way where they were concerned. I hated breaking up fights. Last time I earned a black eye and a kick to the balls trying to keep the peace.
And with all the clients I had piled up for the rest of the semester, the last thing I needed was to show up to a meeting with both my eyes swollen shut.
I took the stairs two at a time, made sure to knock on the bathroom door before I let myself in, then quickly stripped out of my clothes and jumped into the shower.
All of my essentials were where I’d left them, in the little caddy I kept in the corner.#p#分页标题#e#