“Can you handle the counter right now, or do you need to take your break?”
A quarter of the football team comes through the door.Fuck me.
“Scar-lett!”
“What’s up, Scar?”
“Hey, Scarlett!”
And from Beau, “Yo, pretty girl! How’s it going?”
Always the ladies’ man, that one.
Micah just nods from beside his buddy, eyeing me like he always does.
I take a deep breath. Weird of them to greet me like this. Almost as if they’re trying to make nice. I don’t buy it for a split second, but I will get through this. “I’m fine, Terry. Thank you.”
He pats my shoulder on his way out. “You’re one of the good ones, Scarlett. Just remember that.”
The sea of broad chests and shoulders parts to reveal Xander behind them. He tilts his head toward me in lazy acknowledgment. His cocksure attitude is infuriating. His eyes wander over me, and although I’m wearing jeans, an ice cream shop T-shirt, and this damn apron—I feel distinctly naked. “Hey, Red.”
Suddenly, it feels very hot in here, even though Terry keeps the air conditioning running at a low temp year-round and I’m standing right in front of a partially open ice cream freezer.
“Xander.” I give him a cautious smile before my eyes shift to the first person in line.
I serve each as quickly as possible with a grin plastered on my face. I can’t imagine I will get through this unscathed, but we’ll see what Xander has up his sleeve for me tonight. I dread finding out—but at the same time, a tiny part of me can’t wait to see what he does next.
Apparently, I’m a glutton for his brand of punishment.
When Beau and Micah approach, though they joke around with me, I’m hesitant to accept their good-natured teasing at face value, especially after everything that’s transpired this week.
Micah leans across the counter, catching my eye.
“What can I get for you, Micah?”
He visibly swallows and a sigh leaves his big body. “I didn’t have anything to do with your homework going missing. And just so you know, that thing that happened? It reallywasan accident.” He glances down at his hands where they rest on the top of the ice cream case.
“Just so we’re clear …whatare you saying was an accident?”
Frustrated, he blows out a heavy sigh. “You know—I had my legs in the aisle and moved just as you went to step over them, and I tripped you. I didn’t mean—”
I hold my hand up. “It’s fine. Everything’s fine. I don’t want to talk about it.” Heat floods my cheeks as the memories of landing facedown in Xander’s crotch flare to life.
Beau’s shoulders sag. “You’re totally not fine. Ah, Scarlett, I’m sorry. We’ve just been messing around.” He turns and punches Xander in the shoulder with a blow that would have made most people wince in pain, but he doesn’t even flinch. “I thought you said you apologized, man?” Beau returns his gaze to mine as he steps closer. “I’ll take the mint chip in a waffle cone.”
My gaze flicks to the window where Aria and her friends are staring into the shop.
I wet my lip before I look back at the three of them for a brief moment before silently scooping out the ice cream for Beau’s cone. I hand it to him, and he takes a big lick, winks at me, and hands me a five. “Keep the change.”
Xander clears his throat. “I tried to apologize. She doesn’t believe me.” His gaze follows the path mine just took out the window, then ever so slowly fixes on mine again.
Micah grunts. “You must not have been very convincing. You did help her get her homework back, though. That should count for something.” He looks directly at me. “Can I get the chocolate cherry swirl in a sugar cone?” He slaps his money on the counter as I scoop his ice cream. When I go to make change, he waves me off. “Thanks. And I really am sorry I tripped you.”
I give him a nod of understanding. “I didn’t mean to imply you were stupid—with the homework thing, I mean.”
He grins at me. “I know. No big deal. You should forgive Xander. He feels bad about everything.”
“Maybe he should explain himself better, then.”