Page 3 of Nuttin for Christmas

“Oh, sorry,” I backed up against the wall; my hands up in surrender.

“There’s nothing to be sorry for.” She was so close to me I could smell thePeppermintin her mouth; her breasts, grazed my chest.

“Well, umm, Merry Christmas,” I slithered from around her, taking long strides to the break room. I could’ve punched myself in the face for responding with that phrase.

Rounding the corner, I opened the refrigerator. Grabbing a bottle of water, I took a seat trying to focus on the TV. Some talk show played. I didn’t know what I was feeling but it was a feeling I was unfamiliar with.

“You see that fine girl out there?” My coworker, Trev sat down at the table with me. “She’s talking with your sister?”

“Yea, I saw her,” I played uninterested; my eyes still on the screen.

“That ass makes me wanna hit that,” he voluntarily said.

“Go for it.” I inwardly rolled my eyes, trying to ignore him.

“She don’t look like she fucks with young niggas,” he shook his head.

“You’ll never know unless you ask,” I downed the rest of my water, tossing the bottle in the recycle bin. Trev annoyed the mess outta me. “Gotta go.” I stood up, stretching my limbs. I walked over to the vending machine, paying for aSnicker.After eating it, away from Trev, I left out the break room.

“Sir?” I heard a young voice beckon me. “Can you help me find a book called Rumor Has It by Kutura B?”

A young teen, probably around thirteen asked me when I made it back to the floor.

“It has four girls on the cover in front of lockers, right?” I started to walk toward the young adult section.

“Yes. That’s it. Do you have it?”

“I think it’s over here,” I gestured her to follow me.

Finding the book, I sent the young girl on her way. She was so happy knowing that she’d gotten the last one. We’d sold out of that book.

“I’m back, Mom,” I voiced entering back behind the counter. “I got it.”

“Okay. Thanks. I’m gonna go work on the inventory. You know how to reach me.”

Behind the desk, I saw that my Mom had moved my book. Searching around, I found it inside the cabinet under the registers. Lifting my head up, Aisha was standing there in all her beautiful glory.

“Hey?” I shyly smiled.

“You know what?”

I looked at her curiously. I was piqued and intrigued with her because no woman hadevertalked to me this much. It was kinda cool.

“What?”

three

Aisha Bell

“You looklike Prince Naveen and ASAP Rocky,” I leaned on my elbows, studying him.

His lips opened and his face lit up as he smiled showing all his teeth.

“Seriously?” He asked; his voice laced with laughter.

“Yea,” I smiled. “You’ve never heard that before?”

“I’ve heard I resemble some famous people but not them.”

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