Page 2 of I Knew You Were Trouble

He pushes his lips together, but I still see that smirk of his. “You were that girl when you were young, weren’t you?” He nods toward the exit.

“Meaning?”

“Stickler for the rules.”

“What’s wrong with that?”

“Doesn’t seem like much fun.”

“My life is full of fun.” Well, I suppose it depends on the definition, but to me, I’m perfectly happy with schedules and being cautious and expressing myself in healthy ways. Like art and… oh gosh, I can’t even think of anything else.

Pete lets out his signature laugh, which is a mix between a newborn baby and a hyena—starts off cute, ends up being way too loud.

I tilt my head. “What?”

“Nothing.”

“People don’t laugh at nothing, Pete.”

“Okay, it was just your face.”

My mouth pops open. “What about it?” I say a little too loudly that I catch the attention of some guests as they make their way to the Wheel of Fortune game.

“Looked like you were thinking too hard about what was fun about your life.”

“Was not.”

“Okay.”

I let out a sigh, grateful that my next shift with him isn’t for another two days. Every day of Pete would be exhausting. He’s constantly challenging my patience, never wearing the required hat, and his shirt is always coming untucked. I know way more about his tattoos than someone who works with him should, especially since I’m not supposed to even see them.

My eyes swivel around the arcade again, searching for another guy with some amazing ink on his skin. He’s moved from the Skeeball, and that sort of looks like the top of his head peeking out through one of the Fast and the Furious games.

There are tootsie rolls in with the lollipops, so I pat Pete’s side to get him to move out of the way and start putting the candy in the right bin. When I’m done, he’s watching me, and I jerk back.

“What? Is it my face again?”

A small chuckle escapes him. “Wanted to ask you something.”

“Then ask.” It’s never stopped him before.

“Who’s that guy you keep staring at?”

My cheeks burn with heat, and I wonder what color I’d paint them if I were to do a self-portrait right now. I usually substitute a warm color for a cold color, so that would make them… blue.

I am blue with humiliation.

“Uh… I’m not staring.”

“Sure.”

I grimace. “I’m not.” I wasn’t really. A couple glances here and there, but I think he left. Maybe went to another zone. Maybe bowling. Maybe the skate park. Maybe mini-golf. I don’t know because I wasn’t staring.

A lot.

I want to not-so-obviously search for my true love again, but with Pete eyeing me, I’m too chicken to risk it.

“I thought I saw someone from my art class is all.”

---