Page 65 of With Us

I moved my thumb and index finger across my mouth as if I were zipping it closed.

She put the bag into the cart and gave my arm a squeeze. “This is my month. I know it.”

“I hope I’m working next time you’re in,” I said, honestly meaning it. “I can’t wait for an update.”

“I’ll look for you. Thanks for all your help, dear.” Humming a song, she slowly made her way to the cash registers, an extra bounce in her step.

I feel bad for Betty.

She’s going down.

I peeked at the clock and saw there was only a few more hours in my shift. My mind went to Theo and everything I hoped we’d be doing. I was tired, but not the bone deep exhaustion that’d been putting me to sleep as soon as my head hit the bed.

Maybe we’ll even get to go out to dinner.

Oh, or watch a movie!

Or not watch it…

“Dahlia, can I see you for a second?” Bill practically sneered.

Holding in my sigh, I walked over to where he stood near one of the produce coolers.

“Do you see a problem?” he called out loudly before I reached him, drawing attention to us in the crowded department.Ifthere was an issue, he could’ve waited the extra thirty seconds for me to get over there.

That, however, wouldn’t have allowed him to try and humiliate me.

I scanned the stocked and organized shelves behind him. “No…”

“I’ll give you a hint. The eggplant.”

After Dimos had dug through and taken so many, it’d been the first thing I’d restocked. It still looked full and set.

“No, of course you wouldn’t see. You’re so busy watching the clock, you’re fine to let your department look like garbage.”

More people slowed as they shopped, wanting to see what the big deal was. The department employees I oversaw began to bristle.

I knew they all liked me, they’d been open enough about it. They wouldn’t be disrespectful of me, but that didn’t change the fact Bill was constantly undermining the authority I was supposed to have.

I forced my voice to stay neutral as I said, “I’m sorry, I’m still not seeing what the problem is.”

Jerk Bill’s face started to turn red, his lips curling into a smile he tried to mask.

He’s enjoying this.

Pointing at the display, he shook his finger. “It’s a mess. Afterhelping,” he emphasized, the raise of his brows implying more, “that man you spent your time chatting with, it looks like you just threw the eggplant in, not wanting to do your job. It’s like the artichokes all over again.” On a roll, the vein on his bald head throbbed. “I didn’t think it was that difficult of a concept to grasp. Eggplants should be sorted with the smallest at the front, going back to the bigger ones. It’s basic organization, not rocket science. If you can’t understand something so simple—”

“Excuse me, Mr. Mayer,” I interrupted.

I could handle him being a jerk. I was even fine with him being a hardass since I wasn’t afraid of work.

But I would never,evertolerate being embarrassed and made to feel stupid. Especially when I’d done nothing wrong.

And so I lost it.

My cool.

My control.

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