Page 37 of Semi Sweet
Chapter Nineteen: Take it Out On the Dough
Myluckseemedtocontinue when I walked into work for my shift the next morning. Initially, I was confused when I saw one of my coworkers at my post. She was one that often told me to quit because she wanted my booth shifts. Had someone called out? Maybe Russel was going to make me do some odd job to make me uncomfortable again.
“I’m here,” I announced when I stepped over to the podium.
“Not anymore,” Russel said without looking up from his crew sheet.
I furrowed my brow at the man. “I’m sorry?”
“You don’t work on the front end anymore.”
What the hell? Had Evan accepted the corporate job on my behalf and forgot to mention it? Russel couldn’t fire me, could he? I had to believe the Quitteros would discipline him or at least yell at him.
“Excuse me?”
Russel was clearly enjoying himself. He finally looked at me with a smug smile. “Sean, the bakery manager, asked if I had someone I’d be willing to give up so he could have a register savvy clerk over there full time.” He narrowed his eyes. “It was an easy decision.”
Well, that was an interesting development. I wasn’t sure how to play it. Did I give Russel what he wanted and pout and act disappointed? Did I grin and click my heels before I walked away from the gossip and the jealousy forever? I decided to do a bit of both.
“Wow, I’m surprised. I mean, who are you going to commiserate against now that I’ll be in the bakery department?” I tried to look slightly heartbroken, but it was hard.
“You have to come up here and buy something sometime.” Russel countered. “Maybe he’ll send you back up here when he has to start dealing with Evan up his butt everyday.”
I highly doubted that.
“We’ll see.” I decided to end the conversation while it was still relatively docile.
Once I was heading towards my new department, I wondered if I should be concerned that Sean would be my new boss. Would it be awkward? Would Evan freak out? I was surprised at how nervous I felt as I walked to the display case.
“OLIVIA!” Beth’s excited voice made me jump out of my skin. She was beaming as she held out a white work coat and black hat. “I just heard the news.”
I had been so distracted by the sudden department change, I’d forgotten that Sean had two accomplices in his cupcake saga.
“I should be furious with you.”
Beth cringed at me like she had hoped I’d forgotten. “Yes, but Max and I had really good intentions.”
“If I was a worse person I’d never speak to you again.”
She looked hopeful. “Yes, but you’re talking to me so….”
I found it hard to be angry at her. “I don’t have many people that want to talk to me these days.”
Beth all but pounced on me, smashing me into a bear hug. “We’ll be your friends! You don’t have to worry about that! Right, Max?”
Max had come back from the walk-in cooler with a sheet cake for pick up. “What’s that now? Oh, welcome aboard, Liv. Please don’t make me have to keep a secret ever again.”
My heart swelled at the sound of a nickname I hadn’t been called in years, by anyone beyond my family. I wondered if Sean had helped me out in more ways than I’d realized. By enlisting the help of his employees, he’d helped me make a few friends. True, non-judgemental ones, I hoped.
“I think you are asking the wrong person,” I replied.
“So…?” Beth said as I put on the work coat over my uniform.
“If you’re wondering if I broke up with Evan and your boss is my boyfriend, I’m sorry to say no.”
Beth looked disappointed, but Max was far more practical. “I told you it wouldn’t be that easy.”
Beth was piping colorful edges on a round cake that was going into the display case. For a moment I watched her technique just in case Sean ever graduated me to decorating. “Well, do you like him at least?” she pressed, breaking the silence.
