Page 12 of Dare You to Run
“Ma’am? Oh boy. What southern state do you come from?” She takes my hand in her warm and soft one and shakes it.
“She’s from Texas. Manners and all. She’s my new cornbread sister, so give her the red carpet treatment.” Kinsley throws her arm over my shoulder, popping up on tiptoes to reach, and hugs me to her.
“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Dagen. I’m Miss Shirley. Just stick with Kinsley and she’ll show you all you need to know. And be aware that those boys are all bark and no bite.” She winks and I would laugh if I didn’t already have my ‘friendly’ encounter with Hendrix. “You new to town?”
“Oh, no ma’am. My car had a little…what’d you call it, Kinsley?”
“A disagreement with a light pole. Henny should be pulling up soon with her car.” She points over her shoulder and I turn my head to look out the large picture window and see his shiny black truck pulling up with my poor car in tow.
“Looks like he’s here. I better get the intake papers ready. You girls go grab some cookies and I’ll call you when I need to get your information, Dagen.” Miss Shirley opens a drawer and pulls out a carbon notebook.
“C’mon sister. Let’s see what they got today.” I follow Kinsley to a chrome wrapped door as she pushes through.
We enter another open room much like the lobby, but less sleek and organized. A long, white counter with black cabinets line the far wall. A refrigerator sits at the end, and the counter is littered with a plethora of snacks that looks like a pack of hungry teenage boys is scattered about.
Kinsley makes a beeline for the large black table placed right in the middle and lifts the plastic wrap that covers a half empty dish. A small stack of cookies remains, and she quickly snatches one away. She chomps about half in one bite, and closes her eyes with a moan.
“Oh my gosh. These are so good,” she says with mouth full and bits of cookies flying out. “Ya gotta try one. Do you like kitchen sink cookies?”
I walk over to where she stands, assaulting that poor cookie, and ask, “What’s a kitchen sink cookie?”
Her mouth stops chewing and her eyes fly open. She swallows and quietly walks to the fridge, pulling out a carton of milk and pouring it into a glass that she got from the open shelves.
She chugs it down and when she’s done, she looks at me and scolds, “Girl, did you grow up repressed? A kitchen sink cookie means it’s got everything. Chocolate chips, pecans, salty pretzel bits, and toffee chips. It’s the mama of all cookies.”
My nose scrunches up, not quite sure if those ingredients encourage the kind of moan Kinsley made, but I pick one up anyhow. Taking a smaller bite than the one Kinsley did, I immediately regret my questioning of her food IQ.
I do the same closed eye moan, but maybe slightly more obscene.
“Oh shit. It’s so good.”
“Been a while since you got some action?” The deep voice that filters in from behind me quickly wipes away my happy mood.
With narrowed eyes, I turn to him and say, “Did someone kill your cat when you were a kid? What is wrong with you, and why do I offend you so much?”
“Well for one, you’re in an employees only area and two, you’re eating my fucking cookies.”
I pop the last bite of cookie into my mouth and lean back against the table, pressing my palms onto the cool surface.
“Mmm. Best thing I’ve ever had in mouth,” I moan, squeezing my legs together.
When my eyes open I see him watching closely, his Adam’s apple bobbing in his tattooed throat as he swallows. I slowly lick my lips, then slide my finger into my mouth and suck it clean. My mouth makes a popping sound when I pull it free and I challenge him with a smirk.
His nostrils flare as he watches me silently. When he finally opens his mouth, he says, “If that’s the best thing you’ve ever had, well then, you’re not putting the right things in that mouth of yours.” Now I’m the one swallowing down my embarrassment. “Miss Shirley needs you. When you’re done shovingmycookies in your mouth, go fill out the paperwork.”
He stomps out of the door, his boots echoing harshly as he goes.
“Oowee! If that wasn’t some thick ‘I wanna kiss you’ tension then…” Kinsley looks at me with wide eyes, shaking her head slowly from side to side.
I scrunch my brows and ask her, “What are you talking about? That jerk has it out for me, and I can’t figure out why. I’m a paying customer just trying to get my car fixed and he’s acting like I’m robbing him blind.”
I throw my arms up then let them flop down to my sides, completely exasperated and confused.
A sly smirk works its way across her face. “Girl. That ain’t Henny having it out for you. That’s Henny having athingfor you.”
“Good grief, you have got to be out of your mind.”
“Nuh uh. No ma’am. I have known that man for many years and I can tell you right now, he’s still like a middle school boy. When he likes someone, he’s a meanie. You know, pulling pigtails, sticking gum on your seat so you get it all over your butt. Only since he’s an adult, he’s picking on you. But I see it. That boy’s got a fire in his eyes and in his pants for you.”
