Page 62 of Wait With Me
The guy’s condescending tone has me shifting out of my leaned position to stand at full height. Green Shirt eyeballs me.
Sam is not the least bit put off as he smiles around his beard and replies, “We just need to know if you’re in the system. Because if for some reason your tire can’t be repaired, we can prorate it with your warranty to get you a new one at a discount.”
“Why could my tire not be repaired?” Pink Polo snaps.
“If there’s a puncture in the sidewall of the tire, those are unfixable, unfortunately.” Sam offers an apologetic look.
“What a rip-off,” the guy snaps. “What kind of business are you running?”
I glance down at this asshole’s shoes and know instantly money isn’t the problem here. Privilege is.
“Hey brah, who’s that chick?” Green Shirt asks, leaning over the counter closer to me as if we’re a couple of bros or something.
I look over at where he’s gesturing to Alexa who works two computers down.
I shrug noncommittally. “She’s a customer service rep.”
Green Shirt smiles. “Perfect, we’ll take her.”
Sam clears his throat. “I’m afraid you don’t get to pick. And you’ve got me already.”
Pink Polo apparently wants to pick up where Green Shirt left off. “I think we could pick if we really wanted to.”
“And believe me, we want to pick at every part of that.” Green Shirt leers at Alexa so hard, my teeth grind.
I slam a fist on the counter in front of me and say, “Hey! This isn’t ordering a girl off the internet, moron. Do you want your fucking tire fixed or not?”
Pink Polo’s eyes fly wide. “Who’s your goddamn manager? I want to speak to him.”
Sam’s voice cuts in, telling us to calm down as Green Shirt and I stare at each other over the counter. He’s a good five inches shorter than me, but his privilege makes him think he’s untouchable, and I can’t stand douchebags like that. It’s exactly the kind of dude Jocelyn was looking for and found apparently.
“Manager. Now,” Pink Polo states again, and Sam presses a hand to my chest.
“Just go back to the shop,” he says, turning his back on the two douchebags and shoving me backward a few steps. Through clenched teeth, he adds, “I’ll let my uncle deal with these fuckers.”
I narrow my eyes one more time at the pair and exhale heavily, turn on my heel, and make my way out of the reception area and back into the alley for some air.
I take a deep breath of the balmy summer air and bite off the ends of my licorice. “I really wish this was a cigarette,” I mumble to myself as I suck air through the hole.
Frustrated that it has zero effect, I chuck the piece of stupid candy on the opposite wall. I’m so in my own head I didn’t even hear Mercedes approach when her voice says, “Whoa, whoa, whoa, what’d that licorice ever do to you?”
I swerve my eyes to her and eye her outfit. It’s that blue summer dress with the pink flowers. The one that shows her whole ass if she turns in it.
“Nothing,” I reply through clenched teeth.
“What’s going on with you?” she asks, her blue eyes looking me up and down. “You look like you’re ready to rip someone’s head off.”
I shake my head and drop my eyes to her dress. “Nice dress.”
She half-smiles. “I thought you might like it.”
“So long as you don’t twirl in it,” I state firmly.
Her brows pull together. “What’s going on with you?”
“What’s going on withyou?” I volley back.
She frowns in confusion. “Excuse me?”
