Page 9 of Pucking Matt
I place my order without incident, breathing a sigh of relief as I step to the side to wait. But then I hear his voice, way too close for comfort.
“What's with the suit? Shouldn't you be behind the counter at the Grind Stone?”
I turn slowly, meeting his annoyingly smug gaze. “I’m sorry do I know you?”
He stares at me. The suit has caught his full attention as his expression hardens.
“I don’t think wedoknow each other,” he mutters, looking up at the person receiving their sandwich. I believe I’m two orders after her.
“What’s with the stalking?” I meet his eyes, challenging him.
He glances down at his hands with a straight face. “What’s with the suit?”
“My real job.”
He chuckles. “And what would you call working at the Grind Stone?”
I stare at him, wondering why he thinks it’s okay to talk to me in public. Have I not made it clear that I want nothing to do with him? I answer, “My fun job. Or itwasuntil you ruined it.”
His eyes widen slightly at that, but before he can respond, the barista calls my name. I grab my sandwich and brush past him, my heels echoing on the floor as I make my escape.
As I push open the door, I hear him call out, “See you around.”
I grit my teeth and keep walking, wondering why he’s even saying anything at all other than to piss me off.Grow up, Pearson.I don’t dare to glance through the glass, keeping my eyes forward. Why is the universe suddenly throwing me Matthew Pearson left and right? I have to text my best friend from high school to let her know that this boy is still torturing me years later.
Amber: Do you remember that kid I tackled right before graduation?
Riley: (Laughing emoji) How could I forget that? Do you remember that I was there? I saw the whole thing.
Amber: Right
Riley: I was a key witness. You got mad at me for being a rat
Amber: Yeah, I told you I was sorry.
Riley: The truth is always important.
Amber: It is
Riley: What about him?
Amber: (Sends link to the Hockey Badger TikTok)
Riley: Oh
Riley: That’s him?
Riley: Now?
Riley: Wow
Riley: How did you find him?
Amber: He’s been coming into the Grind Stone.
Riley: The new fun job? How’s that going?
Amber: Terrible because he keeps coming in
