Page 15 of No Small Sin

He seemed to ooze the same danger that rolled off of Beck, but when he pulled Andi into a side hug and kissed the top of her head I questioned how good of a judge of character I actually was upon first impression.

Not that anyone would ever call me a good judge of character in the first place.

“Hey, cutie girl. Who’s your friend?” He spoke with a faint accent that I didn’t fully recognize, looking me over curiously, as if something about me had piqued his interest, then pulled back from Andi to look her over in the same kind of way. “You two could pass for twins if it wasn’t for the major hair color difference.”

Andi gave me a once over herself and nodded. “I guess I can see the similarities. We’re the same size at least.”

“Yeah,” he tapped her nose with his forefinger. “Tiny.”

“Says you. What are you 6’4” or something? Not many people would seem anything but tiny to someone your size,” I teased.

“I guess that’s true, but you’re still a little nugget,” he grinned.

I rolled my eyes. He wasn’t wrong.

“TK, this is Alec. He works closely with Beck.” She waggled her eyebrows. “Management stuff. I’m sure you two will see one another around. But for now, we’ve gotta get back to work.”

“Nice to meet you, TK. If you ever need anything, Andi has my number.” He winked, walking away.

I turned to face her. It was my turn to waggle my own eyebrows.

“Oh, shush,” she said before I could get a word in edgewise. “Don’t get me wrong, he’s fucking hot. But he’s just a friendly coworker at most. He’s totally hung up on someone. I haven’t been able to get out of him who, but he says she’s unavailable and he’s a literal sad boy about it so I feel obligated to try and keep it in my pants with that one.”

“Have you considered telling him that she’d probably make herself very available if she knew someone who looked like that was even considering sparing her a second glance?”

“I have. He just says that some people are off limits regardless. I try not to meddle.” She shrugged.

“Youtry not to meddle?” I asked incredulously.

She slapped me playfully on the arm. “Some things you just have to leave alone around here. But anywho, Alec is a good person in upper management to be able to get ahold of if you need help with anything serious. I can send you his number, he won’t mind.”

“Uhm. You don’t have to do that. Ijah gave me some numbers for other upper management after my interview.”

“He what? Whose?” She seemed genuinely shocked by this, and I couldn't help but blush.

“Well. I kind of weaseled it out of him but... his.” I paused. “And Beck’s,” I said quickly.

“Wait a fucking minute. You convinced Ijah to give you Beck’s number?” She giggled uncontrollably. “Oh, this is too good. We are texting him. Like right now.”

“No way! It’s for emergencies!”

“Emergencies my ass. Give me your phone.” She held her hand out and waited expectantly.

“I’m not giving you my phone. We’re not texting him.”

“Fine. Party pooper. I need a quick bathroom break and then we can go to the front and I’ll go ahead and train you on the cash register a bit since we’re finished back here for now.”

I was a bit surprised that she’d let it go so easily.

I shouldn’t have been, because when I walked around her she quickly snatched my phone from the front pocket of my apron and ran to lock herself in the bathroom.

I banged on the door. “Andi, I swear to fuck! Let me in!”

“Oh my god, TK. I’m trying to use the bathroom. Calm down.”

I was going to kill her, and when I did there would be nothing left for anyone to find. She’d be wiped from existence without a single trace.

I went to bang on the door again, but it swung open before I had the chance.

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