It Started With A Concussion ✔️

Chapter 28

Cleaning up after a shift has somehow become a relaxing routine. Restocking the cups and refilling the bins of ice cream soothed my mind because by the end of it, everything looked neat and tidy.

Though, tonight it could've been relaxing if my arrogantly decent-looking coworker didn't keep distracting me. "Jackson, stop! That's not where the cups go!" I shout at him.

"The cups are literally right here Em." he points to the depleted stack of ice cream cups.

"I can see that but you're putting the wrong sizes in the wrong places. Now give me the cups!" I argue.

"Fine you neat freak." He rolls his eyes sarcastically and throws me the bag of cups so I can restock them correctly.

"Thank you." I give him a smile and stack the cups until they reach a reasonable height.

I store the bag away in the back storage closet when I feel him come up behind me. I turn around and have to look up as he towers over me.

And I can't lie, it's kinda hot. Oh my god, stop it brain.

Stupid fucking brain.

My composed state becomes even worse when he stretches above me and grabs a snack from the top shelf. If that made my self-control falter, the second he decided to cup my face, I felt like I was about to lose my cool.

"Jackson–what are you doing?" I ask, severely winded.

His thumb runs across my cheek, his palm lifting my jaw up. "Can I not just look?"

I gulp. He's already managed to make me lose my breath with a small action and a few words. To make matters worse, his exhausted voice makes me clench my legs together.

Why is my body betraying me so easily?

He observes my flustered manner before he steps back with a smile. "You fucking asshole." I mutter.

I flinch when a loud voice fills the front of the store. But the door was locked and we closed fifteen minutes ago. "Hello!? Are my two little fight buddies still here?"

I gasp knowing exactly whose voice that is. I speed out of the back room and that's when I see her. Long, dark hair flowing past her shoulders, tall, slim figure, and that cute little mole on her cheek.

"Annabelle!" My voice cracks, never running around that counter faster in my life. I bulldoze her with my embrace which she accepts by stumbling back.

"Hi Emery." she says into my hair before I pull away.

I push the flyaways behind my ear, still shocked she's standing in front of me right now. "When did you get here?" I asked.

"An hour ago. My mom told me you guys were still here closing up." she explains.

"How did you even get in? We locked the door." Jackson says walking around the counter.

"Yeah, hello to you too little brother." Annabelle rolls her eyes.

"I'm not little." he denies and hugs her.

"Oh yeah, I'm five foot nine. And you're..."

"Six foot three." he responds, pulling back.

"You're six foot two and a half. Don't lie Jackson, mom showed me her notes." she points at him and I laugh at him getting called out. "Don't forget that I used to work here and mom trusted me with the key to the store, so I still have it."

I nod at her explanation on how she got in when I notice a guy just standing off to the side.

How have I not noticed he was here?