One and Done - S. Briones Lim Page 0,40

me.

I couldn’t really blame her for being upset with me, yet it still hurt to be on the receiving end of her anger. Knowing I couldn’t stomach spending my break with the love birds, I grabbed my lunch and headed toward the door, intent on gathering my thoughts.

“Where are you heading off to?” Ethan called out nasally. “You can eat with us.”

Right, so you can rub Rocky in my face. Nope, couldn’t do it.

“No offense, but I’m a bit of introvert. I need my lunch break to regroup…alone.” I made my exit before either one could reply. However, on my way out I overheard Ethan asking Rocky out on a date to Carbanaro’s. It shouldn’t have surprised me that such a prep could afford a swanky place like that. How could I even compete?

“Rocky couldn’t have changed that much,” I mumbled to myself. “Besides, when did you ever need money to win a girl? Just use old fashioned charm.”

And maybe wake up a little of the bad boy Rocky always loved.

Life works in mysterious, fucked up ways sometimes. I mean, how messed up could I get? I needed to see her with another man to realize I still loved her?

Regardless, sometimes life did need to knee you in the balls sometimes for you to realize what was best for you. As fucked up as it was, it took seeing Ethan to realize that staying away from Rocky was no longer an option for me.

***

“Hola, Prodigal Son.” The sound of Stephanie’s voice echoed inside the stockroom, which was lovingly known as the Dungeon among the staff. I straightened myself, surprised that she was able to walk into the room without a care when I nearly got my head chewed off for stepping behind the cash wrap just a few days earlier. Then again she was Rocky’s real friend so I guess that title carried its benefits.

“Ah, isn’t it my annoying chum, Steph.” My grin stretched wide as I watched my old friend saunter toward me. Like Rocky, she had grown up considerably. Having always been much taller than me, I was happy see that I now towered over her for once. Dressed in pastels with her hair pulled back, she looked like a model, but she held no pickle to Rocky’s natural beauty.

“Nice to see you too.” She grinned, flashing me a smile that was metal free and blinding white, catching me off-guard. Nevertheless, her smile was kind. At first, anyway. “What’s your deal with Rocky, man?”

Ah, so we were back to this again.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I lied. Did she really think I was going to spill my guts to her the first time we spoke? Hell, even I was still waking up from the confusion of my feelings.

“Oh, please,” she replied, sounding bored. “It’s really obvious to everyone but you two. I get it, really.”

“Get what? What a gossip you are.” I shook my head in amusement. “Guess some things never change. You’re still a nosy know-it-all, aren’t you?”

She rolled her eyes. “And you’re still a dick, I see. By the way, you’re right; I haven’t changed either. I still pride myself over looking after Rocky. It goes without saying that not all of us in this room can say the same.”

“Hey! I care about my cousin,” a gruff voice interrupted from behind us. I glanced over my shoulder and noticed a gigantic man peering at us. We’d shared a few shifts before, but as usual I kept to myself and never really spoke to him.

Steph laughed and rolled her eyes. “Stop eavesdropping, Maurice. Keep hauling whatever it is you’re hauling back there.”

“Shut the fuck up, Stephanie.”

Okay, maybe I should speak to him.

I couldn’t help but chuckle when he flipped Stephanie off before stomping off and made a mental note to get to know the guy better.

“You didn’t answer my question.” Stephanie narrowed her eyes and eyed me expectantly. “What are your intentions with Rocky?”

I let my head fall back and groaned. “I’m not here to ruin her life if that’s what you’re getting at. I’m sure she’s told you that we haven’t even really spoken since I arrived.”

Something I really regret now that Ethan is in the picture.

“Oh, I know,” she replied smugly. “But my question is why you are avoiding her. I mean, it’s pretty obvious why you’re here to begin with.”

“My mother?” I snapped sharply.

At least she had the decency to cringe. “Oh yeah, I’m sorry about that. I hope she gets