Page 10 of Heavensent & Hellbent

“Right,” he said. I couldn’t tell if I gave him the answer he was hoping for. I diverted my gaze and reminded myself to breathe. “Well, see you guys later.”

After he left, Cleo went back to leaning her elbows on the counter, eyes wide. “What was that about?”

I shrugged. “No idea. Who is he?”

“Zain. We went to the same high school. He was on the varsity football team. And don’t worry, every girl’s reaction to him is the same. He pretty much keeps to himself, though.”

My head nodded like this all made sense, but of course it didn’t. Maybe I was just like everyone else, charmed by a handsome boy, so much so that I inserted him into my nightmare. Odd, not implausible.

For the rest of the shift, Cleo showed me how to run the shop. We placed books onto the correct shelves, and she taught me how the stock tracker and the cash register system worked. The stockroom was pretty much a mess of unorganized books and novelty items they hadn’t been able to tackle because they were so short-staffed.

In the children’s section, there were small colorful armchairs. A boy who looked around Ehsan’s age sat on an orange armchair for most of my shift, engrossed in a Batman graphic novel. He carefully turned each page, making sure not to bend the spine. When Cleo noticed me watching him, she said, “He always comes here; he lives above the shop.”

Two hours passed quickly. I mainly sorted through the books in the stockroom, making sure excess copies were alphabetically organized, and then dusted the shop floor. I had forgotten how easily books collected dust, and the place really did need a deep clean, one I offered to do. By the end of my shift, Cleo offered me the job.

“Seriously?”

She nodded. “You know what you’re doing, and you aren’t annoying, so I actually can imagine spending eight hours together without wanting to kill you—a major plus. My mom is pretty easygoing, as long as you’re here on time and do the job.Andso long as you don’t steal all the gift socks in one shift, thinking no one will notice, like Tom did before he was fired…”

“Someone really did that?”

Cleo pressed her lips together. “Sadly, yes. People are…weird. I think he was a kleptomaniac or something. And thebest thing, too, is that in addition to a fifty percent discount, employees get free coffee.” She nodded her head toward the adjoining coffee shop next door.

“Really?” This sounded too good to be true.

Cleo nodded. “I know. I do slightly abuse their kindness, but if it bothers them they really should’ve imposed a one coffee per day policy.” She shrugged her shoulders.

After my shift ended, I bought Ehsan the same graphic novel I saw the young boy reading. He deserved a treat; the move must have been hard for him, too.

Hot air whooshed toward me as soon as I stepped outside. I decided to check out a thrift shop down the road that I had starred. To get to it, however, I had to pass the diner. I stopped in my tracks. Maybe I should go straight home?

I pivoted, about to give in to my cowardly nature, when I thought of a Coach bag waiting for me in the store, or even a fitted leather jacket for the fall. The idea of what I could be missing out on caused me to take a deep breath before turning back around and making my way to the thrift shop. I kept my gaze ahead, head held high.

Between each shop was an alleyway, and in the one just before the diner, my ears pricked up at a now-familiar voice. My head whipped to the left. Two large industrial bins took up most of the space in the alleyway. On one side was colorful street art depicting a meadow. But I quickly moved on from that because standing with his back to me washim.Zain, still in his uniform, with his broad shoulders, tall frame, and golden hair. The back of his orange T-shirt had a brown coffee cupwith a smiley face on it. He was speaking on the phone, holding it tightly with one hand, the other balled into a fist.

I shouldn’t have stopped. I shouldn’t have cared…But how could I not when I felt an indescribable pull to this guy? Like there was an invisible tether, and only in being close to him would it slacken its hold on me.

My feet moved of their own accord as I stepped farther into the shaded alley. My body edging closer despite my brain telling me this was a bad idea. The street traffic noise dulled with each step.

Zain’s tone was a cross between irritated and concerned, though I could hardly make out what he was saying. Something like “inconvenient” and “already have a job.” I stopped walking once I could hear him, fully in the alleyway now, questioning my life choices.What was I actually doing?I was about to turn around—realizing that I might seem like some weird stalker—when he spun on his heel. We locked eyes—mine like a deer caught in headlights, his softly surprised. His brows furrowed together, lips parting slightly.

“I’ve got to go,” he said into his phone, eyes not leaving mine, before taking a step toward me. He put his phone in his back pocket. “Are you following me?” His tone was light, much lighter than it had been seconds before.

“No,” I said quickly. “I think I dropped something…”

“What exactly is it that you dropped?”

“Um…” I racked my stupid, stupid brain. “A hairpin.” I gripped the side of my head like that might add some weight to my lie.

His eyes narrowed. “Right.”

“I’m probably not going to find it. I should leave…”

“Wait,” he said, arm outstretched in the space between us. His eyes were still tight, like he was trying to work me out. “Do you live around here?”

“Yeah.” I nodded. “But I only moved here a few days ago.”

“Really? From where?” Before I had a chance to answer, he continued, “Let me guess, Australia?”