Don't forget

Damon

I’m sitting in my office about four hours before opening when there’s a knock on the door, “Come in,” I call, and the door slowly opens. Mikey is standing there with a broken plunger that is dripping water all over the floor, and I stare at him in disbelief.  “Dude, what the hell?” I ask, pointing at that disgusting thing. “Why is THAT in my office?”

“The woman’s toilet is clogged. I think they were flushing tampons again,” Mikey says with his face full of disgust. 

“Okay?” I question, frustrated. “Did you get it unclogged?” he nods but eyes the broken plunger.

“The other two are clogged as well, and now I don’t know how I am going to fix them. Do you want me to call a plumber?” He asks, and my eyes widen.

“Oh, sure, let’s just give the FEDS a personal invite into my business, Mikey!” 

Mikey’s mouth gapes, “Damn, that’s not what I meant. My cousin is a plumber. I can call him.” he suggests, and I shake my head, grumbling. 

“No, I’ll go hit the store and grab another one. There’s no reason to pay big bucks if it’s only a fifteen-dollar fix with a plunger.” Mikey nods, and I stand, fixing my shirt.

“What time did you tell her to come in again?” I ask, and Mikey grins, reaching into his jean pocket.

“She’ll be here at seven.” He says, and I watch as he pulls her thong out of his pocket. I shake my head, snatching it, and he gasps, “Hey! That’s mine!” he says, reaching for it, but I step back.

“No, it’s hers. Don’t be such a pervert,” I say, placing them into my pocket, and he smirks as he watches me judgingly. I shake my head as I laugh, “No. I am giving them back to her tonight! I’ll just tell her we found them behind the bar.” 

Mikey grins, “Yeah, sure you will, Damon. You think Science-Girl is hot too.” He says with his eyebrows raised.

I shake my head as I grab cash off the counter, “I’ve seen hotter,” I say, and then I grin, “No. I’ve fucked hotter.” 

“That’s the spirit,” Mikey says, his words serious. “Jessica is like a genius, you know. She was the smartest person in our entire grade. I still can’t believe she is going to work here...” he says, eyeing me disapprovingly.

“Mikey, she has no idea who I really am. You told her I own this club, and I do. She doesn’t know anything about the real business, and she had no idea about her parents’ part in it. Let it go.”

Mikey sighs and then smirks as I grab my car keys out of the drawer, “Hurry back; it won’t be long before your girl shows up,” he teases, and I shake my head as I walk toward the front door.

“Just get ready for opening, okay? There’s a big group of lawyers coming in tonight. They rented the center table. One of them made Partner,” I remind him, and he rolls his eyes. 

“I know, Damon. I’ve been the manager of this place for two years now. Give me some credit. I didn’t screw up the toilet; the girls did. Please talk to them about that.”

I nod and open the door, heading to my car, “Or you can,” I call behind me. “You are their boss, too,” I say, smirking. I hear him grumble, and I chuckle as I get inside my car and start it. 

It will be nice to get out of the office for a bit. I basically live there. The couch in my office even turns into a bed. I turn on my audiobook about the stock market as I drive to the nearest grocery store; they should have what I need. 

I park my car and head inside, heading toward the cleaning aisle, when I hear that meek familiar voice. “It says APPROVED, SEE!?” she says, her voice breaking, and I know she’s about to cry. I try to walk by, but my feet stop, and I sigh as I look at all the bags of groceries the cashier has already packed up.

“You didn’t read the fine print, did you?” the cashier asks with snark- what a bitch!

Guilt/ anger riddle me immediately, and before I even know what I am doing, I am walking past the customers in the long line and handing the cashier my debit card, “Here, use this,” I tell her, and she smiles at me with wide eyes.

 This is how women usually look at me. I am not cocky; I know I am good-looking. 

“Thank you,” Jessica begins to say as she turns around, but as soon as she sees it’s me, her words stop in shock, which I honestly understand. 

This must be VERY embarrassing. I am a stranger but yet, her boss. 

“Show me to your car. I’ll help you load up,” I tell her, but she only nods, still not speaking. The bitchy cashier hands me back my card while she undresses me with her eyes. Too bad she doesn’t have a chance in hell.

 I help Jessica gather the bags before we walk outside, but she walks ahead of me, still silent. “Your car?” I ask again, my tone a little harsher. I watch her back rise as she takes a deep breath of courage. 

“Thank you so much, but I don’t have one. You have done enough, though, so I will figure out how to get home on my own.” She babbles, and I have to think about what she is saying.

“I’ll take you home,” I tell her, and her eyes look like saucers. 

“No, that’s okay she begins, “But I interrupt her.

“This isn’t up for debate. I am taking you home!” I tell her, and she sighs, looking at the bus stop.

“You will never make it home on the bus with all of this by yourself, and I am sure as hell not riding it.”

She nods, giving up, and I walk toward my car as she follows. I open the trunk, and we both place the bags inside. I unlock the doors as she climbs inside the driver’s seat, “What’s your address?” I ask, and she mumbles it. 

I start the car, but her phone rings, and I recognize the number; that’s the school Mikey went to. 

“HURT!?” she gasps, and I realize whoever has called is talking about her sister. I can hear everything this person says as she tries to speak over Jessica’s panic.

“STITCHES?” Jessica shrieks, and I sigh- I know I must take her to the school. This is an emergency, and I owe her- I owe them. 

“Bravely Charter School?” I ask, and she nods as I put the car in drive, but then I remember something; I reach into my pocket and grab her thong, dropping it on her lap. Her mouth opens even wider, and I smirk.

I better give them back before I forget, but the plunger will have to wait.