THE ONE WHO NOTICED

FOUR

After work, I stop at the store to get gas.

"Well, lucky me, I didn't have to wait until tomorrow."

I freeze and turn around to face him. "Should I be worried about you stalking me?"

"Baby girl, I ain't stalking. This just happens to be me being lucky today. You work tomorrow, right?"

"I don't think I'm gonna give you the answer to that one."

"That's okay. I know you don't work on Saturdays or Sundays already."

How does he know that? What is this guy's deal right now?

"I can tell by that extra lost and confused look you're curious about something. I came in the weekend to see you, but you don't work on weekends. So I'll just come every day, more and more, until you give me something to go on other than Kasin." He winks and says goodnight, getting into his jeep.

I just watch, lost, as he drives away.

What is going on here? I stand there staring, lost in space. Finally, I shake myself back to the world, get into my truck, and go home. A hot shower and sleep is what I need right now.

True to his damn word, he came every day for the last 2 weeks at the same time. I try to avoid him. He calls me on it every time. He keeps trying to have a conversation with me, but I keep it at a minimum.

Finally, Friday rolls around and he doesn't show. I'm shocked at myself when I've noticed I'm waiting on him to come in. But when my shift is over and I haven't seen him, I realize I'm a little disappointed, but I shove it down with the rest of my disappointments. I'm not sure why I'm disappointed—just that I am. I've been blowing him off for 2 weeks now and only taking my glances at his attractiveness when I could sneak it in. It just has me confused. Why would he keep trying to talk to me? Why does he keep asking me personal questions, trying to get to know me? He could be doing far better things with his time, I'm sure.

I get to my truck and just sit there, lost in my own thoughts. When someone knocks on my window, making me jump.

"You tryna give me a heart attack?!"

"Well, I ain't mean to scare you. I just missed my time to see you today, so I had to make up for it."

"You mean by walking up to my car? Little bit cringe, don't you think?"

"Well, ouch, that hurt my feelings. I thought maybe you'd miss me a little bit." His smirk definitely tells me he knew somehow I was thinking about him.