A Mafia Thing

    “You’re into women, is that it?” I stopped thumbing through my textbook at the question. I looked up at my best friend with weary eyes. “That has to be it, right? I mean we’ve been friends for three years and you’re always doing stuff like that.”     “Stuff like what?” My tone was flat. I loved Brooke, don’t get me wrong, but she had a tendency of harping on things that were none of her business. My social life being one of her favorites.     “That guy. He wrote his number on that piece of paper before sliding it to you.” Her hands were now balled into tiny fists on her slender hips. Her eyes narrowing into slits as she rambled on. “And you! You didn’t even look at it. You crumpled it up and threw it away.” She dropped her hands from her hips, her body sagging in defeat.     This wasn’t the first time we’d have a conversation like this and I knew it wouldn’t be the last. I’ll admit, Brooke had a point. If the situation were reverse I’d ask questions, too. We’d been friends since sharing a dorm freshman year of college. Since then I’d gone on exactly zero dates. I’d hooked up with zero guys. Hell, unless I had to, I’d talked to all of zero guys. I’d ask her questions too if I saw her doing the same.     Brooke was the opposite of me. She threw herself at any guy that showed interest. She didn’t necessarily have s*x with all of them, but she certainly enjoyed flirting with them.     She came behind the counter, sinking into a chair beside mine. I glanced around the small university clothing store that we were working at, not a single customer was here. I had no way to wiggle out of her line of questioning. My eyes skimmed the racks of clothing. Everything was stocked, pulled forward, properly folded. I couldn’t even pretend to work right now.     “Look I’m just worried about you. All you do is study and work out. If it weren’t for class, the gym and work you’d never even leave our apartment.”     “That’s not true. I went to that party with you last weekend.”     Brooke snorted, “you mean the party I begged you to go to? The one you refused to go to until I called you drunk at midnight? That one?” There was a bite to her tone.     “Fine, so I’m boring. So what? I like my life.” I lied.     “Sam, what’s going on, really?” Her tone softened. She gave my arm a light squeeze. I knew she was trying to be a good friend but sometimes I wish she’d care a little less. “You don’t drink, so parties suck for you. That much I get. But why is your love life non existent? Guys practically throw themselves at you and you don’t even bat an eyelash.”     “Now you’re just being dramatic.” I twisted in my chair so that I was able to face her. “Plus that guy.” I jerked my thumb toward the exit. “He wasn’t even that hot.”     Brooke burst out laughing. Her tiny frame shaking as she tried to catch her breath. “You’re messing with me, right? He’s a first string wide receiver at a division one university. That guy has muscles on his muscles. I’ve literally seen girls fall off of their chairs just trying to get a better look at his ass.”     Now it was my turn to laugh. She wasn’t lying, that guy had been hot. Incredibly hot. Any other girl would have jumped at a chance to date him. Anyone other than me. The laugh died in my throat, a somber expression settled on my face. I clenched my fingers around the counter in front of me. I was so tired of pretending all the time. Tired of pretending that I didn’t understand her concern. Tired of pretending I was happy.     Brooke seemed to notice my shift of emotion. She was no longer laughing, no longer being pushy or judgmental. Her features were now tender. Her blue eyes sparkled with concern and love. “I wish you’d let me in. That’s all.” Her voice was quiet, almost too quiet.     A lump of emotions formed in my throat. I was a bad friend. Or, I had been. “I’ll explain, okay? Just not here.” I looked around the empty store. No one was out here to over hear my tragic tale of my past but I knew that wasn’t exactly true. Our manager was in his office, lurking back there like a creep.     A shiver ran up my spine. I don’t know what it was, but something was off about that man. Mr. Biggs was in his early forties, but he looked much older than that. Thinning grey hair, beer belly that hung slightly over his pants. He wore a button down shirt everyday that he’d tuck into his slacks. His belly would protrude over his belt. A permanent scowl etched across his face.     I had been working here for the past five months and I don’t think I’ve seen him smile once. Not even at customers. Mr. Biggs had been hired a month before I was, and he fired everyone but Brooke within the first month. Brooke got me the job by putting in a good word for me and stealing a copy of my resume.     I had been looking for a different job on campus for awhile but nothing had really panned out. We had    just ended our fall quarter when I had started looking, most places had already filled their openings. Plus, since I already had a job it wasn’t like I was going out of my way to look. At the time I had been working at the university gym. I loved the job, don’t get me wrong. The gym was like a second home to me, even now that I was no longer working there it still was. I spent at least two hours there almost everyday. Working there though? It had been a little overwhelming. If Brooke thought I got hit on here a lot— the gym was easily triple that. It didn’t matter what I was going, or what I was wearing, someone would find a way to flirt with me.     I groaned at the memory. Brooke furrowed her eyebrows at me. “I said I’d explain.” I rolled my eyes and waved at her dismissively. I knew she wanted to protest but bit her cheek instead. I had never offered to explain before, so she wouldn’t chance me reconsidering.     The rest of our shift went by smoothly. After counting our tills and locking up we hurried out. We never bothered saying goodbye to Mr. Biggs. The store was dark, the only lights that were visible inside of the store were from underneath his door, and outside in the hallway that we were in. Tonight was different though. Tonight as we went out the glass door leading to the hallway his door opened. Brooke didn’t notice, she was a few feet ahead of me, the glass wall of our store had been replaced by a small café for her. I saw though. He stepped from his office, leaning against the doorway and stared at me. An ugly sneer formed over his lips, his eyes never leaving mine. I felt my body tremble. I jogged to catch up to Brooke, not sparring him another glance.     “Okay, I’m grabbing dinner with Oliver tonight. You’ll explain everything when I get home?” Of course she wasn’t going to let that go. I shook my head trying to get the sight of our boss out of my head. I was still somewhat behind Brooke, she wouldn’t notice the movement.     “Yeah.” My voice came out faint, but I knew she heard.     “You okay?” She had stopped walking, turning a concerned glance my way. I was acting weird. Why was I acting weird? Maybe that was how he smiled. Honestly, no one has ever seen him smile. Maybe he didn’t know how. It still looked haunted though, almost evil.     “I’m good. Just a lot going on in here.” I tapped the side of my head. “I’ll be at the gym for the next few hours.” She didn’t look convinced that I was fine, but she didn’t push it. Instead she gave my hand a squeeze once we exited the building that our store was in.     Brooke smiled excitedly when she saw a car parked thirty feet in front of us. She half jogged to it before slipping into the passenger seat. I assumed it was Oliver, whoever that was. I let out a rigid breath, trying to expel some of the tension I’d been feeling. My tension wasn’t related to my creepy boss, at least not entirely, most of it had to do with the dark past I was trying to forget.