[Crush 01.0] Crush

by Lacey Weatherford

  I nodded. “I’m fine. I need to tell you something, though.”

  His eyes narrowed suspiciously. “What?”

  “I’m training a new employee tonight.”

  He waited for me to give him more information, but I didn’t continue. “Who?”

  “Apparently Hunter got a job here this afternoon.”

  Clay didn’t say a word, but his jaw clenched. He walked over to his locker, opened it, pulled out his name badge, and began fastening it to his shirt.

  “Where’s he starting?” he finally asked.

  “In theater care. Where are you working?”

  “Snack bar,” he replied tersely.

  “Please try to be civil,” I begged him. “This is work. We need to be professional.”

  He snorted. “Whatever, Cami.” He shot me a wounded look. “I can imagine he’ll love his new job. He’s gonna get paid to follow you around through dark rooms. He’s probably thrilled.”

  “Clay, please.”

  “He always manages to find ways to infiltrate your life even more, doesn’t he?”

  I remained silent, and he made his way to the door, flinging it open roughly only to nearly collide with Hunter on his way in.

  I groaned audibly.

  Clay gave him a stormy glance, but Hunter only looked mildly amused as he slid past him and came over.

  “So, I was told to report to you—that you were my trainer.” He winked, and I couldn’t help staring. I hadn’t seen these ugly polo shirts look this good on anyone before. Jon should’ve started him at the ticket window. He’d have packed the house.

  “Why didn’t you tell me you got the job?” I asked.

  Clay gave a huff and left the room.

  Hunter shrugged. “I didn’t know until a couple of hours ago. I thought I’d surprise you.”

  “Well, you did.” I glanced at the door Clay had left through.

  Hunter followed my line of sight. “Look, Cami. I didn’t think he’d be working tonight since you said you didn’t get scheduled together much anymore. I swear I’ll be on my best behavior. I’m not trying to rock the boat.”

  “So you’re saying you didn’t try to get this job because I work here?”

  “No, I’m saying I only took this job because you work here. I don’t really need the money, but I like being with you, and I hate it when you’re at work.” He slid a glance over my form before returning to my eyes. “That is when I usually get into trouble you know—when you’re not around.”

  This was something I hadn’t thought of. If he was here working, he wasn’t out partying with a bunch of losers. Suddenly, things seemed a little brighter.

  “Are you trying to make amends?”

  “I am.” He stepped closer. “I’ll do anything I can to prove you can trust me.”

  There were so many questions I wanted to ask, but now was not the time.

  “See that utility cart over there? Grab it. We’re going to load it up with our supplies for the night.”

  He grinned and winked. “Yes, ma’am.”

  I couldn’t help the little flutter in my chest. I wasn’t going to lie to myself—I’d never looked forward to a shift as much as this one.

  “I don’t know if anyone told you, but part of our employee benefits is that we can have all the free fountain soda we want. We can also have one small bag of popcorn per shift. Anything else you want during your break you have to pay for.”

  “Sounds good.”

  I opened the closet Jon had just been in. “Most of our cleaning supplies are in here. Occasionally, we may run out of stuff. Our backup supplies are in a storage room in the attic. I’ll give you a tour of everything after we are done loading the cart.” I lifted a dustpan that was hooked to a long-handled broom. “Most of the time we’ll be walking around with these, cleaning up trash and popcorn spills. We’ll use them to clean the theaters after each show too. The shows are timed on rotations so we can easily move from one to another. The bathrooms have to be checked every hour and then cleaned again at closing so they are ready for the next day.”

  “Got it,” Hunter said.

  I pulled the supplies out one by one and showed him where they went on the cart. “We’ll need to move quickly after each movie so the patrons can begin seating for the next showing. The rest of the time will be pretty easy, and if we have a fairly clean crowd, things can even get slow.”

  “I don’t have a time card yet,” Hunter interjected. “Jon told me to have you write my hours down for tonight and sign them off, and then he’ll get me one made up.” He handed me a piece of paper with a time written on it. “This was when I got here.”

  “Oh, okay.” I folded it and slipped it into my pocket. “Let’s go to the attic then.” I smiled mischievously. “They say it’s haunted, you know.”

  His interest was immediately piqued. “Do they now? And who is they?”

  I giggled as I led him out the door and down the back hallway to a wide set of stairs. We slowly walked up them. “All the employees. I think Jon is the only one who isn’t afraid of coming up here by himself. This building is old, and there used to be a private theater up here for the family that originally owned the place.”

  “What happened to it?” he asked curiously.

  “Oh, it’s still there, but it’s locked up. Apparently, the owner back then came in and found his wife dead in one of the seats with a movie still playing. The story goes that he was so distraught, he locked the theater and never let anyone use it again. Many employees have claimed to hear strange noises or smells, and a few have said they’ve seen the ghostly apparition of the woman herself. They say she’s wandering the theater looking for her husband.”

  “When did this supposedly happen?” Hunter asked, seeming very intrigued with the tale.

  “In the nineteen fifties, I’m told. Someone came in later and did the renovations, adding all the extra theaters to it. It used to be one big one downstairs and this smaller one upstairs.”

  “Hmm. So they use the smaller one for storage now?”

  I shook my head. “No. The theater remains untouched. It’s kept locked. Even Jon doesn’t go in there. He says it’s to remain undisturbed out of respect for the dead.”

  “So there must be some truth to the story.”

  “Yes. It was an ancestor of his.”

  “Interesting. You’ve never seen the inside of the theater then?”

  “Only in pictures. I’ll show you the album they’ve kept of the building’s history.”

  Hunter chuckled. “It is kind of spooky. Maybe they should call in the ghost hunters.”

  “Laugh all you want now,” I said, grinning. “It’s not so funny when you actually experience something.”

  “You’ve seen the ghost?” His eyebrows rose in speculation.

  “No, but I’ve heard the strange noises and smelled weird things on occasion. Things I couldn’t explain away.” Goosebumps prickled over my skin as we reached the top of the stairs, and without thinking, I reached over to slip my hand into his.

  “Why, Ms. Wimberley, I do believe you are crossing the bounds of appropriate behavior with a coworker. I may need to fill out a sexual harassment report.”

  “You’re right. I should let go.”

  He gripped my hand tighter. “I don’t think so. You should let me hold it . . . for safety reasons of course.” His eyes twinkled mischievously, and he winked before glancing down the hallway. “Let’s do some exploring later, if we have time, and see if we can stir up the ghost.”

  I shook my head. “You have absolutely no respect for this story, do you?”

  He shrugged as he glanced around. “I’m not trying to discount anything. I’m just being practical. Most things can be explained away if they’re researched enough. Has anyone tried to find out what might be making those noises and smells? Do they ever check the theater to make sure it remains undisturbed?”

  “I really have no idea. I’m sure there has been some mild investigating by m
anagement after the staff complained about it, but I couldn’t tell you.” I pointed to a set of old, carved, wooden doors depicting cherubs frolicking on them. “Those lead to the theater. The plain door at the far end of the hall is the storeroom.”

  “It’s kind of like stepping back in time up here,” Hunter said as he observed the old red and gold wallpaper and cream moldings lining the walls, along with the art deco wall sconces. “Is this all original?”

  “It is. Even the carpet.”

  He glanced down at the red carpet that was still plush where it ran down the edges in to the very worn center. “I bet it looked really nice back in the day.”

  “The album is on the shelf just inside the door. They’re black and white, but you’ll get the idea.” I watched him while we walked and started giggling. “Are you sniffing the air?”

  He grinned. “Yes, I am. You said people smelled weird things when they were up here. I’m just seeing if I can too.”

  “And?” I paused, crossing my arms as he moved toward the double doors that lead into the theater.

  He turned to face me. “I got nothing.” He sighed heavily, looking disappointed.

  I laughed. “Most of us run through this hall, not wanting to be here by ourselves very long, and you’re standing there trying to find something. Aren’t you scared?”

  He gave me a look of scorn. “Puh-leeze. Why would I be afraid when I have you to protect me?”

  I snorted and started laughing hard. “You must be really hard pressed for protection these days.”

  He smiled widely and walked over, stroking his fingers over my lips. “I’ve missed hearing your laugh lately.”

  My smile slowly slid from my face. “Things have been a little stressed.”

  He nodded. “I know, and I’m sorry. If you really want me to back off, Cami, I will. Tell me now and I’ll steer clear, but if that’s what you want, you need to know I’ll still be watching out for you.”

  This was my moment. If I really wanted him to leave he would go. He meant it.

  “Hunter, I’ve never wanted you gone. I just wanted the truth.”

  “And I want to give it to you, really, I do. I’m just asking you to trust me for a little longer, okay?”

  I could see the sincerity written in his eyes. I wanted to believe what he was telling me.

  “You know what? I owe you an apology. In the very beginning I said I wanted to get to know you better, flaws and secrets aside. Then when things got crazy, I backed out on that. I’m sorry. Take all the time you need. I’ll be here if and when you’re ready to talk. Until then I’ll do my best to trust you.”

  He relaxed visibly. “Thank you. You have no idea what this means. I’ll try not to disappoint you.”

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Hunter-

  “Kiss me,” Cami said.

  “I can’t,” I replied, trying to hold back a grin.

  “Why not?” She looked worried.

  “Fraternizing isn’t allowed at work.” I chuckled as I walked away, heading for the supply room door ahead of her. “I can’t get fired—I just started.” I twisted the doorknob and entered the darkness, feeling the wall as I searched for the light switch.

  I was attacked from behind as Cami barreled into me, launching herself onto my back.

  “What are you doing?” I asked, unable to help the chuckle that escaped me. “Now is not the time for piggyback rides. Where’s the blasted light switch?”

  She slid off me. “It’s right here,” she said, grabbing my hand and guiding it to the right spot. I flicked the button but nothing happened.

  “Hmmm. That’s weird.” She tried clicking it several times too with the same result. “Well, I guess we’ll prop the door open with this popcorn bucket, and I’ll try to show you some things using the light from the hall.”

  I slid the object she pointed to in front of it. She slipped her fingers in mine and proceeded down the aisle ahead of us, pointing out the general location of all kinds of items, from food to cleaning supplies. When we reached a darker corner behind one shelf, I pulled her into my arms and pressed my lips to her softly. “Sorry, I couldn’t wait any longer. I thought you’d fight harder for one.” I nudged her nose with mine and released her. “I’ll let you get back to whatever you were showing me.”

  She launched herself at me again, kissing me hard, and I chuckled as I opened my mouth and she slipped her tongue inside. I liked her aggressiveness. I answered by pushing her against one of the shelves, and several boxes clattered to the floor. We both stopped to look.

  “Oops,” I said, not really caring we’d just made a mess.

  She laughed and kissed me again.

  My hands slid down to her hips, cupping her to me.

  All of a sudden the lights came on, and we broke apart.

  “We’re back here!” Cami called out as she quickly bent to pick up the boxes that had fallen. “We couldn’t get the light to work, and we knocked some stuff off in the dark!”

  There was no reply, and I stepped around the corner to see who’d come in.

  “There’s no one here, Cami.” I swallowed thickly and glanced at the fluorescent light fixtures. “Have they ever done this before?”

  “Not to me they haven’t.” She paused, looking up, her eyes wide with hesitation.

  I turned and helped her restack everything. When we were done, she grabbed my hand and squeezed it.

  “Let’s get out of here,” she pleaded.

  I nodded and she practically dragged me out the door and down the hallway. I couldn’t help turning back to see if there was anything there. There wasn’t, but the light had turned off again.

  “Has anyone ever told you how sexy you are when you’re sweeping up popcorn?” I leaned against the dimly lit wall inside the theater watching her as she finished the last row.

  She snorted. “It’s just the mood lighting in here. It makes everything look that way.”

  I glanced toward the door to make sure no one was coming in for the next showing. “I highly doubt it, but I can say it’s putting me in the mood for something.”

  She lifted her head, a small smile playing at her lips. “Is that so? What?”

  I laughed internally. She’d probably run screaming if she knew exactly what I wanted to do to her. I couldn’t help the heated stare the thought caused. She swallowed thickly, and to my surprise returned a smoky stare of her own.

  Grabbing her by the arm, I towed her up to the back row of the theater. “See those seats over in the far corner there?”

  She nodded.

  “If I could, I’d bring you to a movie I thought no one would attend, and we would sit right there—in that corner, in the dark—and make out like two crazy teenagers.”

  She laughed. “We are two crazy teenagers.” She stared at me, her eyes sparkling. “Or we could go somewhere we knew no one would be and do the same thing.”

  The girl was going to set my temperature flaming. I wanted to press her against the wall right now and devour her. “Being alone with you is a dangerous, dangerous game. I think we’ve discovered that already on a few occasions.”

  She lifted one shoulder slightly. “Sometimes a girl likes a little danger.”

  I groaned. “How much of this shift is left?”

  She took her phone from her pocket. “Two hours, but we haven’t taken our break yet.” She grinned.

  “Do you have any closets—other than your haunted one—that are good for making out?”

  “We could just go to your car. Did you park in back?”

  “Yes.” I smiled.

  “A car with tinted windows in a nice dark alley. I wonder what we could do there?” She bit her lip, an innocent expression plastered on her face.

  “Why are we still standing here talking about it?” I asked, my mouth watering in anticipation of kissing her.

  “I don’t know. Why are we?” She turned and headed down the steps, and I watched her every movement with appreciation as I followed. />
  We put our supplies in the breakroom and clocked out before exiting through the rear door. She grabbed my hand, pulling me toward my car.

  “Hey, Goody?”

  She stopped, sighing as she leaned against the wall. “Why do you still insist on calling me that?”

  I grinned, looking down, as I pressed my body up against hers. “Because it serves to remind me of the kind of girl you are.”

  She frowned. “I’m not sure I like that. You really think I’m a goody-two-shoes?”

  I shook my head. “No, I need you to be a goody-two-shoes.”

  “Why?” She looked so beautifully confused.

  “Because I want to do unspeakable things to you.”

  Her eyes widened. “Like what?”

  I laughed. “I believe I just said they were unspeakable.” My gaze traveled over her features. “If you use your imagination, I’m sure you could figure it out.”

  She pondered this for a moment. “Well, if you can’t tell me, how about you just show me instead?”

  I let a strangled chuckle escape. “That would be worse than the telling, I’m afraid.” It was all I could do to restrain myself. Thank heavens we were only on a twenty minute break, or I’d be in a lot of hot water.

  Cami flattened her palms against my chest before running them over my shoulders and linking them behind my neck. She forcefully pulled me toward her—not that I was really resisting too hard.

  “Let’s make out like crazy teenagers, as you suggested earlier.”

  I eyed her carefully and moved in closer. “That might not be a good thing.”

  “Why not?” She looked perplexed, her tongue darting to lick her lips.

  “Because we are now down to eighteen minutes in our twenty minute break. That’s not a whole lot of time, you know.”

  “So quit wasting it.” She popped up on her tiptoes and pressed her mouth to mine.

  I gave in, slipping my arms around her waist and pulling her the rest of the way against me. The familiar contact exploded between us as we sank into one another, tangling together with our tongues, limbs, fingers, hair, and whatever else would mix together. I didn’t want to stop, I just wanted to keep her here pressed against this wall beneath me—she felt so good. We kissed each other as if we were drowning, like it was the only time we were ever going to be allowed to do it—wrapped up in one another until we were both panting.