He turned his back to me, lifting another box over his shoulder. He carried it into the walk-in freezer and deposited it on the self. Maddox walked out and went for another box, but I sidestepped into his path.
Leaning back against the wall, he crossed his ankles and his arms over his chest. Today, he was wearing a black shirt and black jeans, ripped around his knees, with brown leather boots like he wore the night at the Haunted House. It was strange seeing him in anything other than the Berkshire uniform.
He looked… normal. Instead of the Berkshire star quarterback I despised.
“I asked you a question. What are you doing here?”
Maddox cocked his head to the side, giving me an amused look. “Working, Garcia. Simple as that.”
Impatiently, I tapped my foot on the ground, not falling for his stupid games. To work? Yeah, right.
“You don’t need to work. Don’t your parents give you an allowance? Your credit card is probably unlimited.”
For a brief second, I noticed the way his eyes darkened as if he was disappointed in me. But it was gone too quickly, leaving me wondering if what I saw was real or just my imagination. He tsked, shaking his head.
“See, that’s your problem. You assume too many things.”
I wasn’t assuming anything. He wasn’t just rich; Maddox was filthy rich. He didn’t need a part-time job, especially not at my grandparents’ grocery store. He didn’t ever need to work.
In fact, he didn’t even need to be here, in this neighborhood, where didn’t belong.
But no, he had to be here. The only two days I had without Maddox being a jerk every minute – my only two peaceful days, he had to come and ruin.
“How did you get my grandma to agree to this?”
“That was really simple. I smiled.”
A frustrated sound came from my throat, and I rubbed a hand over my face. “Maddox,” I grumbled under my breath.
He pushed away from the wall and walked past me to lift another brown box. His shirt stretched over his shoulders as he placed it on the top shelf and diligently arranged all the boxes in expiration date order. “She thinks I’m charming and sweet. Trust me, this is the first time someone has called me sweet. Shocking, right?”
I didn’t think that was the correct description for Maddox. He was anything but sweet.
“You need to leave. Now.”
He shook his head, his messy hair slowly coming undone from his man bun. “Can’t. I like it here, and I like your Gran. Your grandfather, though, he’s tough. No worries, I’ll figure something out.”
I grabbed the box he was holding and slammed it back on the ground. The storage room was starting to feel hot or maybe my blood was just boiling.
“Damn, Sweet Cheeks. It’s too early for you to be this angry. Are you always this grumpy?” Maddox mocked with a rough laugh.
Yes, since you came into my life.
I stepped closer, lifting my chin up to meet his eyes. “Listen, Maddox,” I said, stabbing a finger into his chest. “This is not a joke. You have a problem with me, then it’s only me. I don’t know what you want but don’t bring my grandparents into this fight between us.”
Maddox leaned forward, getting into my face. The laughter was gone, and his face was a blank canvas, devoid of any emotions. The change in him was so sudden, confusion clouded my mind. “Why do you always think the worst of me?”
I could’ve been fooled, but I knew better.
It was my turn to laugh; as fake as it was, I really was amused by his question. “Probably because you’ve only ever shown me the worst of you. If there was any good in you, I would have seen it already. Too bad you’re only focus is on being a douchebag.”
Maddox opened his mouth, probably to rebuke me, but I was already turning away, ignoring anything else he had to say. I lifted the box next to my feet and started organizing the messy shelves. Inventory days were always crazy and busy.
Maddox and I worked quietly. He didn’t try to speak to me again, and I wasn’t interested in holding a conversation either. The silence was tense and heavy, like an impending thunderstorm looming over our heads, dark and cloudy. An hour later, the storage room was somewhat organized, and all the boxes, old and new, had been put away on their designated shelves.
Lifting one last box, my arms trembled under the weight, but I still pushed it above my head, reaching for the rack. Except, the box was too heavy, the shelf was too high, and I was too short to reach it, even with me balancing on my toes.
Damn it.
I cursed under my breath when the box started to wobble in my hands and a surprised shriek came from me when I could feel it tilting back over my head. The box was going to fall, and I didn’t have the strength to keep hold of it.
But before it could slip through my fingers, another pair of hands grabbed the box.
“I got it.” His whisper crept along my neck. “You can let go.”
I did, and he pushed the box onto the shelf with ease. Maddox was too close, and I didn’t like it. Maddox obviously didn’t understand the meaning of personal space. His mere presence annoyed me and having him this close had me on edge. I wasn’t sure why, but everything about Maddox just made me feel… irritated.
I was thankful he saved the box, though, so I uttered a quick thank you as my arms fell down to my sides.
His breath was hot on my skin as he pressed closer, barely touching me. I slid away from under his arms before turning to face him. His gaze moved up and down my body, and the burning intensity of his eyes urged me to cross my arms over my chest.
“You’re tiny,” he grunted.
I hissed under my breath. He insulted my boobs the first time we met and now he had to make me feel small. “I’m not. I’m five foot two.”
He let out a scoff. “And I’m six foot three. A whole head taller than you. You’re literally bite-sized.”
“You’re just a giant, not average.”
His crooked smile should have warned me of what was coming. “You’re right. I’m far from average, Sweet Cheeks.”
Yep, I walked right into that one.
“Wanna see for yourself?” he asked with no shame.
“Keep your dick in your pants and keep your hands to yourself,” I warned. Stalking past him, I took the broom and started sweeping the storage room. I expected him to leave now that we were done putting away all the inventory but that wasn’t the case.
He leaned against the wall opposite to me, making himself comfortable. Maddox took a small box of cigarettes from his pocket.
My voice was sharp when I spoke, “You’re not allowed to smoke in here.”
Maddox made a derisive sound in the back of his throat as he flipped the tiny box over his fingers and around in his hand. “I won’t disrespect your grandparents like that. I’m just checking how many I have left.”
I could almost hear his unsaid words. Stop assuming the worst of me, Lila.
Ignoring the silent jab, I continued with my sweeping. Even with me not looking at him, I could feel his stare burning into the back of my head. He was staring hard.
Maddox stalked me with his eyes, and I didn’t like how he could make me feel… small.
“So, are we not going to talk about the elephant in the room?
“What elephant?” I grumbled, distracted.