"Here, change into this." Reed tossed me an Al's Pizza t-shirt.

"Now?"

"Yes, you can change in the bathroom." He pointed to a door with a white, stenciled Marilyn Monroe on it.

"That's okay. I can wear it over my tank." I turned away from Reed as I pulled it over my head.

"Nice." He nodded.

"I look fantastic, don't I?" To be honest, the fitted girls' tee didn't look too bad.

"Of course."

"Now what?" I glanced around the empty restaurant. The only job I'd had before was lifeguarding. This was new territory for me.

"We sit around."

"What?"

"No one comes in here until at least nine-thirty or ten."

"Why?"

"People don't want to eat this pizza unless they're drunk."

"Then how does Al stay in business?" I glanced around the place. It certainly wasn't the décor that brought people in. The booths had seen better days, and the fading paint on the walls didn't look any better.

"College kids get drunk a lot."

I laughed. "Why keep it open during the day?"

"That, I can't tell you, but we never open before four thirty."

"How are my hours going to work?"

Reed spun a beer bottle lid around like a top. "How many hours do you want to work?"

"Maybe a few shifts a week."

"I'm guessing you don't want to work weekends."

"I'd prefer not to, but..."

He leaned back against the counter. "Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights from five to midnight."

"That's a lot of hours."

"Most of them will be like this. Bring your books. Get your homework done."

"Is there any flexibility if I need to be somewhere?"

He smiled. "For someone desperate for a job, you're very demanding."

"Sorry. I know."

"If you need to skip a shift, we'll talk about it."

"Will there always be someone here?"

He put a hand in his pocket. "Me."

"Really?" Reed seemed like the kind of guy who liked to go out. Did he really work that much?

"Yes. I don't trust you to work alone. Besides, you're not going to be cooking. Your job's to ring people up and serve."

I wasn't sure whether to be insulted by his 'I don't trust you' comment. Either way, I didn't actually want to work alone.

"You didn't ask, but it's eight fifty an hour."

"Oh, that's good." I'd have taken anything at that point—especially from a job that didn't require weekends.

He smiled. "It's better than you'll get anywhere else around here."

"Great."

He pulled two stools over to the counter and sat down on one. "How's the pledging life going for you?"

"It was going fine until I got stuck spending my day with some weird guy."

"Well, he thinks you're weird, too."

"Very funny."

"Do you like it so far, though?"

"Yeah. It's been good." For all I knew, he'd report everything to Amanda. I wasn't saying anything stupid.

"Just don't let it get you down. It's only a few months."

"I know. And it's not like pledging a frat."

"I'm sure it's better in some ways, but worse in others." He played with a plastic Al's Pizza pen.

"In what ways?"

"Guys are more physical, more extreme, but girls can be cruel. Like, making you guys work for us at the house. That's demeaning in so many ways. It's different than asking a guy to fix something."

"Oops."

"What?"

"I just realized we never moved your stuff into the dryer."

"Maybe we didn't, but I did."

"Oh, okay. Good."

"I'm glad you're concerned about my clothes. That's sweet of you."

I shook my head. "Don't read into it."

"Where's Dylan taking you tonight?"

"No clue. We were supposed to go to dinner, but you know I was busy."

"What are you doing instead?" Reed crossed his arms.

"Drinks, I think."

"In other words, he gets out of buying you dinner and is going to get you drunk and into bed."

"Not necessarily."

"But possibly." He studied me.

"That's none of your business."

"Maybe it isn't, but I'm surprised you're so easy to get into bed."

"I am not easy!"

"No? It's just Dylan?"

"He wasn't my first—wait, why am I telling you this?"

He laughed. "I don't know, but I was right. You are definitely entertaining."

I pushed him, and his arm felt like a solid rock. "Are you human?"

"Umm...am I really supposed to answer that?"

"You're not."

"All right, Annie."

The phone rang. "Be right back."

I waited as Reed talked for a minute. He wrote a few things down on a note pad.

He came back to sit. "It was just about a beer delivery."

"Oh, cool."

"You say that a lot."

"What?" I stretched. My back was getting tired from sitting on the stool.

"Cool. You say it more than normal."

"I'll try to remember that."

"Here, you need to fill these out." Reed placed some paperwork in front of me.

I started to search for a pen, and he placed his in my hand. "Take your time. We have nothing better to do."

I finished filling out my info, and we sat around talking for a while. Before I knew it, an hour had passed, and my stomach growled.

"Want to get something to eat?"

"Sure...where?"

"I usually run over to the Subway across the street. You think you can hold down the fort here?"

I glanced around the empty restaurant. "I think I can handle it."

"Good. What do you want?"

"Turkey, cheese, lettuce, tomato, mayo, and hot peppers."

"Hot peppers?"

"What?"

"Most girls don't order those." He studied me.

"Well, I happen to like things spicy."

"Good to know." He grinned before walking out.

The door had just closed behind Reed when I got a text from Dylan. Where are you?

I told you I was busy until nine.

I want to see you so bad. Can you get out early?

Maybe. I'll let you know.

Do that.

Only if you say please.

Please.

I wasn't sure how I felt about Dylan's texts. On the one hand, they were rude, but on the other hand, there was something thrilling about him pushing to see me.

I'd just shoved my phone back in my purse when Reed returned with our sandwiches.

"You got me a foot-long?"

"Yeah..."

"Do you really think I can eat that much?"

"Yes. I also got you chips." He tossed my food on the counter.

"What do I owe you?"

"It's on the house. You did do some of my laundry today, after all."

"Thanks." I belatedly realized I didn't even have any money with me. I only had my ID, phone, and key in the back pocket of my skirt.

I ate half my sandwich and some chips, enjoying the comfortable silence we'd fallen into. Maybe Reed was right. We would be friends.

My phone beeped again. Another text. We're having a small party at the house. Come ASAP.

I shook my head. So much for drinks.

"Who is that from?" Reed asked.

"Dylan."

Reed grabbed my phone and read it. "You're not going to show up, are you?"

"Why not?

Reed snorted. "That isn't even an invitation. A piece of advice: make a guy work for it. It'll only make him want you more."

I took my phone back. You're supposed to take me out first.

You're the one who cancelled on dinner.

We settled on drinks.

Just come over whenever you're done.

I glanced up, and Reed shook his head.

No. I hit send before I could chicken out. I wanted to see Dylan, but I wasn't going to let him bully me. Besides, maybe Reed had a point about it making him want me more.

He didn't reply, so I put my phone away. "Now what? I just wait for him to call me?"

"No. You don't wait for anything. You do what you want. If he really likes you, he'll find a way to see you."

"You seem to be all about the advice thing."

He ignored my comment, crumbled his wrapper into a ball, and threw it into the garbage.

"Nice shot."

"Thanks. Your turn."

"Okay, I'm guessing you don't want this extra half?"

"Nope."

I tossed it, missing the trash. I started to get up, but Reed stopped me. "I've got it."

I pulled out my phone when he got up.

"Quit checking your phone."

"I'm just checking the time."

He sat down again. "Likely story."

Reed turned on the TV, settling on college football. We sat watching a game for a while. Georgia vs. Florida. I knew from my brothers that this was supposed to be an incredible year for Georgia. I kept the fact that I actually understood football to myself. Reed already thought I was weird for liking hot peppers.

"It's a quarter to nine. I can close up for a few and walk you back."

"No thanks. I can walk alone."

"Not a chance. Either you stay until closing, or I'm walking you."

"I'll stay."

"Yeah?" He looked kind of happy about it.

"I'll get paid, right?"

He laughed. "You've been on the clock since we got here."

"Cool."

"You used it again."

"Are you going to point that out every time?"

He crushed his soda can. "Not every time."

At nine-thirty-five, Dylan texted me again. Are you on your way?

No.

Reed smiled. "Good. Trust me. It's better this way."

Why not? Where are you?

Working.

Reed leaned over to look at the screen.

You have a job?

Yes. I was going to get off, but you cancelled on me.

Reed laughed. "You're really getting the hang of this."

I didn't mean to cancel. Still want to get drinks?

No thanks. Maybe another time.

Reed cracked up. "Wow."

"What? Isn't that what I'm supposed to say?"

"I think so..."

Where are you working? I really want to see you.

"Should I tell him?"

"That depends. Do you want him to come here?"

"I want to see him...I think."

"Then sure. He's going to find out eventually."

Al's Pizza.

Are you serious?

Yes.

On my way.

Reed chuckled. "Oh, this is going to be interesting."

"Ugh, I hope not."

"You don't like interesting?"

"Not when it involves me."

Reed laughed again. His laugh was deep, and it fit him perfectly. "I'll remember that."

I tried to fight down my nerves at seeing Dylan again. I knew he probably wasn't thrilled he'd had to come and find me.

The door burst open a few minutes later. "You really were being serious." Dylan skipped the hello.

"Yes. I was so qualified for the position that I was hired on the spot."

Dylan turned to Reed. "I'm sure that's why he hired you."

"I don't know what you're implying." Reed stared him down.

"So, Juliet, what happened to being busy with your sorority?"

"I was—am."

"How can you be doing that if you're working?"

Reed jumped in before I could respond. "Here, let me make this simple. We did a pledge exchange with Delta Mu. Juliet was my assistant today. End of story."

"Your assistant? If you laid a hand on her—" Dylan slammed a fist on the counter.

"You'll do what?" Reed didn't seem fazed by Dylan's antics.

"What? You don't think I can take you?"

"No. But that's beside the point. I haven't touched her."

Dylan scowled. "Let's go, Juliet."

"Oh, um."

"You can go. I'll see you on Monday." Reed wasn't asking.

"I'll wait for you outside." Dylan walked out.

"Sorry...he's just..."

"An ass. I know. What I don't get is why you'd agree to go out with him. But what do I know?"

"Yeah... it's complicated. I've known him forever."

"Gotcha." His disbelieving look was at odds with his words.

I pulled my t-shirt over my head before walking out. Reed winked at me, and I looked down. My tank top was pulled down almost completely exposing my bra. I fixed it.

"Thanks for...well, thanks for making today much better than I expected." I'd actually had some fun. Plus, I had a job.

"Don't you mean, 'thanks for the cool day?'"

"So funny." I folded up the t-shirt. I'd be stuck carrying it around the rest of the night.

"You'd better go before he comes back in here. I don't think I can stop myself from punching him the next time he talks to you like that."

"Why do you care?"

"Because he has no right. It's wrong."

"All right... I'll see you soon." Who knew Reed was such a gentleman? I smoothed my skirt and walked out.