Read More than Friends - Monica Murphy for Free Online

but Tuttle snagged you up first, so…”
    His voice drifts and I slam the register’s cash door shut, startling him. I hate that he brought Tuttle up, yet I also feel responsible for it. I’m the one who opened my big mouth.
    “I’m sorry about that. I really wanted to be your partner,” I reassure him gently.
    Blake shrugs, his cheeks coloring. “It’s no big deal. Next time, right?”
    I hope there’s a next time. I feel like I need to make it up to him.
    Once we’re finished with the cash register lesson—including me ringing up a real pair of customers who came into the shop—he brings me to the toppings bar. Pointing out what everything is, he explains I need to make sure to keep everything well stocked. Replenishing the toppings as often as I can is crucial to keeping the toppings bar in good shape. The more they pile on their frozen yogurt, the heavier their cup weighs, and the more we can charge them. Though summer is dwindling, which causes the frozen yogurt business to slow down—at least according to Blake.
    “Hours will eventually be cut by mid next month, if not sooner,” Blake explains as we walk back to the storage room. “Business drops once summer is really over, and by the end of football season, it really dies off.”
    “Why is that?”
    “It’s too cold to eat frozen yogurt,” he says, his voice definitely carrying a duh vibe.
    “You can still eat it inside,” I point out. “It’s never too cold to eat delicious frozen yogurt.”
    Blake studies me like I’m crazy. I sort of am, but frozen yogurt really is delicious and my stomach is growling, which is embarrassing. “If you can convince people of that and increase business during the winter months, my mom might kiss you.”
    I make a face. “I’m not into that sort of thing.”
    Blake’s cheeks blaze up. His face is so red I feel instantly sorry for him. “I didn’t mean it like that,” he mutters.
    “I know. I was just teasing.” Could I be more awkward? Reaching out, I touch his arm and smile at him but he won’t even look my way. The buzzer indicating someone just walked into the shop goes off and he’s gone in an instant, not looking back at me once as he scurries out of there.
    Guess he was just saved by the bell.
    Smoothing a hand over my hair, I walk back out into the front of the store, my mouth dropping open when I see who’s standing in front of the frozen yogurt machines, contemplating the flavors.
    “Oh. Hey,” Emily Griffith says distractedly, barely glancing in my direction.
    White-hot rage rises inside of me as I walk over to join Blake behind the counter. I want to sock her in the mouth. Punch her in the stomach. Slap her face as hard as I can. And I’m not one prone to violence, but this chick makes my blood boil.
    Worse? She doesn’t even realize it.
    “You don’t have salted caramel anymore?” Em whines at Blake.
    “We’ll get it back soon,” Blake reassures her with a friendly smile.
    All she does is make a face as she shoves her cup under the nozzle and adds birthday cake flavored frozen yogurt to it. I watch as she examines the toppings bar, then dumps chocolate chips, M&Ms and chocolate sprinkles on top of her yogurt before bringing it to the counter.
    Blake never moves away from the cash register, and I scowl at him. “Let me ring her up,” I say.
    “I’ve got it.” He never takes his eyes away from Em as she stands in front of us looking positively bored. She even yawns. Doesn’t bother covering her mouth either.
    Again, I want to punch her. And I promise I’m not a violent person.
    “I need the practice on the register.” I hip-check him and bump him out of the way, flashing an extra big smile at Em. My mom always said to kill them with kindness, so I’m going for that approach. Besides, she has no idea what she did to Tuttle and me.
    Or does she?
    “Will that be all?” I ask Em with a sickeningly sweet voice.
    “Looks like it, don’t you think?” she says