Summertime is always hot and sticky in central Indiana. For anyone working in an ice cream shop, that statement is doubly true. One summer night I found that NOTHING could be more true, but not for either of those reasons.
I had been working there for over two years, earning spare money while I was in college. I typically worked night shifts with the high schoolers since I was so close to them in age. Staff changes happen a lot in fast food, so when one of the guys had been there for almost a year we already had a pretty sturdy friendship built. He often closed with me, and many times we were the last ones to leave.
That night had been extremely busy. The ninety-degree weather, combined with everyone's summer activities, had a lot of people out and about and wanting ice cream to cool off. Three baseball teams later, everyone was exhausted. Alex and I finished up much later than the rest of the shift.
We had always been fairly flirtatious in our friendship. The sexual innuendos and jokes were ever-presents, but I'd been dating someone for over a year, so it had never gone past that. That night had been no different.
It had been brought up by one of our co-workers that Alex and I would likely be dating if not for my boyfriend. Alex and I had scoffed at the idea at the time, but I often found myself drifting to that thought. That night I found myself wondering if Alex ever did the same.
"So, that was fun," I commented as I finished wiping down the machines.
"Yeah, we should do that every night. Oh wait, we already do. I'll sweep up here if you want." I nodded, noticing the slight flex of his muscles as he reached for the broom. "You know, one of these days you're going to bite that chunk of your lip entirely off."
My brow furrowed. "What are you talking about?"
"You're biting your lip again. Is that a nervous habit or what?"
Actually it was a habit I caught myself doing mostly around my boyfriend. I hadn't realized I did it around Alex too. "No, just do it when I'm thinking about things."
I walked over to the counter to grab the last of the dishes. Alex was sweeping in that corner and I had to reach behind him to get them. My arm brushed against his and I felt a shock of static electricity.
"Ow!" I muttered as I stepped back. He gave me a puzzled look. "Didn't that shock you too?"
He nodded, and then reached for my arm. His hands were hot to the touch. He pulled me toward him. His fingers lightly pushed my chin up and he gently pressed his lips to mine. It had been almost a month since I'd gotten laid, and the passion behind that sweet kiss made my body react in ways that surprised even me.
"Wha...? What are you doing?" I pulled back quickly. I tried to turn away but he held me firmly in place and kissed me again, this time pushing my lips apart and caressing my tongue with his own. My body melted and I found I could not pull away this time.
"We need to finish cleaning up," he nearly panted when he broke the kiss. I nodded, unable to say anything comprehensible.
I went to finish the dishes as he finished sweeping. When he was done he hung up the broom and walked back around the stainless steel table. I heard him turn on the water to fill the mop bucket.
