Chapter Text
Lainey sighed, a smile curling her lips as Jason handled another customer. It’s been a few days since his training, and she had to admit -he was a natural. Of course, there was the occasional mistake. A curse escaping his lips at the randomest of times, which led to a dollar being added to the recently added Swear Jar. She rolled her eyes as he added another dollar, apparently the customers had no qualms about hitting on him. If his reddening cheeks were anything to go by.
“Really Jason?” She questioned exasperated, watching his shrug as he handed someone a bagel. “You have quite the colorful vocabulary.”
“Yeah, yeah,” He huffed, putting change in the register before turning towards her. “How do you deal with people like that? Especially on a daily basis?”
Lainey couldn’t stop the grin even if she wanted to, her cheeks starting to burn as she looked back at her hands. Ever since her and Damian had become official, customers seemed to back off. Almost as if they knew who he was, or perhaps it was her. The glow of happiness, of being loved and sharing it. Either way, she was glad for it. She really didn’t need her boyfriend murdering her customers.
“I have a boyfriend.” She spoke simply, adding more pastries to the displays. “Perhaps it’s… a thing? Girl gets taken and the creeps go away.”
“Oh.” Jason blinked, but Lainey didn’t notice. Something warm and
awake
piercing her mind.
Her breathing hitched, his voice a low rumble in the back of her mind. Her vision shorted, the sight of Damian in her room looking for his shirt. His bemused smirk as he watched her from the top of the stairs, listening in on the conversation erupting between her and the newest employee. Her cheeks burned when she realized she was caught, he could feel her presence in the back of his mind. A habit to make sure he was sleeping peacefully, and if he was having a nightmare -make it easier to rouse him without worry.
You look stunning, Elaine.
“Lainey?”
Lainey chewed her lip, the heat in her cheeks burning to her ears as Damian’s thoughts filtered through her mind with ease. There were several things on his mind, and ignoring the urge to look closer, delve deeper, she smiled up the staircase. Shaking her head, before clearing her throat to face Jason. Concern colored the crystal orbs, but turning to greet the next customer -she waved it off. Aware of Damian’s piercing stare on her back, Lainey shifted her stance. Mischief striking as she wiggled her hips as she grabbed the requested pastry, bidding them a good day as placing the money in the till.
Elaine
.
He warned, but Lainey simply flashed a smile before turning to the next customer. The heated blush scolded the back of her neck, as her hands slightly shook with the rush flooding through her veins. Bidding them a good day, she huffed as the coins slipped from her palms. Bending down to grab the coins whilst Jason dealt with the customers, she wasn’t prepared for the onslaught of thoughts, of images, and ideas flooding her senses. Standing slowly, she fought back the urge to toy with her hair, hands instead gripping her skirt. She didn’t need to look to know Damian’s reaction, not when she could hear it, muchless feel it.
“Hey Lainey,” Jason’s voice broke the bubble forming around her, separating her from the crowd. “Do you know when the brownies will be done?”
“Uh yeah, brownies, right.”
She swallowed thickly, casting a glance over her shoulder to meet Damian’s ever darkening eyes at the top of the stairs. A smirk showing the devil-may-care attitude within as he leaned on the wall, arms crossed over his chest. He dared her to pretend like nothing happened, to go and check the pastries close to burning in the back room as if they hadn’t just shared a mental stream of unfiltered ideas. Squaring her shoulders, Lainey tried to take steady steps to the kitchens. Layering the brownies carefully on the cooling rack, attempting to ignore the new information swelling inside her head.
“Break.” She muttered hurriedly, passing Jason to the stairwell. Fighting the rising heat to her cheeks, she rolled her eyes at Damian’s smug smirk. “Oh shut it.” She grumbled.