“Yes, what a surprise,” I muttered, plastering a fake pleased look on my face. Gran appeared too happy for me to break the news to her.
This is my enemy, and he’s an asshole. Don’t fall for his easy smile and charming looks. This was what I wanted to say, but I bit my tongue and held back any snarky remarks. I’d deal with Maddox on my own.
“I just need help to organize the inventory. Sven will be here soon,” Gran announced, patting me on the back as she walked out of the storage room, leaving Maddox and I alone.
Once she was out of hearing range, I stalked forward. My whole body strummed with anger. I wouldn’t say I was a violent person, but I was feeling quite violent at the moment. “What the hell are you doing here?”
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. “To work, 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. He 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, 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 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.