Chapter 6

RULE #5: WHEN THAT RICH UMHLANGA DADDY WALKS INTO THE ICE RINK TO OFFER YOU A BETTER-PAYING JOB, YOU TAKE IT.

Presh

The anxious and horny mood I woke up in this morning stays with me all day, and not even some quality time with the shower head could take the edge off that dream. At work, the whole thing plays over and over in my mind, making me spacey and a little irritable.

I'm stocking a box of new skates when a deep and oddly familiar voice from the other side of the counter makes me pause, and I'm actually wondering if my sleep-deprived brain has just conjured the sound.

"Eleven and a half, please."

I lean back and peer at the customer who made the request and almost scream when I recognise the tall man standing on the brightly coloured carpet, his hand resting on the tall lacquered counter. Trying to duck back around the wall, I silently pray he didn't see me. What is he even doing here?

"Hello, Precious," he says, and my eyes widen.

Nervously, I shove the skates onto the shelf, not even checking whether I've put them in the right place, and gather up my shredded confidence to greet him.

"Hi," I stammer before glancing around to see if anyone is within earshot. It's Wednesday, and we only opened fifteen minutes ago. Apart from a couple of home-schooled kids and a few regulars, there won't be any real customers here until tonight.

"Please call me Presh."

"I was joking about the skates," he adds with a hint of a smile on his face. "I won't be skating."

A forced, awkward laugh bubbles up out of my chest as I come to the counter. There goes any hope of acting normal.