The day had been pleasant, if aggressively normal, thus far. The Richie customers had all behaved, Bunny had made a few good sales of their own initiative, andβbest of allβwhat theyβd thought would be another difficult shift with Austen had turned outβ¦manageable. (Bunnyβs word for βpretending not to need the stockroom when Austen was right thereβ.)
But the box of cookies placed neatly on the front counterβfollowed by Austen herself initiating conversationβwas a real plot twistβ¦and one that Bunny did not think they could navigate while keeping their trademark cool.
(If, of course, βkeeping their trademark coolβ in the past had included noticeably avoiding Austen at every turn.)
There was no exit. There was only Austen. Bunny pretended that they were not more intimidated by Austen than they had been by any other person on the face of the earth.
βDid I, like, do something to you?β she was saying.
Had she done something? β¦Technically no. Had she βsaid something stupidβ? Definitely not. The problem with Austen was that those things never could have happened with her. Bunny didnβt dislike herβthey feared her.
The cookies were vanilla. The flavor of classic perfection. β¦This conversation was going to be hell, wasnβt it?
Bunny let out a long breath, half to collect their thoughts and half to fill the space. It had been very obvious, in hindsight, that theyβd been trying not to go near her.
Then Bunny found themself turning to face the wall.
βIβm not avoiding you right now, by the wayβIβm embarrassed as fuck,β they said. βI shouldβve just asked for different shifts.β
They turned back around; their cheeks, they could feel, were pink.
βThis is extremely nice, and I can tell that you put effort into having this conversation right,β said Bunny. βI just hate telling you that itβs something as common as me being intimidated by you. I mean, how many people tell you that on the daily?
βEverything that comes from you is pristine, powerful, perfect.β Bunny leaned their elbows on the counter and placed their head in their hands. βAnd I gotβI getβthrown off. I think I have to keep up. Then I think I canβt.β
Bunny looked up at Austen and added, βAre these honest to God for me?β