Sugar

5

    "He is." I smiled, pushing myself up from the counter and glancing at Ben.

     His gaze caught my own before he broke it, glancing down to his hands on the countertop.

    "Thanks for the text back, by the way," his tone was teasing as he glanced back up at me, smiling slightly.

    I facepalmed, shaking my head, the blonde tendrils that framed my face moved with the motion. I had actually completely spaced out on replying to Ben, thanks to Mr. Mysterious. Since last night this complete stranger was the only thing that seemed to be invading my every thought.

    There was something so alluring about Vincent De Bellis.

    "I'm so sorry." I groaned, leaning my back against the countertop and looking over to where he stood near me, a hand on his hip lazily. "I completely spaced, I haven't even opened it yet."

    He chuckled lowly.

    "It's all good, Flo. No worries, I'm just teasing you." He grinned, nudging me gently with his elbow.

    I reciprocated his expression, relaxing instantaneously at his words. The last thing I need to be doing right now is making people around me mad at me. I don't currently have the time or energy to be mending bridges I didn't realize I was burning.

    My mind has been in overdrive since last night, between Alex and Mr. Mystery, my brain is in a tornado state currently. One minute I'm thinking about how dare some random man ask me about my future salary and the next I'm thinking Jesus christ Vincent De Bellis is the most alluring human I've ever met and I haven't even met him.

    To say I was preoccupied with my thoughts would be the understatement of the century, hence why it took maybe a few moments too long for Rico's hushed yet aggressive whisper to grab my attention.

    I spun around on my heel, finding Rico across from me again in the spot he'd just been standing moments ago. His tan cheeks were becoming pink, his brown eyes twinkling.

    "Cute ass hunks, three o'clock," his hushed voice whispered, and I nearly rolled my eyes at the urgency of his tone but instead tried my best to very inconspicuously glance over to the door.

    Entering the diner was Brandon DoucheDick along with a foreign face that I couldn't see very well. I nearly groaned aloud at the sight of him, and honestly I probably would've had the second face not scared me shitless.

    There, manifested in front of me, looking as if he was copied and pasted from his photos into this small, retro diner was Vincent De Bellis.

    I let out a quiet, muffled shriek before falling to the floor, crouching behind the counter. My heart thudded loudly in my chest, thrashing against my ribcage as my pulse pounded loudly in my ears.

    Shit. Shit. Shit.

    Holy shit.

    I pressed my back against right below the counter, resting my head back against the hardwood and trying to focus on anything that would calm this panic that was currently flooding all of my senses.

    Before I realized it Rico was knelt next to me, his eyes wide.

    "Florence, are you okay?" He whispered in a tone that was probably louder than his usual. "I know they're attractive but this is a bit dramatic, don't you think?"

    "Am I the only sane one around here?" Ben's distant voice caught my attention and I glanced behind Rico to find him throwing his arms up in confusion.