Chapter 51 You Are Not

Allowed To Smile At Them

“Alright,” the grocery store owner responded, giving a quick nod without a second thought.

Hadley, meanwhile, stood frozen, completely thrown off by what had just happened.

Eric turned on her abruptly, his gaze sharp and impatient. “Why are you just standing there? Pay for the flour already!”

“Huh? Oh–okay,” Hadley stammered as she fumbled to find her wallet. “Just a second.”

Eric’s gaze darkened as he caught the store owner sneaking glances at Hadley. Was she really this oblivious? How could she not pick up on it? Wasn’t it obvious to her what was going on?

“What’s taking so long?”

His voice cut through the moment, growing harsher. Something as simple as finding her wallet shouldn’t be dragging on.

“There,” Hadley said, handing over the cash. “All set.”

“No, it’s nothing…” The owner’s gaze flickered toward Eric, hesitating “Hadley, he, uh, he is…”

“Shouldn’t you be on your way?” Eric interjected, his cold, piercing stare cutting through the tension like a blade.

The owner tensed, his resolve crumbling in an instant. He knew better than to press further. “Ah, well… Hadley, I’ll get going then…”

“Alright, take care.”

Hadley gave him an awkward little wave.

“What are you staring at?”

Eric’s patience snapped, his voice edged with irritation. What was so fascinating?

And that lollipop in Hadley’s mouth had been driving him up the wall.

Before she could react, Eric reached over, plucked it from her lips, and tossed it straight into the roadside gutter.

Hadley stared at him, stunned. “What is wrong with you?”

“Why are you yelling?”

Eric had tolerated enough. Some random man handed her candy, and she just ate it without a second thought?

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Now that it was gone, at least he felt a sense of relief.

His eyes locked onto Hadley’s. “Cheap candy. I bet it tastes just as cheap. You’re not allowed to eat stuff like

that.”

What? Hadley couldn’t find the words to respond.

Did she ever ask him to try it? And what did how the candy tasted have to do with him?

Watching her fume in frustration only soured Eric’s mood further. “Who was that guy? What’s he to you? Are you seriously upset just because I threw out the lollipop he gave you?”

are you even talking about?” Hadley blinked, baffled. “He owns the grocery store nearby I

and you tossed it like

for that?”

Eric’s eyes narrowed as he pressed for

would there be?” Hadley shot back, still not following

Alright..

just some guy nursing

down, hoisting a box with

a hand.”

“Alright.”

when had she asked for his

boxes in his arms and motioned toward her. “Stack the flour on top. You’re carrying those

figured his tone might have come off a

handle that?” he asked.

“I can.”

firm nod and followed his

“Are you sure that’s not

could remember, she had never once seen Eric do any kind of

call

let out a mocking scoff as he strode ahead without slowing down. “Move it. Don’t just stand

posture

at all?” she thought. No one forced him to help, yet he went out of his way to do it and then got annoyed

fruit bags and

that much. He carried the

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51 You Are Not Allowed To Smile At

floor without a

“Open the door.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

twisting them in the lock until the door finally swung open. Eric walked in and dropped the boxes onto the floor without ceremony. His chest

on his face.

slight pang of guilt.

Eric didn’t

“What?”

“A towel.”

sharpened. “What else do you expect me to wipe

grab one!”

a fresh towel, and handed it over. “Here. This one’s clean.”

shot

now? What had she done this time?

seriously expect me to

dust from carrying your stuff. How do you expect me to clean

“Do you want me to do it for you?”

mouth, she regretted them. No one annoyed Eric more

“Or maybe-”

in his eyes. “Just get it over with. This place

an elevator.”

wasn’t having it. “What are you standing there for? Do

small nod,

Without the extra height from her heels, Hadley barely reached Eric’s shoulders,

note of that, too. When Hadley stretched onto her toes, he exhaled sharply

you even reach?”

“I can.”

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