Parker, Cutting A Deal With The Bookstore Bully

I sat behind the bookstore’s cash register. A few customers milled about, looking at the latest releases. I couldn’t help but grin.

My life was on the way up.

I’d graduated high school, gotten a cozy part-time job working the evening shift at the local bookstore, and had every three-day weekend free for Dungeons and Dragons with the boys before we all headed off to college. George had even hinted at throwing a house party while his parents went on a cruise: maybe this would be the summer I finally lost my virginity.

I checked if any of the customers needed help, then cracked open a thousand page fantasy epic.The memory of all the lockers I’d been shoved into faded away as Gorbon Yearwood laid waste to his enemies.

The door jingled when it opened, but I didn’t look up.

“This is the place,” said the calm voice of my boss Mrs. Delaney. “As you can see, we have a pretty expansive romance section. It’s what’s most popular around here. You’ll want to familiarize yourself with where everything is, but Parker will show you how to use the register and our search function.”

My eyes shot up at the mention of my name. My mouth dropped open. There, beside Mrs. Delaney, stood Dante, the bully who’d made my last four years a living hell.

He was wiry, but strong, with corded muscles along his arms. Years of swimming had sculpted him into excellent shape. He managed to keep a natural tan no matter the time of year. He styled his curly hair with an undercut. In short, he was a douchebag.

She gave him a full tour of the store, but I could tell he wasn’t listening. When her back was turned, he snapped his gaze onto mine and flashed a big, wolfish grin. My heart sank.

She led him over to me, “Parker, this is Dante, our new hire. Dante, Parker.”

“We’ve met,” he said.

“Oh good!” She smiled. “Well, Parker, you show him the ropes. You probably know how to use the computer better than I do anyway.” She laughed at her own joke. “I’ll be off. Dante, you don’t have to stay ‘till close tonight, but I expect you to be in at one o’clock sharp tomorrow.”

“He’s working evenings?” I sputtered.

“Of course, I can’t leave a new employee alone all summer, not even a good boy like you.”

Dante smirked; my face reddened.

“Toodles!” With a swish of her hair, she disappeared out the door.

A predatory silence hung between us. Dante took a seat behind me.

“Soooooo,” I began. “Do you wanna learn how to work the register?”

Dante scoffed, putting his feet up on the arm of my chair. The soles of his black combat boots smeared dirt on my tee. “Nope.”

Can’t say I didn’t expect that. “So what’re you gonna do?”

“I’m going to sit here for half an hour, make sure Mrs. Delaney’s gone and that you know how to run this place, then I’m gonna head over to Ashley’s house and fuck her brains out.”

Ashley had been the head cheerleader. She was a stereotypical big-titted blonde except for the fact that she was actually smart and had gotten accepted to an Ivy League on scholarship. We’d shared a few classes, and she’d always been kind. I tried not to look surprised that she was fucking Dante.

“Cool, sounds good to me,” I returned my attention to my book, happy he’d be out of my hair soon.

“I bet that sounds good,” he leaned towards me. “I bet you’d like to see Ashley bouncing up and down on my big dick.”

I kept my eyes trained on my book, but I’d lost the ability to actually read.

“You still a virgin, Parker?”

“Shut up,” I said, knowing I would regret it.

He pushed my book off the desk. It landed with a thud.

“Pick it up, bitch,” he snarled under his breath.

I glanced around the store. A customer or two looked in our direction, but, for all they could tell, I’d dropped the book by accident.

As I leaned down to grab it, he jabbed his fist into my side. He had a special technique where he only curled his fingers halfway, so all the **** was concentrated in his knuckles. It left smaller bruises. I stifled a yelp, which was still second nature to me.

“Don’t talk back to me,” he growled.

I nodded numbly. He checked his phone, then stood, smiling.

“Duty calls. Guess I’m getting out of here early.” He turned his phone to show me two messages from someone who was in his phone as Cheerleader Slut.

The first was a selfie: Ashley lying topless on a bed, tongue hanging out of her mouth, drool pooling all over her big tits.

The second was a text: “I’m begging Daddy to hurry.”

Dante slapped me on the back hard enough for it to sting and sauntered out of the store. I ignored the boner pressing against my underwear. I couldn’t believe it.

My dream summer was turning into a nightmare.