Excerpt: Circus

Cara came up to me. “Nic, I know you’re on new inventory but would you run the register until Valerie gets here so I can I run to the bank?”
“Sure, no problem,” I said.
I secretly hated working the register. I preferred to stick to managing the book section, surrounded by beautifully expressed written word. It’s not that I was anti-social, I just didn’t like people on some days. I had other days that I loved working up front to talk to the customers. Today was just not that day. But when you are trying to move up the ladder and the store manager asks you to do something, you don’t hesitate.
I signed into the register and put my “may-I-help-you” face on. I smiled politely as a woman of about 112 counted out change for her $35 in merchandise just to change her mind and use her charge card. I let out a small sigh as she shuffled towards the exit doors. Then I heard a laugh and looked up.
“I promise I don’t have any pennies,” Leigh said, setting her books down on the counter.
I grinned. She really was cute with her shaggy hair and dark eyes. There was something about those eyes but this was forbidden territory. She was just another customer.