'Cause lately I've been waking up alone

It had been two weeks since Markus had stood me up in that restaurant. When I had talked to him again, the next day, He told me it wasn't a big deal and that I was making a big deal over nothing. I was livid, but, like the dutiful girlfriend I was, I forgave him and tried to move on about it.

I walked into my shop just after noon. I needed the check the inventory and order whatever needed to be ordered, and check in with the manager, Sheila, to see how the new workers were doing.

"Hey, everyone," I called upon walking into the shop, the workers smiled and waved to me while the customers didn't really take too much notice.

"Hey, Rae," Sheila said when I went into the backroom, where she was sitting looking at the schedules, her blonde hair was curled and pilled high on the top of her head.

"Hey, how's everything going?" I asked, taking the seat next to her.

She smiled at me, "Really good! They're catching on quick, which is awesome. Sales are up five percent from last month!"

"That's awesome!" I squealed, "How's inventory looking?" I asked, taking off my coat and standing up.

"I'll go back there with you," she said standing up with me and grabbing a note book as we went to another section of the back to look at everything.

We spent about twenty minutes back there, going over everything we had, what else needs to be ordered, and what else needs to be made.

"Huh, Raeanne?" Mila said, peeking into the backroom.

"What's up?" I asked, looking up from the notepad where everything was written out, at the young brunette.

"There's someone out here that's asking for you. We offered to help or even to bring out Sheila but he wants to talk to you. Sorry," she said apologetically.

I smiled, "No problem, tell him I'll be out in just a second," I told her before she went back onto the floor.

I sighed, "The one day I come here..." I said looking at Sheila with a smile but she just laughed.

I straightened out my top and walked out, I looked to Mila and she pointed to a group of guys that had their backs to me, but I knew they were talking.

"Which one?" I asked her quietly.

"Backwards ball cap, with the TS on it," she told me.

I nodded and walked over, "Hi y'all! I heard someone was looking to speak to me," I said.

They all turned at the same time and my smile faded for only a moment before it grew larger, "Hey, Tyler! What are you doing here?" I asked my impromptu boyfriend from a couple weeks prior.

Honestly, I hadn't really given him that much thought after that adventure. I had filled in everyone, except Markus, on the happenings of that night and they all agreed. I should have given him my phone number. If it was up to everyone, I would have dumped Markus then and there and just started dating Tyler or something.

He shrugged, "Well, the guys and I had an off day and we had never been down this way, so I wanted to stop in and see if you were here."

I smiled brightly at him, "Well that's awesome; I hope y'all like our little hideaway from the bright lights of Dallas!" I told them, "If y'all need anything definitely talk to anyone on the floor here, or ask them to get me or Sheila! If y'all decide to get something, we'll throw our employee discount on top of that as a thank-you!"

The all smiled and said their thanks to me, "It's really nice to see you again, Tyler," I told him once the guys looked away and at some of the products.

"You too, Rae," he said with a small smile.

I took a step back, "I've gotta help Sheila, but yeah, if you need anything let someone know."

He nodded as I turned back around and went into the back room again.

"So...that's the fake boyfriend?" Sheila asked with a grin.

I rolled my eyes, "That'd be him."

"And what's the real boyfriend up to?" she asked me.

I bit my lip, "We haven't talked today," I told her.

"Just today?" she asked raising a brow at me.

I looked away from her and down at the inventory sheet, "A few days."

"Raeanne," she sighed.

I shrugged, "It is what it is. That's how he is, I'm used to it. It'll all be fine in a few days."

"Until he starts being a dick again," Sheila said, "He's a loser, Rae. It's been six years, why are you putting up with it? You're too beautiful and too successful to be dealing with that man child."

"It's because it's been six years, Sheila!" I groaned, "I can't just give up on it now."

"It's because you're comfortable with him," she told me, patting my knee, "you know the routine with him, you're used to him. You don't wanna start from the bottom with someone when you already know them. That's what your problem is."

I looked down, knowing that that was part of what the problem was. But I just didn't...know how to handle it.

"Rae?" Mila said, again, popping her head into the backroom.

"Yeah?" I asked, looking to her.

"He's asking for you again," she said with a red flush to her face.

I chuckled, "Thanks," I said before getting up and following her out onto the floor again.

"What's up?" I asked him, when I saw him standing off beside the register as one of the other guys was paying.

He smiled, "Well, I was just thinking, what if I can't figure out how to use one of these?" he said, lifting the products he had in the little basket to show me.

I laughed and leaned in to see what was in the basket, "Well, I feel like the soap is self explanatory," I said playfully, looking up at him quickly as he watched me with a smile, "bath bombs go into the bath, easy. Face masks with the instructions on them. Hmm, what could you possibly have a problem with?" I asked standing up straight and looking at him.

"What if the instructions rub off on the masks? Then what?" he asked.

I shook my head and crossed my arms over my chest, "What are you getting at, Tyler?"

"I think I should get your number so that if I need help with any of it, I can call the legend herself to help me out," he told me.

I smiled lightly at him, "I told you before-"

"I know," he said, interrupting, "you still have the boyfriend that's never taken you anywhere."

I smirked and rolled my eyes, "Exactly."

"I'm not gonna be using it to ask you out and shit like that," he said dismissively, "it's just in case I mess up using one of these," he said, lifting the basket up again to show me, making me laugh as my arms dropped to my sides.

"That's all you'd be using it for?" I asked, confirming it.

"Well," he smiled, "maybe I’ll use it to help you get into hockey, we'd love to have a Stars fan as pretty as you."

I shook my head and laughed, "You're the worst."

"That a yes?" he asked me.

"Sure," I sighed.

He smiled at me and pulled out his phone, unlocking it and setting it up for me to put my number in before handing it to me. I took it swiftly and put in my number, handing it back to him in only a couple seconds.

"See, not so bad, eh?" he told me.

I burst out laughing but covered my mouth quickly, "Eh?" I said back to him, which made him laugh.

"It's the Canadian way, drink maple syrup, say eh a lot," he said.

I laughed again as I took a step back towards the back room, "Have a good one, Ty," I told him, stopping next to Jackson at the cash.

"His is on the house," I told him pointing at Tyler, loud enough so he could hear me.

He nodded at me, "No problem," he said.

I smirked at Tyler who just smiled, "It'll get him outta here quicker," I said while still looking at him.

His friends started laughing and Tyler covered his heart with his hand, I smiled at all of them, "Thanks for coming into Charmed, y'all! Come back again soon!" I said before heading into the back room again.

"He's got a crush on you," Sheila sang quietly to me when I sat back down next to her.

I looked at her but smiled nonetheless, "Hush!"

Notes

Thank-you for the feedback so far!! Please let me know what you think of the story so far!!