Second Chance

Ethan

I was already totally impatient, looking at the clock on my wrist every minute, when I noticed that she had finished talking to the customer and now everyone was coming towards the counter, probably to close the sale and make the payment.

I had to step back a little, because besides Mariana and the young salesman, two of the customers who were being attended to earlier also came.

I waited impatiently for the end of the sales procedures, while I was still being totally ignored by Mariana and thought that she would pay me dearly for it.

Not that she wouldn't like it too. I thought maliciously, even feeling lighter, just in anticipation of the pleasure of having her in my arms.

But to my contentment, I confirmed that it was already almost twenty-two o'clock, the time the store closed and I could finally take Mariana away, and get my fill of her saucy mouth.

That, she could not deny me.

When things had calmed down at the counter, I approached her again, smiling with satisfaction when I saw that she was blushing and already wondering what was going through her mind at that moment.

"Why don't you let your employees close the store and we'll leave right away?

"I make it a point to close my own store," she said stubbornly.

She wanted to contradict me, I know, but that wouldn't change my mind, it just instigated me even more.

"All right, I can wait a few more minutes. After all, I've already waited so far," I say in a wry way that irritates her.

We were in this exchange of glances and desires, totally concentrated on each other, and we didn't notice the approach of another person, but soon he tried to announce his presence.

" Have you come to pick out a gift for Bruna, Ethan?"

My whole body went rigid from the tension of hearing Arthur's voice at that moment, and it took me a few seconds to turn my body toward him.

" What are you doing here, Arthur?" I asked tantalizingly.

Irritation reached the stratosphere as I ran into my former friend in Mariana's store and wondered how he knew about her.

" I came to pick up Mariana," he said quietly, seeming completely at ease in the environment " And you?"

" I owe you no account of my life, my dear " I speak angrily " But I can make it clear that you are not going anywhere with Mariana!"

We stand measuring each other, staring at each other like the two opponents we truly were, and regardless of anything, I would not let Arthur try anything with Mariana.

" I'll say it again, Ethan " Arthur says slowly " That's for Mari to tell me.

" Is there a problem, Mariana?" The salesman asks, staring at Mariana with complicity " Anything I can help you with?"

" Hello, Matheus " Arthur greets the young man " No problem at all. I believe you remember me, I was here a few days ago."

Arthur was in Mariana's store? What do you mean? I was genuinely curious and annoyed because now I needed to know what that bizarre story was.

Mariana

I made a disgusted face upon hearing the way Arthur made a point of emphasizing that he had been to my store, obviously with the intention of irritating Ethan and, at the same time, claiming a territory that was far from his.

"When were you here at the store?" Ethan questioned him, and by the way, he did it, he was angry.

Arthur deserved congratulations; he had clearly hit the mark, and I ended up exchanging a knowing look with Matheus, who was still close enough to hear the conversation.

"Just like you, Ethan, I don't owe you any explanations about my life," Arthur retorted.

So there I was, faced with two cavemen who, despite their age, resembled hormonal-filled teenagers competing for a ball during a school soccer match.

The thing is, I'm not a ball, and I'm not willing to be fought over by those two arrogant and self-absorbed men. I was determined to make that abundantly clear, once again.

"I'm not going anywhere with you two, and that's final," I said, looking firmly at each of them without leaving any room for discussion. "And I need to work; I can't stay here serving as a mediator in this ridiculous dispute you've decided to engage in."

I gestured to Matheus, indicating that he should come behind the counter, and after looking at the men in front of me attentively, I walked away without saying another word. I believe the expression of displeasure on my face had already made my dissatisfaction with the situation quite clear.

I headed to the small office, leaving the two of them at the store counter. Let them sort it out; it was getting tiresome.

Regardless, I had no desire to have any further contact with Arthur. Once bitten, twice shy, and I had no intention of risking it again. The farther away from me, the better.

My situation with Ethan, on the other hand, was more complicated. He had a strong card up his sleeve, and I didn't intend to test how far he would go if I decided to oppose him.

Instead of sitting in the chair and attempting to work, something I had already tried and failed at, I threw myself onto the small two-seater sofa, lying down and covering my closed eyes with my forearm.

The irony of the situation caught my attention because I had two men practically fighting over me, but neither of them was even remotely right for me. I shouldn't desire either of them, considering all the implications.

But I liked to be honest with myself, sometimes it's hard, but I tried, and one thing I couldn't deny anymore was that while Arthur made me irritated and want to go far away from him, that jerk Constantino made me want to get closer, very close, I would even say on top of him, literally.

How infuriating!

I stayed in that position for a while, waiting for a few minutes, and eagerly hoping that both of them had already left when I came out of that room to close the store.