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“Were you on a smoke break?”

“No” I furrow my brow, confused “I don’t smoke”

“Using your cell phone?”

My friend Ariana sighs audibly, drawing a sharp look froer to defuse the situation before Ariana says soet her written up

“I was fixing the washing s so we’ll have soht since the ICEE machine is broken”

Bruce’s eyes widen and his lips part His expression is nothing short of amused

“Fixing the washing machine? Who authorized you to do that?”

I freeze, wishing I was quick and clever like Ari “Um…”

“What’s a nineteen-year-old girl know about fixing washing

I’m twenty-three, but I don’t dare correct him

“She knows more than the rest of us,” Ari says defensively “Her dad’s a plumber”

Bruce ignores her, keeping his glare focused on me His frown is so pronounced that it disappears beneath his bushy brown mustache

“We call the,” he says “And the ICEE machine is fixed”

“No, it’s not,” Ari says, shaking her head Several of reement

Bruce turns to face Ari and I let out a small exhale of relief

“I closed out that work order, Gonzales,” he says to her “It’s fixed”

“No, it still doesn’t stop when it’s supposed to”

Bruce points at the naht here, Gonzales? It means the repair and replacement of equipment around here isthe ICEEs”

Ari opens her ot a young son to support; she needs this job And she’s the best friend I have here Or anywhere, really I don’t want her getting fired over Bruce’s fragile ego