While they had both
been drivers, they had a few friendly exchanges, but when she called him to the
phone, Kevin noticed immediately her new managerial tone. “Kevin, come over
here.” She smiled, kindly. “I’m going to have you answer phones between
deliveries, in addition to your other duties.”
“Okay, sure.” He felt himself blushing. He was pretty sure Diane suspected his crush. He couldn’t imagine a woman as beautiful as her didn’t suspect every man developed some level of infatuation with her. He hoped she didn’t know the extent of his.
Kevin had been kicking himself for not asking her out when he had the chance. The store had a strict policy against managers dating the hourly employees. His berating himself, he knew, was an absurd façade. He wasn’t really fooling himself. He wouldn’t have asked out a beautiful woman like Diane in a million years. He was shy enough with women in his own league. He felt satisfied with work-related conversation and the occasional exchange of personal, friendly anecdotes.
Diane instructed him on how to take orders over the phone,
gave him a script to memorize, then went to make pizzas. She returned after
several minutes and tested him. She leaned against the counter and played the
part of customers placing orders. She made him hold the phone to his ear, as if
each were a real call. Kevin, grinning awkwardly, did as he was told. He punched
the orders into the computer, without firing them into the system, as she
watched and corrected his mistakes. He found her rather impatient with his
progress after a few minutes, and he was surprised to find himself feeling ashamed
of his frequent blunders. Once he got it down, though, she praised him. “Very
good. Now you’re ready to take real calls, all by yourself.”
Kevin knew his enjoyment of her praise showed all over
his face.
