Page 56 of Until Forever

“Why arewe getting so much food?” JJ asks.

“Thank you,” I say to the young lady behind the meat counter and take the cuts I asked for. “Because we’re having company later. You know the Maysons, right? Your mom’s friend, Harmony?”

“Yes.”

“She’ll be coming over with some of the other family members.”

“Are there any kids coming? Because I don’t want to be alone with a bunch of old people.”

I chuckle and shake my head. “Old? Who’re you calling old?”

JJ laughs. “You, Dad.”

“Twenty-six is not old.” I tickle him, but he jumps out of the way. “There will be kids.”

“Cool. I can’t wait to get back to play in the bounce house.” JJ hops up on the front of the cart with his feet on the bottom bar and his fingers gripping the sides so he doesn’t fall. “I’m going to jump so high, you won’t even believe it.”

I smirk and turn down the aisle for chips and dip, leisurely leaning over the cart while I check off all the items on Latoya’s grocery list. Despite this whole shindig being my idea, she took to it without hesitation. Things between us are great, and with each passing week, we find ourselves more at home with each other. Falling into a routine and growing closer every minute.

“All right, bud. It looks like we need four bags of tortilla chips and two jars of salsa from this aisle. How fast do you think you can get all of that and make it back to the cart?”

“Uh. Ten seconds,” he blurts and bounces around on the tips of his shoes.

“Really? Okay, let’s see if that’s true.” I smile and dig my phone from my pocket to set a timer. “One. Two.” I pause for dramatic flair, laughing on the inside at how eager he is. “Three. GO!”

JJ takes off at the same time that I start the timer, his arms flailing about as he quickly reads the labels before snatching the jars of salsa.

“Five seconds left. I don’t know, bud.” I tilt my head, watching the number decrease.

“Done,” he yells, out of breath and holding the bags of chips and salsa to his chest as best as his arms will allow.

“Time,” I announce simultaneously.

“I did it. I bet I can go faster next time.” He places the items into the cart.

“Definitely,” I agree with a smile.

We move down our list, loading the cart along the way. JJ goes on about something that happened at school and what he’d like for his birthday all in the same breath. I shake my head, finding it hard to keep up, so I nod and pretend I hear every word he says.

In the produce section, I fill plastic baggies with the ingredients for guacamole while JJ continues his little speech.

“Looks like that’s everything.” I ball up the page, shoving it into my back pocket.

“Can we get ice cream?” JJ asks.

“Yeah, I don’t see why not.” I turn the cart in the opposite direction, pushing it back toward the freezer section.

We hit a curve, but I’m distracted by a product on an endcap. It’s not until the cart jerks back into me, the sound of metal clashing, that my attention is drawn back in front of me.

“Whoa,” JJ muses and stumbles out of the way.

My posture becomes rigid, my spine and neck stiffens. Out of instinct, I throw a hand over JJ’s chest, forcing him behind me. Fisting my free hand, I narrow my eyes at the men before me. Their eyes are as hard as they were that day in my father’s hospital room. And like before, sirens go off in my head.

“Ah,” the guy with the scar mutters with a shake of his head. “Would you look at me, not paying attention to where I’m going?” He throws his hands around and presses his lips together.

His friend—partner, whoever he is—laughs and runs his thumb over his chin.

I swallow the desire to react, choosing not to show my ass in front of my son. Besides, it’s two against one, and something tells me fighting with them will result in bloodshed. Mine or theirs, but it’s inevitable.

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