Page 7 of Pack Giroux

"Would you want to go to lunch with me?" he blurts out.

As soon as the words leave his lips, he's shaking his head at himself. "Sorry, I know that was forward. I'd just planned to go to lunch when I left here and thought it'd be nice to have some company."

I swallow hard, because I know what I should say. What I've been taught to say. My words from earlier come flashing back at me at high speed.Grab life while it's coming at you or risk it passing you by.

"Yeah, sure," I agree, surprising him.

Grinning, he says, "Great. Want to meet me over atO'Malley's down the road in about thirty minutes?"

"Okay, I should be done in here by then," I tell him.

Walking over to his cart, he turns around with a quick wave of his hand, "See you there."

I smile and return his wave awkwardly, wishing the ground would open up and suck me down into it as he leaves the aisle. As soon as he's out of sight, a stone drops in my stomach. What have I done? Have I lost my mind? Been here all of one day. One day of freedom in the real world, and I'm already salivating over two guys I've literally met in passing. That small voice in the back of my mind speaks up again and wonders if everything they teach us at the compound about the people here in the outside world is true.

Wandering through the store in search of the last few things on my list, I'm lost in my thoughts on autopilot grabbing things and marking them off the list. It isn't until I come to the very last thing that I try to gather my wits about me.

"Can I help you?" a short man asks gruffly as I stand staring at all the phones on display.

"Yes, please," I tell him. "I just need something for all the everyday basics."

"So, like emails, texts, calls, and...school...things?" he asks, dragging out the last bit like he's asking if I'm attending the university.

"Yes, exactly that," I say.

It takes roughly about ten minutes for him to talk me into the yearly plan with unlimited everything and a bunch of other things that I don't even know. He had me sold on the fact that if I pay a full year, which is like three hundred and sixty dollars, then I get one of the new iPhones for free.

Another ten and I've got my new phone in my back pocket and all of the other stuff paid for, which leaves me only ten to get back to the restaurant. When Grady had mentioned the name,that was another reason that stone had dropped. It was the same place I ran into the alpha last night. Shuffling my bags around until they're comfortable to carry, I make the trek back toward campus.

Making it to the restaurant, it's to see Grady leaning against a cherry-red car with no top on it. He's staring at a couple birds flitting around, playing in the tree that's already losing its leaves. When his head turns, he spots me, instantly smiling before frowning a bit.

"Did I not give you enough time?" he asks, walking over to meet me. "I can wait if you want to run those home first. Wait, where's your car?"

His frantic worrying is cute and it makes me snicker. "I don't have one. I'm staying at the dorms on campus. It's my first year."

Realization dawns on his face before he offers, "Here, you can stash all of that in my trunk if you want, and I can drive you the rest of the way after lunch."

I debate for a few seconds, biting my bottom lip. Trusting my instincts, I accept his offer, "Okay."

He pops open his trunk and slides his own bags from the store over to the side to make room for mine. I hand over all but my backpack. Making it all fit nice and neat, he shuts it and leads us back up to the sidewalk and over to the door. Using a key, he unlocks the door and motions for me to go in first. All of the lights are off, and I have half a second where I wonder if I've made a bad decision and something bad is going to happen to me. Just like they always said it would if we stepped foot off the compound.

Then the lights flicker on, and I turn to see Grady by the switch. He smiles as he catches me watching. "Didn't think I'd have us eating in the dark, did you?"

"Not exactly," I answer easily.

He laughs and it echoes around the space since there's no other people here for noise. Ushering us over to the table right in the middle of the restaurant, he pulls out my chair for me. "Sorry, I'd love for us to eat outside and enjoy the last bit of summer weather while we've got it, but the restaurant isn't open yet."

I take the offered seat. "Then how are we in here right now?"

"Helps when you know the head chef," he says, taking the seat across from me. "Speak of the devil."

"And he shall appear," a man's voice finishes behind me. "I thought I heard your laugh out here. Thought you were going to be here earlier, though."

As he comes around my side, and I get a good look at him, my breath catches in my throat. It's the guy from last night.

"I guess I can see why now, and you're forgiven," he says, speaking to Grady, but not looking away from me. He holds out a hand, which I take as he introduces himself. "Hi, there. I didn't catch your name last night. I'm Kinkaid."

"Marnie," I tell him, slipping my hand back into my lap.

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