Page 56 of Love at a 7-Eleven

"What's my little girl doing in here?"

"Hey, Dad. I wanted to stop over here before I go over to the practice field."

"Is that party tomorrow?"

"Yes, sir, I'm starting to set up."

I glanced at Caleb, who said, "I'm going over to the college this afternoon, so I'll see you at dinner tonight. Unless you need help at Halas."

"No, I've got it, but thank you. "

"Your husband is terrible at fishing," Dad said.

"Oh, no, what happened?" I asked.

"He's joking," EJ said, coming to stand in the aisle with us. He pulled some nearby snacks off of their hangers. "Get your gummies now while Dad's here to pay." EJ continued to take items from the rack—chips, mixed nuts, sour candy.

I had raided snacks and candy plenty of times with my brothers. We had done enough traveling with my dad's career that drug store candy aisles were comforting and normal to us. EJ picked up four or five bags before stepping around me, and I stared straight at Caleb.

"You better make your selections," I said.

"I’m not making your dad buy me snacks."

"Go ahead!"

"Yes, you are!"

I wasn't sure who said what, but my dad and brother both spoke at the same time, insisting that Caleb start choosing.

"I'll move slowly on my way to the register to give you time to choose, but you better go ahead because I'm grabbing one thing and heading that way."

"You need to try those dill pickle seeds," EJ said, leaning in front of me to point at them.

"I’m going for barbeque," I said, grabbing the pack next to the dill.

EJ made a noise of disapproval at my choice but then kept walking past me like he wasn't too concerned with my selections.

I picked three things for myself and when I noticed that Caleb still wasn't participating, I grabbed two additional items from the shelf and held them to his chest, giving him no choice but to take them. He smiled at me as he held the bags. "You know I love potato skins as much as the next guy, but don't make your dad buy this."

I grinned at him and looked him in the eyes. "Trust me, he loves it," I said.

It was the truth. My dad wanted Caleb to be in on all of the family traditions. I never knew someone could so seamlessly fit his way into our family. His history had softened my family's hearts. His history had made him the man he was today. His history was painful, but it had produced good fruit. My dad loved him like a son, and my brothers loved him like he was one of them. He had fit into our family in a way I didn't expect. I smiled when he picked out a third item on the way to the register.

I stopped for a drink, and I also got gum while we were standing at the register. My dad paid for a mound of over a dozen items while we stood behind him with EJ and discussed our selections. We laughed about how it would all get eaten. Dad finished with two bags, and I separated our stuff from EJ's on the way outside.

Caleb walked me to my SUV.

"We'll be quick at the fields," he said. "Then I’ll be gone by the time you get home, so I'll see you tonight at dinner."

I handed him the bag of goodies. "You'll be home before me, so you can take these."

I sat in the driver's seat and closed the door. He waited while I started the engine and rolled down the window. "See you at home," he said, leaning in for a kiss.

"But I thought we just met in that gas station. We still need our first date. I can't believe I met Kai from the TV show."

"Yes, I am that guy. I'm a really hot actor from California. And I have a YouTube channel, too. Have you talked to my mom?"

"Oh, man. I really want to get to know you. You seem like my type."

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