Page 70 of The Closed Off Captain

Chloe

We’re up and out of the house early the next morning. I feel bad that I missed Greyson, but I told Mrs. Coftman to tell him how much I enjoyed watching him play. She promised to, and we hugged. I thanked her for her hospitality and a great weekend, and that was the end of that. Gunner stopped just a few minutes down the road to fill up on gas, and I ran into the coffee shop next door to grab coffees. They didn’t have much for food, but I grabbed a banana and a yogurt parfait for Gunner and an apple for me.

I walk out just as he finishes with the gas. I place his hot coffee in the cupholder on the left and my iced coffee on the right and hand him the banana and yogurt as soon as he’s settled. “They didn’t have a lot by way of food.”

“Thanks.” He eats the banana in an impressive four bites and picks up his coffee.

“Don’t worry. It’s black and awful,” I tell him.

He blows on the top and turns to me. “You tasted it?”

“No way. I just mean that all black coffee is awful.”

He smirks. “You know, I do put half and half in sometimes.”

I mimic shock. “Well, alert the press. Coftman doesn’t always drink black coffee.”

He just shakes his head. “What did you get?”

“I got an iced caramel and vanilla latte with oat milk. Want a taste?” I can’t resist.

He grimaces. “No, thanks. Did you get anything to eat?”

“I grabbed an apple; they didn’t have much.”

“We can stop whenever you want,” he offers.

“That’s fine. I’m just anxious to get home.”

He puts the truck in gear, and we hit the road. We settle into the ease we found on the way here, surprisingly. I get some work done while we drive. We stop for lunch at about the halfway mark and eat stir-fry bowls that are delicious, and then hit the road again. It doesn’t take long for signs for Green Bay to show up. “Do you want me to take you home or to your grandma’s? I know it’s Sunday.”

“You don’t have to do that; you can just take me home.”

“Are you going to go there today?”

“Yes.”

“Then let me take you there first,” he offers.

“Gunner, you don’t need to. I can drive over.”

“It’s an extra trip. We’re heading right past there. Besides, I owe you; you just spent the entire weekend with my family for my sake.”

“Okay,” I concede. “Thank you. Your family is really great, Gunner.”

His face softens. “Yeah, I know.”

It doesn’t take long for us to get to Grandma May’s nursing home. “Are you going to come in?” I ask. “You don’t have to.”

“I’d like to, if you don’t mind.”

“Are you kidding? Grandma May asks me every Sunday when Big C is coming back.”

He smiles. “Well, who am I to let Grandma May down?” He shoves his ever-present black ball cap on his head before climbing out of the truck. I climb down before he makes it over to my side.

“I’ll try to make it a quick visit,” I tell him as we head inside.

“Don’t, not on my account. I don’t have anything until tonight.”

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