Page 7 of Forever After Never

Alice: Fucking weirdo. You’re both fucking weirdos. You should be asleep.

Me: I’m not sure if you remember, but some people do actually work.

Alice: Not me. *snoring emoji*Why was he in the park? We’ve never seen this guy before, and now you’ve seen him twice in two days.

Me: He’s nuts.

Alice: You DEFINITELY want to bang him don’t you?

Me: No.

Me: Maybe.

Me: No.

Chapter 8

Autumn

Throwing down my apron in the laundry basket in the staff room, I pull out the sweater and leggings that I was wearing on this morning’s dog walk. I look at the‘Dog Mom’lettering and smile, thinking of Sawyer.

Unfortunately for me, because Jed decided to experience selective hearing this morning, I didn’t have the time to get changed before work, so I had to wear my dog walking clothes to work and get changed here.

After a long day, I am looking forward to going home, putting on my most disgusting looking, and therefore the most comfortable clothes that I have – and sitting in front of the TV for hours, to watch reality trash about how terrible other people’s lives are. It makes me grateful for my own drama free life.

I put my car into reverse and pull out of the parking space in front of Edith’s Kitchen.

There is a pint of ice-cream with my name on it at the store, and I can’t wait to get my hands on it.

I arrive to an almost empty parking lot at the front of the store. This is usually the quietest time of day to shop, and I am thankful for that after spending the day speaking to people at work. I am a sociable and friendly person, but sometimes having the same conversation repeatedly gets old. I grab a cart, so I can pick up some other groceries and dog food.

“Apples, salad, cookies, dog food, takis, pizza, ice-cream, cheez-its, chicken, bell peppers.” I say my shopping list out loud. I repeated it in my head, trying not to forget what I needed, but I thought that saying it out loud would have more of an effect.

“Live, laugh, love sign, pumpkin spiced coffee, maple syrup candles, matching jumpers for you and your dog.” Sawyer’s voice adds to my shopping list.

I jump, not expecting to hear a voice in my ear.

“What is wrong with you? You can’t just approach people like that.” I spin round to see him behind me, and I narrow my eyes at the man stood behind me. Pressing a hand to my chest I try desperately to stop my heart popping right out from between my ribs. “Seriously? Twice in one day? Aren’t I lucky.” I say sarcastically, once I realize that it is Sawyer. I was so startled that it took me a few seconds to process who was standing there.

My god, this man looksincredible. He is wearing tight blue jeans, and a black flannel shirt, with the sleeves rolled up to the elbow. His tanned, rugged skin is exposed, and I can’t help but look at his hairy arms, thick with muscles. I swallow hard.

“Well, I think you are lucky, yes.” Sawyer shrugs, then rubs his arm in the exact spot I was drawn to, flexing his fingers around the folded part of his shirt. My eyes fly up to meet his, because he just caught me staring at him. The shit-eating grin that spread across his face is proof of that. My face flushes.

“Are you following me or something?” I say quickly, before giving him anything else to be cocky about.

“Me? Never. Just coincidence, that’s all. Pine Harbour is a small town.” He shrugs.

“Yes, it is, which is why I am surprised that I’ve never seen you before, and now you’re popping up everywhere that I happen to be.” I roll my eyes. I don’treallythink he is following me, but this is a big coincidence.

“You really like that sweater, huh?” He nods to my top, and smiles at me.

“Well, unfortunately, I didn’t have the time to change for work this morning after my dog walk, because my dog decided to go jogging with some douchebag in the park, instead of listening to me, so I had to wear this to work and get changed there.” I tip my head to the side and give him an exasperated look. “But yes, I do really like this sweater. Anyway, we really must stop meeting like this, Sawyer.”

“Must we? It’s been kinda fun for me.” he taunts me, but I don’t bite. “So, bell peppers, cheez-its, pizza and dog food? That sounds like a wild Tuesday night you’ve got planned.”

“You forgot the ice-cream. The most important bit.” I drag my cart up the freezer aisle and Sawyer follows behind.

“Pistachio is the best flavour.” He reaches around me, opening a freezer. Unknowingly, Sawyer grabs my favorite brand of pistachio ice-cream and puts it into my cart. “This is the best one.”

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