Page 13 of Choosing a Forever
Something soft and gooey flows through me at his admission. He’s always doing simple, sweet stuff like this, stealing another piece of my heart every time.
I hold the paper to my chest. “Can I keep it?”
He gives me a dimpled grin. “Really?” I nod. “Of course, Firefly.”
Talmage and I have existed in the same city for who knows how long, and I hadn’t run into him once until my accident three weeks ago. But now? It seems to be a weekly occurrence for us.
First the car accident, then the burger place last week, and this week it’s the grocery store.
I don’t like talking to people in the store, so I wear headphones and go early on Sunday mornings to avoid the crowds. I’ve shopped at the same time every Sunday for over a year, and I’veneverseen the fire department here at the same time.
But there they are, dressed in their uniforms, with three freaking grocery carts full of food. I’m trying to avoid them, but they apparently like to divide and conquer, so every fucking aisle I go down, I find a firefighter, and my heart skips a beat every time wondering if it’s him.
None of them have tried to talk to me, so I figured Talmage isn’t part of the group.
I’m reaching for a box of cereal, andof coursethey moved it to the very top shelf. I’m only five-foot-five, so it’s not like I can reach. I’m also not a small girl, so climbing on the shelves isn’t a good idea.
I’m looking around for an associate or a tall person when a familiar blonde turns into the aisle with one of his buddies. I look away immediately but not before seeing Talmage’s mouth twist into a grin.
Do I just leave the cereal and face the wrath of the twins?
Before I can answer my own question, there’s a gentle tap on my shoulder.
I reluctantly take my headphones off and turn towards the two men.
“Hey, Mack. Fancy seeing you here. Do you need help with something?” Talmage asks.
I shake my head.
“You sure, doll? You looked like you were trying to get something on the top shelf. I’m happy to help you out,” his buddy offers with a flirtatious smirk.
Now, I’m not immune to a man in uniform, and Talmage’s friend isn’t terrible looking with his slightly shaggy brown hair, light brown eyes, and clean-shaven face, but he’s not my type.
Apparently, I only have it bad for blonde guys with mustaches and clear blue eyes.
“Enoch, stop flirting with Mack.” Talmage smacks him on the shoulder.
“I was just offering her some help! Can’t help I’m a natural flirt when it comes to pretty women.” Enoch throws a wink my way, and to my absolute horror, my cheeks flush.
“Good grief.” Talmage pinches the bridge of his nose. “Mack, is there something you need from the top shelfIcan help you reach?”
I guess now I don’t have to find a store associate. “Um. That cereal, please.” I point to the box I want, and Talmage reaches up and grabs it with ease. His extra six inches makes all the difference, apparently.
“Thanks,” I say, tossing the box in my basket. “Uh, happy shopping. See you around.”
I start to push my cart towards the opposite end of the aisle when I hear Talmage call, “Mack, wait up!”
Heaving a sigh, I reluctantly stop and turn around.
“I was wondering if you’d like to go to dinner sometime.”
Ummmm. What?
“Why?”
He reaches up and rubs the back of his neck, his cheeks pinkening. “Well, we haven’t seen each other since graduation, and I think it’d be nice to catch up. Reminisce about high school.”
I would rather saw off my big toe with a rusty kitchen knife than reminisce about high school.
