Page 26 of Ice Darling
“Do you want these back?” Miss Potts offers.
I whirl around and find her aiming a sunny smile at me.
Suspicious, I fold my arms over my chest. “What’s the catch?”
“No catch.” Miss Potts tilts her head, her forced cheerful tone grating on my ears. “I know how awful it feels when someone takes away the thing you had your eye on first.”
My eyes narrow. Why do I get the feeling this is a lecture that goes far beyond a bag of green grapes?
I relax my arms. “Keep them.”
Miss Potts’s condescending expression melts away and turns into surprise.
“But they’re your favorite,” May hisses in my ear. “And youdidsee them first.”
I turn my nose up. “It doesn’t matter who saw it first. It’s who takes it home.” Giving the woman a sharp nod, I head in the opposite direction.
Clang-a-lang-a-lang!The wheels on May’s cart jangle as she picks up her speed to keep up with me.
“I guess Miss Potts saw the pictures of you in Bob’s Burgers too.” At my confused look, she adds, “She’s Gordie’s homeroom teacher, and she’s been after Renthrow for years.”
Great.Thanks to that giant pain in the butt, I can’t enjoy my favorite imported grapes. The mancontinuouslyfinds ways to irritate me, even when he’s not around.
Tight-lipped, I walk to the canned food aisle and angrily scoop a bunch of tuna cans into my cart as May prattles on.
“Believe it or not, Renthrow is Lucky Falls’s most eligible bachelor.”
“Why? Is everyone in Lucky Falls blind?”
May gives me an “are you crazy?” stare. “Renthrow looks like a hot lumberjack on steroids. Have youseenhis eyes? And the way he wears Hello Kitty everywhere because it’s Gordie’s favorite character? He’sso sweet.Don’t get me started on the lunch boxes he makes for her too.” She leans closer and whispers, “Word has it that Miss Potts went crazy over him when she saw the first packed lunch he made for Gordie. He molded sticky rice into a bear shape and made little shirt buttons out of?—”
I sputter. “I’mreallynot interested.”
May tilts her head. “But earlier you said you were.”
“I’m finished shopping. You can keep going by yourself.”
“Hey, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to tease. I’ll stop talking about Renthrow if it bothers you so much.”
I study her with narrowed eyes.
She raises both arms. “I know someone at the farmer’s market who can get you those green grapes.”
“By when?”
“Tomorrow.”
I sigh. “I’m basically done with mine, but I can stay with you until you’re finished.”
“Cool.” May leads the way down the aisle.
I follow her, paging through my mental grocery list for anything I might be forgetting.
She stops abruptly. “One last thing.”
I groan.Should have known this was coming.
“Renthrow is notorious for making himself clear and turning women down. Most of the matchmakers in town have given up on pairing him with anyone. He can sniff a setup from miles away.”
