Page 44 of The Heart Shot
Grocery shopping.
Me
My sincerest condolences.
Elsie
Condolences accepted.
I couldn’t hold back a grin. I loved her quick wit, the effortless way we bantered back and forth. It was both refreshing and drove me crazy because I wanted to betherebantering instead of tapping it through a screen.
An idea sprouted roots in my mind, and approximately two seconds later, I threw myself off the couch and shoved my feet into boots before tromping out through the leaves in the yard to get to my truck. Was I heading to Wally’s Market, the only grocery story in Meridel, just for a chance to see her?
Yes, I absolutely was.
Did that make me creepy? Maybe a little. But I also needed more milk, so I had a legitimate reason to go to the store. At least, that’s what I told myself.
The neighbor across the street was screaming into his phone in the driveway as I drove out of our cul-de-sac. I had only met the guy a couple times. He had a habit of getting angry at Luna for pooping in his yard, and then at me when I was a millisecond too slow cleaning it up. I felt sorry for whatever woman ended up with that sorry excuse for a man. If he treated me and my dog in such a way, I could only imagine how he’d treat a woman.
I tried to be neighborly and wave at him, but he only scowled at me before turning away.
Whatever, dude.
The seven minutes it took to drive into town were too long. My thumbs tapped an anxious rhythm on the steering wheel until I finally arrived at Wally’s, parked in the small lot, and walked inside the store.
The scent of produce slammed into me, and I forced my steps to slow, not wanting to appear too eager. I wanted to see those brown eyes, see her smile, hear her laugh.
What was happening to me?
Wally’s Market was empty, other than the cashier who was enjoying singing along to the fifties ragtime music playing over the speakers. With casual footsteps, I walked up and down a few aisles, trying to find Elsie. When I came up empty, part of me deflated at the thought of missing her.
I skirted around the outside aisle where all the meat, dairy, and produce were. My boots squeaked on the tile floor as I came to an abrupt stop. Elsie was in the cheese section, a different block of cheese in each hand as she stared at them with the cutest scrunched-nose expression. I bit my lip to hold back a chuckle and approached her slowly, afraid I’d scare her away like a skittish animal.
At the sound my shoes made, she looked up, then did a double take.
And then she dropped both blocks of cheese.
“Jameson?” she asked, her face turning red. “What are you doing here?”
I bent to pick up the cheese and awkwardly held them out to her. “Your text reminded me I needed to do some shopping of my own,” I said, realizing how stupid that was since I didn’t have a cart or basket.
Elsie’s eyes narrowed further as she took the cheese from me before glancing over my shoulder. I should have thought to grab a cart.
“Do you eat invisible food or something?” she deadpanned.
My cheeks warmed. How did I play this off?When I heard there was a chance you’d be here, I was so desperate to see you that I drove all the way here. I promise I’m not a creep, though.
Yeah,thatwould go over well.
I huffed a nervous laugh, shoving my hands into my jacket pockets. “No, I just found what I was looking for,” I said, then winced at my lame attempt at flirting.
Elsie cocked her head, the corners of her lips twitching.
Come on, smile.
Another second passed, and any amusement I thought I saw slid away, replaced by a wall of wariness. What had happened to make her respond in such a way? I wanted to erase it, to help her forget whatever it was that made her so distrusting, so hesitant to open her heart.
Elsie cleared her throat, and it was then that I realized I had been awkwardly staring at her without saying anything. “And what were you looking for?”
