Page 79 of Knot So Sweet
Tom grins. "Just doing my job. Though between you and me, Garrick was pretty insistent about making sure we got you back on the road quickly." He leans in conspiratorially. "Man barelyleft the garage while we worked on it. Kept finding excuses to check on our progress."
I duck my head, pretending to study the milk labels while my heart does something fluttery and embarrassing in my chest.
My cheeks warm. "You're so funny!"
Garrick has been sweet and hiding it under his grumpiness from day one. The first time I met him, I thought he hated me, now I'm learning more and more, that's just his defensive mechanism. To hide what he's feeling, like a gentle bear.
"Yep. Real concerned about your... mobility. Independent woman like you needs reliable transportation." Tom's eyes twinkle with amusement. "Course, some folks might say having three capable alphas in town means you'd never be stranded anyway."
"I'm a lucky girl!" I straighten my shoulders, lifting my chin with false confidence. If the whole town is watching anyway, I might as well own it.
I'm going to own it. Why not? I do love having them around and even them not inviting me to poker bothers me. It makes me feel as if they're bored of me already. Everyone needs space right? That's all they're doing for me, giving it to me. Tom did say that I am an independent woman. It's funny that. I never thought of myself ever being able to do anything alone till I met the guys.
"All good men. Very... attentive to community needs." Tom's grin widens. "Especially lately."
Mrs. Henderson appears around the corner pushing a cart loaded with library books and grocery items.
"Violet, dear!" She beams at me, her librarian scent crisp with the smell of old books and lavender soap. "I was just telling Dorothy how wonderful it is to have a new omega in town. Really balances things out."
"Speaking of which," Tom adds, "you should come by the garage sometime. Not for car trouble," he clarifies quickly, "but Garrick's been working on this beautiful restoration project. 1967 Mustang. Real labor of love. Might be interesting to see what... drives his passion."
"I should finish my shopping," I say weakly, edging toward the cereal aisle.
"Of course, dear," Mrs. Henderson says. "Don't let us keep you. Though if you're looking for something to read, I just got in a lovely new romance collection. Very... educational."
I grab a box of cereal I don't need, just to have something to do with my hands while my face burns with embarrassment.
I escape to the relative safety of the breakfast foods, but I can hear them continuing their conversation in low, amused voices. Words like "natural progression" and "obvious compatibility" drift over, making my cheeks burn hotter.
By the time I reach the checkout, I'm already flustered from trying to remember why I came to the store in the first place, that I knock over an entire pyramid of apples.
Jenny, the teenage cashier with braces that sparkle under the fluorescent lights, starts scanning my groceries with a grin that says she's been dying for this moment all day.
"So..." she leans in conspiratorially. "How come you're in here alone?"
I blink. "Um. Because I needed groceries?"
"No, I mean..." she drops her voice, eyes wide with faux innocence. "You're never in here by yourself. Like, ever."
Heat creeps up my neck. "I'm perfectly capable of buying groceries on my own, Jenny."
Her smile turns sly. "Funny. Because the first time you came in? You were with Liam. And he paid."
My stomach twists. Oh God.
"And the second time," she continues, clearly enjoying herself, "Xaden was with you. He paid, too."
Jenny smirks, popping her gum. "Last week? You had Garrick and Xaden. Double coverage."
I can feel my face blazing hotter than the rotisserie chickens behind me. "I'm good, thanks. Totally good. I can... buy my own groceries."
I don't want them to know that I had no choice today. The guys ditched me.
Violet stop being so dramatic!
Jenny slides my bag across the counter, her grin wider than ever. "If you say so, Miss Violet."
I snatch the bag and bolt like my dignity is on fire, praying no one else in town has been keeping score of my checkout history.
