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“Apparently, it’s against the law to hand out groceries to the homeless. Something about liability. So this is just a waste. What, do you have me on some sort of weekly subscription or something?”
It’s the second week of home delivery of basic groceries to my door since my mother passed, but he’s not saying anything so obviously, I’m going to ramble.
Some things never change.
“Charlotte. How are you?”
“I’m fine. And I’m capable of doing my own shopping, thank you.”
“I know. It’s just what people do as a way of—”
“They send flowers. Fruit baskets. A freaking card. Not this.” I throw my arms down to gesture around me, catching a small lizard near one of the bags. I stomp it away and close my eyes to collect my bearings.
Stay cool. Just stay cool.
I manage a polite smile. "It's really unnecessary. So please quit it.” Okay, I snapped that last part, but the effort was totally there.
He perks his brows as if stating the obvious. “You want to talk about unnecessary?”
“My coming here was necessary. You delivering food to my house is not. You’re crossing lines I don’t need crossed, Reeves.”
“What, helping you at a tough time?” His voice rises—which is rare—and I’m ignited.
“It’s not a tough time. My mother’s death was expected, and I was prepared. I still go to work every day. I still buy groceries.” Granted, nothing like the expensive shopping list in the bags by my feet, but I manage. “And I can still cook.”
Another perked brow. This one, a little mocking.
“Grilled cheese and homemade fries count,” I argue.
He sighs and glances down. “Fine. No more groceries.”
I want to scream for how casual he always seems to be around me while I struggle to keep the pieces of my heart glued together. “Thanks.”
He steps back. “Come in. We need to talk.”
I step back in the opposite direction. “We can talk out here.”
He glances over my shoulder. “It’s about my brother’s wedding.”
I wait for what I imagine this could be about.
I’m bringing a date.
I don’t want it to be awkward.
Have you considered leaving town right after now that you have no reason to stay?
“Chase asked me to be his best man. And I know you’re Pepper’s maid of honor.”
Oh so this is going to be a dig about how I have no honor. Great. Can we get the cheating comments over with now, please?
“We need to assure them, Pepper especially, that we can be cordial, and we won’t ruin their wedding with a scene.”
He’s so robotic, it makes me want to scream.
“When have I ever caused a scene?” I nearly wince as I say it.
“Their fake engagement party. Jackson’s birthday.”
