Page 9 of Stuck With the Smokejumper

He considers that. “Good point.” Then reaches into the cooler and adds another carton.

I smile. We work our way through the store. Bread. Milk. Cereal. Fruit. Sandwich meat. Cheese. Pasta. Coffee.

Beck pushes the cart while I check things off, but it doesn't take long before he starts grabbing items on the list too.

“Two of these?”

“Three.”

He adds another loaf of bread.

“Apples?”

“Bag and a half.”

“That's a weird quantity.”

“Nolan eats them like they're going extinct.”

He puts two bags in the cart. By the time we reach the middle aisles, the cart is full enough I'm rearranging things to make room.

“Ivy?”

I turn.

Mrs. Caldwell is coming toward us with a basket over one arm.

“Hi.”

“I thought that was you.” She gives me a quick hug. “How's graduate school?”

“Good. Almost done.”

“Is this your last summer at Blackpine, then?”

“Probably.”

She smiles. “I bet your parents will be happy to finally know where you’ll be settled.”

“That assumes I know.”

“You'll figure it out.”

“I hope so.”

She pats my arm. “Tell Reid I said hello.”

“I will.”

After she leaves, Beck looks at me. “Do you know everyone in this town?”

“No.”

“Hey, Ivy!”

I turn. A man at the far end of the aisle lifts a hand.

“Hey, Gary.” I wave back. Then I slowly turn back toward Beck.