Page 67 of Waiting for Friday Night

He looked at Halle. “As long as your mom doesn’t mind?”

He could see the no in her eyes. But she looked at Shania and relented. “Sure.”

That Saturday, as Halle watched Quinton squeeze avocados in the middle of Walmart’s produce section, and her mind jumped back to the way he’d squeezed her breast on the front porch, she realized her life had truly gotten out of control. Avocado shopping shouldn’t arouse her. Walmart shopping with Quinton and Shania shouldn’t feel so normal. They weren’t supposed to click like this. Were they?

Quinton held up an avocado. “What about this one? It seems good.”

Halle blinked and tore her eyes away from his long fingers wrapped around the small fruit. “Yes, it does look good.”

He frowned. “You alright?”

She nodded quickly. “Yep. Shania!” She called her daughter’s name louder than she’d planned. Shania stood a few feet away near the bananas.

Shania’s brows drew together as embarrassment spread over her face. “Right here.”

“Did you get the seasoning mix for the guacamole?”

Shania held up the packet of seasoning mix. “Got it.”

“Good. Bring it back over here and don’t stray too far.”

Shania fanned herself with the small seasoning packet as she came over. “I’m fourteen, not four. I know how to find you if we get separated in Walmart.”

“Hush up and put the seasoning in the buggy.” Halle didn’t care if she sounded foolish. When Shania was close it was easier to remember why she didn’t need to have a repeat of what happened between her and Quinton. Shania didn’t want them getting together and making a complicated situation more complicated. Shania just wanted to get to know her dad. Halle didn’t know what she was feeling for Quinton other than a deep primal urge to have the man plant his face between her thighs.

She suppressed a groan. Damn, now that thought was in her head. “What’s next on the list?”

Quinton looked at the sheet of notebook paper she’d used to scribble up a quick list. “Looks like we need to get chicken and ground beef for the tacos.”

Halle nodded. “Good. Let’s head to the meat section.”

Quinton came into step next to her. “You really don’t have to cook anything. Knowing my mom, she’s going to bring half of the groceries we’ll need anyway and insist on taking over my kitchen as if it’s her own.”

His parents were coming into town the next day. When they’d had the celebration dinner at McDonald’s after the JV game, Halle came up with the idea of putting together a nice dinner for everyone to get to know each other. They’d agreed to have it at Quinton’s house. His was larger and could hold everything and was already accessible for his sister’s wheelchair.

“If they’re coming all this way then they shouldn’t have to make dinner for us.”

Quinton put his hand on the cart handle next to hers. “Believe me, my mom is going to insist. She loves to cook.”

Their hands brushed against each other. Halle lifted hers to wave off his concerns. “She can cook the next meal. Besides, tacos are Shania’s favorite.”

Shania walked on Halle’s other side. “We don’t have to cook my favorite meal.”

“They’re getting to know you, so this is a way for them to get to know you.”

Shania gave Halle a knowing look. “You’re using the meal as a distraction. If we’re eating we can’t talk much. Plus, you get to control the atmosphere.”

Halle eyed her daughter, who grinned back. “Quit acting like you know me.”

Shania just laughed. She looked over Shania’s shoulder and grinned. “Hey, it’s Carmen.”

Before Halle could process what she’d said, Shania was already around the buggy and heading in the direction of one of her friends. Halle stopped and watched her daughter.

“Who’s that?” Quinton asked.

Halle glanced that way. She recognized the girl. “Ah, that’s Carmen. She and Shania were close in middle school, but she switched to a different high school this year.” Halle held up her hand and waved. Carmen waved back before she and Shania continued to chat.

“They don’t see each other anymore?” Quinton asked.

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