Page 48 of Love Unforgettable
Chapter 16
Cole
If you were to ask me whether I was deliberately following Lexie right now to what I think is the supermarket, I would categorically deny it. But she’s heading to that side of town, so I’m hoping my guess is correct and once inside I can casually rub my cart up against hers.
Now, before you go getting the wrong idea, I’m not stalking her or anything. I happened to be at a stoplight about to turn left in one direction, when I saw her catty-corner to me about to turn left in another direction. One quick U-turn on my part, and we’re in business.
I park a few spots away from her and wait until she’s entered the store before I go in. I can’t just go following her in the store, that’ll look like I’ve planned the whole thing. My strategy is to casually bump into her in the aisle and act surprised.
She may be my first lightning bolt, but this ain’t my first rodeo.
I start at the far end of the store, figuring I’ll wind my way up and down each aisle until I see her. But by the time I reach the middle of the store, with nary a hide nor hair of her, I start to panic. I pick up the pace, round the next corner at a near jog, and sure enough, there she is. I slow way down, which now feels about like shoveling salt with a toothpick in comparison.
“Well, hey, neighbor,” I say.
Lame, Cole. Really lame.
She looks up in surprise, “Hey, Cole. Hi. Wow. How are you?”
“Doin’ right good, especially now that I’m seein’ your gorgeous face.”
She blushes slightly and looks down. I’m a little addicted to the blushing, not ashamed to admit it.
“Whatcha getting?” I lean over so I can see in her cart.
Ice cream, Pop-Tarts, tortilla chips, Coke, cookies, cheese in a jar . . .
No wonder she’s so little, she eats like crap.
Frozen pizza, candy, and tampons.
Well, that explains all the crap.
“Oh, I . . . um. Gosh. This is embarrassing,” she stammers and gestures to the cart.
“No need. I got sisters.”
She looks relieved. “Oh, well, good . . . I guess. So, uh, what are you getting?” She leans over to glance in my still empty cart.
“I, uh, I’m not familiar with this store yet, still trying to get my bearings with the layout and such.”
Good recovery. Keep it going.
“That’s not your dinner, is it?” I ask.
“No, not really. It’s more of an eating my feelings sort of thing.”
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah. Or at least it will be.” She smiles weakly.
“Why don’t I make you dinner?” I propose.
“Tonight?” Her voice squeaks a little bit when she asks.
“Yeah, sure, tonight. That’d be just great.”
Way to go, Cole!
