Page 50 of Stuck With You
SLADE
“What are these for? It’s not one of the guys’ birthdays.”
I swat Krissy’s hand away from the clear plastic grocery sack. “How was work?”
She yawns. “Fine. It was actually slow. I sat with a little guy with RSV.” She reaches into the refrigerator. “But, I heard from the labor department. I have an interview. It’s still night shift, but if I get the job, hopefully, a day shift will open up at some point.”
I pour coffee into my travel mug. “That’s what you want? The labor department?”
She nods, pulling two pieces of bread from the bag and placing them in the toaster. “Yeah. I want to specialize in women’s health, and it will be great experience for the clinic.”
“Did you decide on the townhouse or the apartment?”
The last apartment we looked at was just as nice as the townhouse, but with the lower rent comes upstairs neighbors and less privacy. I’m voting for the townhouse for safety reasons, but I'm doing my best to keep my mouth shut and let her decide.
She shrugs. “I’m going to sleep for a while and see if I can run through them one more time before I have to work tonight. They’re repainting the townhouse and replacing some of the appliances, so the lease wouldn’t start until December first.”
I grab the grocery sack and my coffee. “If you want me to go with you, text me.”
The toaster pops. “I might see if one of the guys will go and get their opinion.”
“Not Trig.” That shit will tell her the townhouse just cause it’s bigger.
She smiles. “Fine. Maybe Wind and Millie have time.”
“You should ask Carson. He’ll tell you which one is built better and has the best finishes.”
She only shrugs.
“I’ve gotta go, but if you have any time this week, I could really use you at the shop. I have to get some things turned over.”
She unscrews the lid on the peanut butter. “You need to hire someone.”
“I have to have time. See ya.”
She pulls a butter knife from the drawer and waves it.
I pull into Sarah’s driveway instead of waiting for her at the end of mine and push my door open just as she steps out.
“Hi.” She frowns.
I extend the plastic grocery sack. Her eyes flick from me to the bag. Me. Bag. Me.
“What’s this?” She slings her large purse across her body and slowly takes it. She looks inside and then at me, her head falling to the side. “You got cookies?”
“No kid can take treats that look like breasts to school.”
One side of her mouth curls up. She glances at the cookies again and reaches into the bag. “What is this?” She pulls out the Starbucks coffee. She stares at it and lifts it to her nose, closing her eyes as she inhales.
She looks like she’s experiencing a euphoric high, and it takes effort to keep from smiling.
Her eyes drift open, and she holds the coffee out toward me.
“It was buy two. I figured you probably could use the coffee.”
Those eyes squint just a little as if she’s considering calling bull shit, but then they fall to the coffee again. When her gaze meets mine again, her head falls to the side. She blinks quickly, her lips pressing together.
“Thank you,” she says softly. “Helen was going to make something this morning before they had to leave, but Ollie will love these. And I . . .” She holds the coffee to her chest. “I owe you for every caffeinated buzz I get off these grounds.” She smiles, blinking again, and it’s breathtaking.
