Page 24 of Ice Darling
Score one for small towns.
Inside the grocery store, I grab a basket and turn left into the toiletry aisle.
“Delia! Hey!” a familiar voice chirps. May, April’s little sister, struts toward me, holding a box ofFreshButtFitboxers.
“Hi,” I say, leaking a smile. When I first came to town, people took one look at my leather jacket and loud bike and kept walking.
But not May.
She skipped right into The Pink Garage, introduced herself to me, and asked a million questions. Even when I didn’t respond, she kept the same bright, welcoming energy every time we met.
For the life of me, I couldn’t hold her at arm’s length like usual. There was something about her youthful, upbeat personality that disarmed me.
Because Gwen was like this when we were in college.
I shake the thought and gesture to the item in her hand. “Are you…having issues?”
“Oh!” She yelps and stuffs the absorbent boxers into her cart. “Me? Goodness no. It’s for my dad.”
A picture on the package catches my eye, and I lean over. “Is that…is that Chance McLanely?”
“Yup.” May taps the man on the boxers package who is dressed in a hockey uniform and crouched in an action pose.
“Don’t they usually have a picture of the modelwearingthe product?” I blink.
“Sadly, Chance doesn’t need the money, so the company couldn’t convince him to wear these. You cannotbelievewhat they offered him to do it.” May tips her head forward, peeking at my empty cart. “I’m guessing you’re not here for boxers?”
“Uh, no.” I point to the toilet paper up ahead.
“I need those too. Hey, let’s shop together.”
“I don’t think…”
“Come on,” May says, pushing her cart and waving at me as if the matter is now concluded.
Just like Gwen.
I squeeze my eyes shut, let out a deep breath, and follow her.
“Do you cook?” May asks.
My gaze trails the toothpastes. They don’t have my favorite brand here in Lucky Falls, and it’s been bugging me. “Does microwavable rice count?”
“Pineapples on pizza?”
I compare the toothpaste ingredients listed at the back of the box. “I’m not a psychopath.”
“Are you interested in Renthrow?”
Despite my best intentions, I freeze and look back at her. “What?”
She grins from ear to ear.
Cheeks burning, I toss a pack of toilet paper into my cart and keep moving down the aisle.
May follows me. Her cart wheels make a clanging sound as they travel over the store’s large, white tiles. “You two would look so cute together.”
“Change the subject, please.”
