Page 74 of Until Tomorrow Comes
“Alright you wanna run into the liquor store to grab tequila and mixer and I’ll run into the grocery store to grab chips and queso?” I ask Thea while digging through the backseat of bags filled with our findings from the day.
The biggest lesson of the day is that, while Thea is undoubtedly a shopaholic, she is also very smart about it. She helped me find cute casual clothing to brighten my wardrobe, while also finding some dressier outfits. I also let her convince me to get a few pieces of lingerie that I would never have looked at if I was alone. All while not going completely broke.
Now, we just had to get these last few things before heading home to drink and unpack my haul.
“Wow, putting me on liquor duty, how brave of you.” Thea taunts as I triumphantly pull my wallet out. But, before I can correct myself, she’s already walking away.
“Meet back here in ten minutes!” I shout at her back, she only waves a hand over her head, locking the car, and continues toward the liquor store.
Laughing, I roll my eyes and make my way through the parking lot.
Despite the humidity, chills run down my spine and the hair on the back of my neck raises. Glancing over my shoulder, I scan the parking lot for someone watching me, only to see no one paying any attention.
Shaking the feeling off as paranoia, I continue on into the store.
After grabbing the chips and dip, some additional snacks and twizzlers for Jackson, I head to the registers.
Just as I’m walking back out the doors and heading toward the car, movement a few cars down from Thea’s catches my eyes and has me stopping dead in my tracks.
A blur of slicked back blond hair ducks into the truck, and my gut churns at the sight.
The windows are all tinted, making me wonder how it’s even legal, but the spine-chilling fear keeps me frozen in place.
My heart rate skyrockets and my palms sweat while I stare at the un-moving truck. There are thousands of men with blond hair, logically I know there’s no way it’s Zack. But for some reason, I can’t shake off the paranoia this time.
My head spins and the thought that I should call Jackson or the police runs through my head, yet I can’t bring myself to move a single muscle.
A scream tears through me when someone throws their arm around my shoulder.
“Whoa there Kat. It’s just me.” Thea states calmly, removing her arm from me. “I thought you heard me say your name. I’m sorry, are you okay?”
I place a hand over my heart, shaking my head and forcing a breath out.
“No, sorry, I just got distracted and didn’t hear you.” Glancing back over toward the car, I watch as the black truck backs out of its spot and drives away.
Taking another deep, calming breath, I tell myself that it wasn’t Zack, it couldn’t have been. Not only has no one seen him for months, he didn’t even reappear after the divorce papers were delivered to his dad. By the end of next month, the divorce will be finalized, and I won’t be tied to him. The only reason my brain went to Zack is because I was thinking about him earlier.
Shrugging the thoughts away, I force a smile at Thea and gesture to the single bag in her hand.
“Proud of you for only getting what we need.”
She watches me skeptically, her brows furrowed as she studies me. Offering her a small smile, I try to reassure her that I’m okay.
“I’m okay, Thea. Just spaced out and got spooked.” I nod toward the car. “Now, let’s go home to make some margs so that you can tell me everything I need to know about you and Coop.”
She rolls her eyes, mumbling “there’s no me and Coop,” and heads toward the car.
After scanning the parking lot one last time, I follow after her.
24
Jackson
“It’s not too late to change your mind. No one has seen us yet, we could just turn around and say the car broke down and we’re stuck somewhere,” Kat offers gently from the passenger seat.
“Wouldn’t work. My mom would ask for our coordinates and pay someone to come pick us up, if nothing else she would personally come find me,” I sigh, loosening my grip on the steering wheel and sinking back into the seat in defeat.
If it wasn’t for Kat’s unending patience and understanding this morning, I probably wouldn’t be here right now. We originally planned to leave just after breakfast except I kept finding reasons to not. At first, it was some chores thatdefinitelycould have waited until we got back. Then she let me drag her to the grocery store where I spent an hour picking out more car snacks than the two of us needed. Considering it was only a four-hour drive to the hotel that the wedding is at, we didn’tneedthat much.
