Page 4 of Stuck with the Grump

I pounded my fist on the door. “Are you almost done? We need to run into town and get supplies.”

She pounded on the door in return, and I had no doubt about the smirk she was wearing.

“I’ll be ready when I’m ready, old man.”

As I stood there waiting for her, I decided it was a good thing that Tyson and I had moved out by the time she started being a terror. Back then, I would have found a way to push her into the same ditch I had planned for Jared Ryker.

“Ready,” she said, pulling open the door. “I figured I should look my best to wish you a safe trip home before the storm hits.”

“I told you already, I’m not going anywhere. The alert says that residents need to stay in place. Unfortunately, we have no food, and a severe lack of alcohol, which means we need to go to the store.”

“Or, you could go to the store, and I could stay here.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose for a moment before looking back up at her. “Do you always have to be so difficult?”

She tapped a finger against her chin before a large grin took over. “Yes.”

“Perfect.”

“Thank you,” Leigh said, brushing by me and heading for the front door. “Now, are we going shopping or what?”

“We’re going shopping.”

“Great. You’re paying.”

My mood turned dark instantly. This was the part of my life that I didn’t like. It was the part where everyone always assumed that I would pay since my income was higher than anything they would ever earn in their lifetime.

She must have seen the look on my face because she rolled her eyes. “You’re paying because I lost my job and have no money. Not because you make a lot of money. Now, remove the stick from your ass, and let’s go get this done.”

3

LEIGH

EversinceIsawClarke in the shower, I couldn’t get him out of my mind. I was wondering what it would be like to have those big hands running up and down my body as we climbed into my tiny car. I drummed my fingers on the wheel as the stereo crackled to life.

“Interesting ride,” Clarke said, looking at the foot-shaped dent in my dash.

“You have to kick the dash to make the air conditioning work,” I said as I sped down the twisting driveway and onto the main road. It was the only road that led to and from the city, and tall trees lined either side.

Clarke looked stunned as he sat back in his seat and stared at the dash. “I don’t think that’s how it’s supposed to work.”

“You leave little old Nina alone.”

He balked for a moment before twisting in his seat to look at me. “Nina?”

“Yeah. Nina.” I patted the dash. “Little old Nina has been my car since high school. You might have to kick the dash to get her going, but what old broad doesn’t need a kick in the head every now and then?”

“I see why you lost your job,” he said dryly, leaning against the door and squeezing his eyes shut.

“And why would that be?”

“You go around kicking old broads in the head.”

I laughed and shook my head, glancing at the time on the dash. “Do you think the store will still be open by the time we get there?”

“Probably. With the emergency alert being blasted, I can’t imagine them not staying open for another hour or two so people can grab what they need.”

Panic twisted my stomach sharply as I gripped the wheel until my knuckles turned white. “But what if they do close the store and we aren’t able to get any supplies?”

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