Page 25 of The One She Can't Forget

I shook my head at both suggestions.

“I like sugar wafers,” I told her, anticipating her response.

She turned back to the shelf, looking for them. “What are sugar wafers?” she finally asked after a moment of searching.

I reached around her to the top shelf and grabbed a package of the strawberry sugar wafers.

Her mouth fell open and a laugh escaped as she tried to cover her mouth.

“Are you an eighty-year-old man? What is even happening right now?”

I grinned and shrugged. “Maybe, but they’re good. They remind me of my grandma.”

She shook her head, letting the laughter out.

She grabbed the package and tossed it in the grocery cart, then pushed the cart down the aisle. “You know, you’re different than I expected.”

“How so?” I tipped my head, curious as to where this was going.

“I don’t know. You’ve always been this… goofy friend of my brother’s. From where I stood, you didn’t take much seriously.”

I tried not to let the words sting. It wasn’t like I hadn’t heard it before.

I jerked a shoulder. “Yeah, I could see that.”

“But now… I guess I’m seeing that there is a lot more to you than I expected.” She nudged my shoulder. “You’re kind of a sweet guy, Jake Barrett.”

I felt myself start to blush at the simple compliment. So, I did what I usually did. I deflected with humor. “Aww, don’t go all mushy on me, Storm.”

“I’m serious,” she said, unwilling to let me brush it aside. “Here you are, taking your whole day off to take me to the doctor so my dad can work and my mom can deal with the house. It’s…unexpected.”

“Well, it’s not like I would do it for just anyone… You’re special, Monica.”

“I think you’d do it for any of your friends, and that is saying something. Because time is the one thing we can’t make more of. People tend to hoard it instead of using it to help others. Especially busy people.”

As we checked out, I thought about what she said. Would I do it for any of my friends? Or just her? The first friend who came to mind was, of course, her brother. I’d do just about anything for Bryce, so that wasn’t really a fair example.

My other friends? Small group or other guys at the station?

I might not have anyone who really counted on me, but I didn’t like to think that it was because I was unreliable. The answer was easy. If they needed me, I’d be there.

People didn’t tend to ask though. Maybe I needed to talk to Bryce about that and see why.

I paid for the groceries, and we headed toward the exit. “Dad always said I was irresponsible and selfish.”

I hadn’t meant to say it out loud, but it was out there before I had a chance to filter my thoughts.

Monica’s soft exhale of sadness came from my left as we walked across the parking lot. “Oh, Jake. I’m sorry.”

I shrugged off the heaviness. “It’s okay. He’s gone now, so what does it matter?” My flippant comment held an edge of bitterness, but I didn’t know what to do about it. I just wanted to move on from this conversation. “Come on, let’s just enjoy the day.”

I felt Monica’s stare as I started the truck, but I didn’t meet her gaze. Finally, I saw her nod out of the corner of my eye.

I really couldn’t have created a more perfect early-June day if I’d tried. The sun was out, but it wasn’t sweltering hot. I had been trail running at DePauw Nature Park enough times to know there were a few good options for scenic places for a picnic. We walked the trails a bit and found a nice bench overlooking the quarry pond at the nature center.

Monica looked out over the pond, which was an old limestone quarry that had been filled in. “This is lovely. Not at all what I expected when I considered a day of doctor’s appointments.”

“I’m glad I get to enjoy it with you,” I said honestly.

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