Page 77 of Run Away Home: Tempered

“Thank you. That’s good enough until I can get to the supermarket this weekend.” I close the book.

“How many of those books do you have?” she asks and unpacks the bag.

“Not too many. Most of them are from the library. I have to return them.”

“That looks too nice to be from the library.”

“No, no, not this one. They didn’t have it there. I ordered it online.” I walk over and hug her from behind. I press the side of my face to hers. She reaches up and touches my cheek.

“What are you cooking?”

“I’m roasting a chicken. It will be ready in forty-five minutes. There’s a tray of asparagus in the fridge. They’re all ready to stick right in the oven. They need about fifteen minutes. Take the chicken out of the oven, and put the asparagus straight in. The chicken needs to rest.”

“I can do that.”

“And do not forget to turn the oven off like last time. It was about one hundred degrees in here when I came home. Not to mention it’s very dangerous.”

“The cancel button turns it off, right?”

“Yes... I thought you knew that?”

“Just wanted to make sure.”

That makes me a little nervous...

“I’m going to go out tonight after dinner,” she continues.

“Really? Where?” I carry the milk toward the fridge, reading the bottle. Is this really the best date she could find? I bet she didn’t even check it. I put it in the fridge, then peek inside of the oven.

“Well...I reconnected with Shaina. Remember her?”

“Shaina? No. I don’t remember a Shaina...”

“We were friends in high school. We planned on seeing a movie.”

“That’s nice. Do you need money?”

“No. I still have your change from earlier today. Danny will be fine alone, right?”

“You know he’d prefer it.” I laugh. “Have fun. Maybe you two can stop by the bar and have a drink on the house. I’d like to—”

“No! Shaina doesn’t drink.”

“I can make her a mocktail.”

“No. She used to be an alcoholic, so even going near a bar would be—”

“Got it.” I cut her off. I really don’t care to hear more about Shaina’s alcoholism, but it might be good for Hayley to connect with someone who’s also trying to leave behind an addiction. I look down at my watch. “Time to get dressed for work.” I kiss her on the cheek and walk past her down the hall.

“Peter?”

I stop in my tracks. Maybe this is it. Maybe she’s finally going to say it! I take a deep breath and close my eyes.

“Yeah?”

“How long did you say the asparagus should be in the oven for?”

“Oh... Fifteen minutes.”

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