might go quicker if I went in by myself,” he added before she got her fingers on the handle.
She nodded. “You’re probably right, but my ass hurts from sitting so long, so I’m coming with you. Besides, I need to stretch my legs.” Forgoing the wig, she grabbed her hat and sunglasses. “Never fear. I’m under wraps,” she whispered. She made one of the famous goofy faces she was known for and got the desired effect when he grinned.
She opened her door before he could change his mind. The cool temperature surprised her and she grabbed her sweater from the backseat. Though she was still a little sore from last night, she left her crutches in the car. They were an accident waiting to happen, especially while under her armpits.
Troy rounded the hood of the car. “You forgot your crutches.”
“No I didn’t. We won’t be long,” she said, shrugging into her sweater. “I’ll go slow. You’re the one who called ’em sticks of death. Let’s leave them in the car. I’ll lean on you if I need to.” She caught the spark in his eyes and recognized the heat from last night. He was thinking about a different kind of leaning. The kind that had her body leaning up against his without any fabric between them. She felt a flush heat her cheeks. “Lead the way.” She gestured for him to go and when he didn’t move, she started toward the building. “Or I can. Doesn’t matter to me.” She felt more than heard Troy catch up to her.
He’d commandeered a shopping cart and put it in front of her. “Here. Lean on this.”
“Aye, aye, captain.”
Fifteen minutes later, they had a little bit of everything and headed toward checkout. The market had been relatively empty, but as they got closer to the only open checkout stand, she noticed two women looking at them and whispering. Uh oh. Had she been recognized? That would piss Troy off in a flash. She tipped her hat lower over her forehead as they got in line.
“I’m sorry, but you look so familiar,” the woman in front of them said. A blue band held back her long gray hair in a ponytail and her weathered face had more wrinkles than a shar-pei puppy. “Do I know you?”
Julie gave her a quick tight-lipped smile. “I don’t think so.”
“She gets that all the time,” Troy said simultaneously.
The older, red-head-from-a-bottle cashier took a long look, but her brown eyes were glued on Troy. “Oh, my word.” Her mouth opened up as if she’d seen a ghost. “Troy Mills, is that you?” Her slight southern drawl seemed out of place this far north, but it could explain the powdered complexion and perfect makeup.
He stiffened as both women stared at him, completely captivated.
“My gosh, I haven’t seen you in over twenty-five years.” The woman’s surprise turned into a wide smile, revealing a slight overbite. “You look exactly like your Uncle Zach.”
Troy didn’t say anything so Julie gave him a nudge with her elbow. Still nothing.
“Have you seen his uncle lately?” Julie asked. Just because his tongue had been glued to the roof of his mouth didn’t mean hers had.
“It’s been about a month or so. He was here right after school let out. Spent about two weeks, then he was gone.” She gave Troy a thorough once-over. “My gosh, you’ve grown into a man. You were such a scrawny kid the last time I saw you. If you didn’t look so much like a Mills, I might not have even recognized you.”
The lady in front of them had turned her eyes on Julie. “Are you sure we’ve never met?” Julie got that all time. People recognized her, but couldn’t figure out from where. Some thought they’d gone to school together. Older people thought she had been friends with their kids. It varied.
“I’m not from here,” she said with a shrug. “I guess I have one of those faces.” She took a few items out of the cart and set them on the black belt of the grocery stand.
“So, Troy, how long are you here for?” the woman behind the counter asked. Then she laughed. “Oh, lord, you probably don’t remember me at all. I used to work in the deli. Your mother would come and I’d give you a slice of cheese while she waited for her order. You remember that?”
Recognition dawned in Troy’s eyes and a reluctant smile curved his lips. “Yes, ma’am. I do remember that.”