The Introvert's Guide to Online Dating - Emma Hart Page 0,21

in the cloudiness of his eyes.

And those words… “I know.” They felt like they carried a lot more weight than usual. It wasn’t a cocky agreement or a playful one.

It was… almost an admission.

Of what, I didn’t know. But I did know that it made my heart thump a little too hard for my liking.

Colton held my gaze for a little too long before he cleared his throat, breaking the moment. “Should probably get a move on before one of them sends a search party.”

“Right. Yeah.” I smiled then turned away, my stomach fluttering in the most annoying kind of way.

What on Earth had he meant by that “I know?”

CHAPTER SEVEN – COLTON

rule seven: keep your sister the hell away from it. at all times.

and your grandparents.

I handed the chicken to Grandpa, and he nestled it on his lap.

At least they told me it was a chicken.

Honestly, it looked like a white ball of fluff to me. It was the least chicken-looking chicken I’d ever seen in my life, and it also looked like the most useless chicken in the world.

“Are you sure that’s a chicken?”

Grandpa hugged her close. “It’s my Meryl.”

“Meryl. Its name is… Meryl.”

“Yes. Meryl Cheep.”

Meryl Cheep.

Right.

“I don’t know how to respond to that,” I said honestly, looking out at the chickens that were pecking and scratching away at the lawn. A giant one with feathered feet that made it look like it was wearing pants passed by. “What’s that one?”

“Hennifer Lopez.”

“Sure. Sure.”

“And that’s Mary Poopins!”

This was getting out of fucking control.

Mary fucking Poopins.

They needed an intervention in this place.

“Do you need anything, Grandpa? I’m going inside to get a coffee.”

“Ooh, a cup of tea.” He grinned up at me. “And some corn for Meryl.”

“Okay.” I backed up and headed inside the building. I had no idea where I was going to find corn for Meryl, so I went to make the hot drinks in the hope I’d cross someone who could find it.

Instead of finding that person, I found Tori.

“Grandma, I don’t know how you expect me to carry that darn bag in here. It’s 20 kilos! I had to ask the guy at the store to get it in my car. Why couldn’t I just get the little bag?”

“The little bag doesn’t last long here,” Agatha answered, calmly cross-stitching something that looked scarily like the word ‘fuck.’ “Between the ducks and the chickens, the little bags are useless.”

“I cannot pick up that bag,” Tori said slowly, over pronouncing every word. “You will have to get someone to help me.”

“Who can help you here, dear? We’re all old, and the nurses are busy.”

“Then next time, you can get your own corn.”

Corn?

“Need a hand?”

Tori’s head jerked up and she looked at me. “I didn’t know you were here.”

“I don’t believe I told you.” I smirked. “Want me to get the bag for you?”

Sighing, she shook her keys and walked past me, heading for the door. “I suppose you’ll have to.”

“I don’t have to.”

“Colton, if you think I’m lifting that bag when your arm muscles are bigger than my thighs, you can think again.”

“Thank you for noticing.”

“Shut up.” She unlocked her car and popped the trunk. “It’s too damn heavy for me.”

I hauled the huge bag of corn out easily.

“My hero.” The snark in her tone was heavy, and I couldn’t help but laugh at her as I walked away with the bag hauled over my shoulder.

“I wouldn’t go that far. Grandpa wanted corn for one of those stupid fluffy chickens and I didn’t know where to find some, so you’ve saved me a job.”

“Uh.” She locked her car and caught up with me. “Great. Now I’m being helpful. I’m not even supposed to be here today, but she wouldn’t stop calling me asking for some scratch corn or something like that. I don’t even know if this is right. The guy at the store was both concerned and amused by me.”

“I am familiar with those feelings.” I got the door and held it open for her.

She eyed the bag where my hand was balancing it in one place. “Show-off.”

I laughed and ushered her inside. “Where am I putting this?”

“No idea. You’ll be fine while I find out, Popeye.”

“Popeye? Really?”

She shrugged, then glanced over her shoulder at me. “First thing that came to mind. Hey, Grandma, where does this corn go?”

“In the shed by the pond, dear.”

I was never going to be able to put this down, and it was starting to hurt my shoulder now.

I was strong, but