onions, sweet peppers… I made my way through it all and tossed it all in the cart.
Colton followed me through the store, only talking when he spotted an ingredient he thought we needed for Bolognese. I wasn’t sure what kind of stuff he put in his Bolognese but it was all wrong, so he had little choice but to pay attention to me and do it my way.
“Doritos,” he said as we approached the snack aisle. “I need Doritos for your snack drawer.”
“I’ve told you before, you can’t share my snack drawer. It’s mine.”
“I bought your cat tuna.”
“You did that yourself. It’s hardly a bargaining chip when I told you not to bother.” I grabbed my favorite snacks and tossed them all in the cart. There really wasn’t much space left, and I was glad I already had all the essentials.
He put the Doritos in anyway.
“You’re paying for those.”
“I’ll give you the two dollars when we’re in the car,” he said dryly.
“Thank you.” I paused to grab some kibble for Genevieve, and we went to the register. Thankfully, buying the groceries was a lot less stressful than the loading of the cart part, and we swiftly made it through the register and back to the truck.
I left Colton to load the trunk. We’d already argued about apples, we didn’t need to add the correct way to load a trunk to the agenda today.
I got into the truck and picked up his phone, which I’d left on the seat when I’d gotten out. I flipped it over to check the time right as a message came in.
CORA: Thanks for the flowers. Xo
Say what now?
Flowers?
Why was he sending her flowers?
Why was he sending her flowers when he’d just told me he was falling in love with me?
More importantly, why was he sending her flowers when he was trying to get my cat to like him? I wouldn’t stand for him breaking Genevieve’s heart.
Or whatever she had in there that kept her alive. General disdain and more judgments than a courtroom, perhaps.
There was a rattle as Colton returned the cart to the drop off point.
Talk.
We were going to talk.
I was going to be a very mature person here and not throw the phone at his head.
“Ready to go?” he asked getting into the truck.
“Cora said thank you for the flowers.”
He blinked at me. “Was she here?”
“No. She texted and said thank you.”
He dragged his tongue over his lower lip as he fought a smile. “Are you already reading my texts, Victoria? Damn it.”
“I turned your phone over to see the time and it came through. Check if you don’t believe me.” I dropped it into his lap.
“I believe you.” He put the phone in the center console without even bothering to look. “Was that it?”
“The text message?”
“No, the freak out you desperately want to have.” He met my eyes. “I can see it brewing.”
“There’s nothing brewing.”
“Yes, there is.”
“I’m just wondering why you’re sending her flowers after everything you’ve said today, that’s all. It’s not a freak out. Just a mild curiosity. An interest.”
He laughed.
He fucking laughed.
“Why are you laughing?”
Colton reached over and cupped the side of my face. “Never realized how funny it is when you’re just so mad you’re trying not to lose it.”
“I’m glad I’m amusing to you.”
“I sent Cora flowers as an apology. I was rude to her on Friday, and she didn’t deserve that. I also shouldn’t have met her either time when I felt this way for you, so the least I could do was apologize to her properly.”
Oh.
“Oh.”
“You feel like an idiot now, don’t you?”
I pinched my fingers together. “Little bit.”
“Little bit.” He grinned and leaned over, pulling me toward him. His lips found mine, and he kissed me firmly until I was blushing.
“Someone will see us.”
“I don’t care.” He started the truck. “It’s not like nobody knows. It’ll be halfway around town that we were grocery shopping together and everyone will have their own opinion.”
“If your sister finds out from one of the old people, she’s never going to let you hear the end of it.”
“Shit, you’re right.” He took his hand off the gear stick and grabbed his phone. “I’ll text her.”
I rolled my eyes.
She was not going to be happy.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN – TORI
rule thirteen: there isn’t one. it’s unlucky af.
“I can’t believe I found out through Margaret! In the Post Office!” Kinsley paced up and down the store. “Why would neither of you tell me straight away?”
“We were busy,” I said vaguely.
Saylor grinned.
“We went