to buy groceries!”
“Aw, look,” Holley cooed. “You’re already like an old married couple.”
“They’ve been bickering like one for years.” Saylor picked up her nail file and got to work on her thumb.
Amen to that.
“He did text you,” I said to Kinsley. “Honestly, I’m shocked it even moved that fast. We literally did one shop and he kissed me in the truck, so the grapevine is moving and grooving this week.”
“I know he texted me, but I already knew. Mrs. Cooper who owns the beauty salon saw him taking you from the poultry farm in the direction of his house, then Candace Carmichael saw you both leaving his house and going to your apartment, then Mr. Fothergill saw you leaving your apartment where Margaret saw you at the grocery store.”
We all blinked at her.
“You really need to get out more,” Saylor said flatly.
“I need people to stop hiding things from me!” Kinsley shouted. “Why is that too much to ask?”
“Whoa, whoa.” Holley walked out from the back of the counter and held up her hands. “What’s wrong with you?”
“I just want people to be honest,” she said in a much lower voice. “That’s all, okay?”
It was a quiet tone, but one that said there was no room for an argument.
The bell over the door rang, distracting us from the conversation.
“Oof!”
I grabbed the door for Ivy so she didn’t have to bump her way through with the stroller.
“Thanks.” She backed into the store, and I dipped my head to see if Tegan was awake.
She was, and she giggled when she saw me, kicking her chunky little legs and flapping her arms.
“Hiya!” I dropped to my knees in front of the stroller. “Hiya!”
She giggled again.
“She’s not going to throw up on me, is she?” I looked up at Ivy.
“Fifty-fifty chance,” she replied. “Everyone okay?”
“Tori is now she doesn’t have to hide her fuck buddy anymore,” Saylor said, still focused on her nails.
I shot her a look.
“Oh, I heard about that. Azalea Carlton was in the café this morning telling everyone you were kicked out of the grocery store for making out.” Ivy grinned at me. “I said it was likely that the only part of that that was true was that you were in the grocery store together.”
“Thank God you’ve got brains.” I closed the door and sat back down. “I don’t know why everyone suddenly thinks we’re getting married.”
“You’ve basically been dating for six months, to be fair.” Holley started scanning books. “You just didn’t know it.”
“We haven’t been basically dating for six months. We had little to no personal interaction outside from hooking up. This is a whole other ball game for us. We couldn’t even get past the fruit without bickering about apples.”
“You’ll do it,” Ivy said, sitting down and passing Tegan a teething ring. “I think you’ll figure it out. There’s a very fine line between love and hate and you two have hated each other for so long, it’s really not surprising that you’ve flip-flopped to the other end.”
“I agree with that,” Kinsley said.
“I never said I loved him,” I retorted.
“No, you told him that, though.” She grinned. “He told me. It was kinda cute, actually. You know when you’ve baked cookies and a kid wants one right from the oven, but they have to wait? Then they’re super happy when they finally get it? A bit like that.”
“Are you… Are you calling me a cookie?”
Saylor stood up slowly and walked toward the storeroom. “This is getting weird. I’m going to unpack stock.”
“No, I’m just—never mind.” Kinsley rolled her eyes.
“What are you doing today?” I asked Ivy as she caught Tegan’s teether and handed it back before it hit the ground.
“Nothing. Story of my life.” She smiled wryly. “I actually wanted to ask if you if you’d mind having Tegan tomorrow night.”
“I don’t see why not. Are you guys finally going on a date?”
She nodded. “Kai asked his boss if he could have the day off, and he said yes.”
“I’ll have her. Do you want to bring her to my place or should I come to yours?”
“Come to ours. I’ll make sure the spare room is ready for you. She is teething, but the tooth just cut today so she should be calmer.”
“Nice timing.” Holley snorted. “Rather you and me. I got a tooth last time. I don’t think I slept at all.”
“Can I change my mind?” I looked at Ivy. “Please?”
She laughed and stood up. “Nope! You’re locked in now.”
“Damn it. What time do you want me?”
“Seven?