Enzo reached for the colorful gummy bears, then picked up a few other things he liked.
“Anything else?”
I shook my head, ready to go back home.
“Oh, hello boys.” A lady stood not too far away, a look of intrigue in her eyes as she looked us over. “Haven’t seen you two here before.”
She pushed a pair of reading glasses up her nose. Her frizzy gray hair was anything but neat.
“They’re with me,” Ryker said, walking down the aisle towards us.
“Hello Mr. Evans,” she greeted. “I didn’t realize you had guests.”
“I do have friends, Miss Hue.” Ryker said, finally reaching Enzo and me. “If you don’t mind, we do need to get going.”
“Still don’t have time to talk to an old bat like me? What a shame.”
“Not to be rude,” Ryker said, seeming to lose his patience, “but we have some important plans.”
“Well, fine then.” She huffed, like it bothered her that we were so secretive. “Some people never change.”
With that comment, she turned and stalked away, grumbling to herself until she was out of sight.
Only then did Ryker let his shoulders drop and took a deep breath. “Sorry about her. She loves drama, no matter what it is. And no secret is ever safe with her. Darn crazy lady.”
“She seems sweet and lonely.”
“She’s not sweet,” Ryker laughed. “The devil in disguise is more like it. She’s made life very...challenging. And now thinks she needs to know every little detail.”
“Maybe you’re the grumbly old man in town.” The words were out before I thought them through. My cheeks reddened and I ducked my head.
How could I be so stupid?
Ryker’s bark of laughter caused me to jerk.
“I may be grumbly here and there,” he said, “but I’m anything but old. The gray hair on my head ages me more than I truly am.” He stepped closer, lowering his voice so it didn’t travel. “I am enjoying you not having a filter, though. So there’s nothing to be embarrassed about. Are we all set?” he asked, stepping back again.
I nodded while Enzo answered aloud.
“Perfect. Let's check out and head home. I’m done with people for the day.”
“He is grumbly,” Enzo whispered once Ryker was pushing the cart in front of us.
That got a small giggle out of me
“But,” Enzo said so I could only hear him, “he seems okay.”
Ryker
That could have gone a lot worse. Only being bothered by the old crazy lady was nothing I wasn’t able to handle.
Mrs. Hue always wanted the newest gossip to share with her book club. I could say she meant well, but that would be a lie.
The first time she corned me at the store, she demanded my entire life story. When I hadn’t been kind enough to tell her everything, she took it a bit too personally.
It wasn’t my fault she was nosy.
Since then, Mrs. Hue always bothered me every chance she got.
