She stood there with her cart, eyebrows raised, lips pursed in polite curiosity.Same perfectly styled hair.Same church cardigan energy she had when I was ten years old and in her Sunday School class.
“Hey, Mrs.Spangler,” I said automatically.“Did you need something?”
She smiled, kind but assessing.“Actually, yes.Could you help me grab something from the top shelf down there?”
“Of course,” I said, already moving.“No problem.”
I walked with her to the end of the aisle, grabbed the box she needed, and handed it down.She thanked me, patted my arm, and wheeled off with a satisfied nod.
I headed back toward Star.
She stood exactly where I’d left her, staring at the Oreos like they’d personally offended her.Her cheeks were pink, and she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear when she noticed me.
I stopped beside her, hands in my pockets.“You good?”
She nodded.“Never better.”
I smiled, just a little.“You wanna do that again?”
She turned her head, looking up at me, eyes bright.“Yeah,” she said.“But maybe not in the cookie aisle?”
I nodded, grin spreading.“Same.”
Chapter Thirteen
Star
Unloading groceries shouldn’t have felt like a test.
But somehow, it did.
I carried the lighter bags even though Cole had given methe look, the one that said he was trying not to hover while absolutely hovering.I ignored it on principle.I wasn’t fragile glass.I was just… still recovering.Those were different things.
I set the bread on the counter, then the hamburger buns, lining things up without thinking about it.Order calmed me.It always had.My mom liked to joke that I organized when I couldn’t control anything else.
I reached for another bag and felt it then, a brief dip.Not dizziness exactly.More like my body reminding me that it still had opinions.
I leaned my hip against the counter and waited it out.
Cole didn’t say a word.
He just slid in beside me and took the bag out of my hands like it was nothing.Like it had always been the plan.
“Hey,” I said.“I had that.”
“I know,” he said easily.“You also had the cart, the Oreos, and a container of blueberries that is now in the garbage at the store.”
I snorted despite myself.“Those blueberries weren’t any good anyway.”
“Sure, babe.Just sit down and let me finish this.”
“You don’t know where anything goes,” I pointed out.
He chuckled and grabbed the loaf of bread.“I can figure it out.”
I smiled, but something in his eyes stayed serious.Watchful.
Mom wasn’t home yet, which meant it was just Cole and me.
