We climbed outof the truck and headed inside. Our local Fred Meyer was your one-stop shop forpretty much everything and my parents usually found one reason or another tocome in practically every day.
“Divide andconquer?” I asked as Dad grabbed a cart.
“Yeah, you wannago grab the cold shit your mom likes? Those daytime, nighttime packs. Meet youby the beer in ten?”
I nodded andmade my way to the correct aisle, finding it somewhat picked through.
Shit. Nopacks.
I probably stoodin front of the cold remedies for a good four minutes before deciding to grabone of everything on the shelf.
As I turned toleave the aisle, I saw a flash of red hair and knew instantly it had to beTate. No one had her incredible locks, not to mention the fact, no one moved asquickly as she did… at all times.
* * *
Tate
Goddammit allto hell.
Of course Icouldn’t avoid him forever. Fuck my life. I practically ran down the aisle tworows away from Flash, hoping to God he didn’t see me. Jesus, I was not preparedfor him today.
“Hey,sweetheart,” a deep voice said.
I let out asqueak and raised my head, just as I was about to slam into one of my favoritehumans. My dad’s friend (and Flash’s dad), Hatch, smiled at me from behind ashopping cart filled to the brim. Lordy, the man was in his fifties and stillhot as hell.
Double shit.
“Oh! Hi, Hatch.”I glanced around, readying myself for a hasty retreat if Flash should show hisface. “Um, how are you?”
“I’m good. Yougood?”
“Ah, sure, yes.I’m great. I’m just, um, in a hurr—”
“Tate.”
Flash’s deepvoice settled over me like frosting melting on a warm cinnamon roll. I closedmy eyes and tried not to swear out loud as I pasted on a smile and turned toface my nemesis. “Hi, Flash.”
“You’re here.”
“I am,” Iconfirmed.
“When did youget home?” he asked.
“Not long ago,”I said.
I saw hurt coverhis face, and it was like a dagger to my heart, but he adjusted his expressionalmost as quickly and smiled. “Welcome home.”
“Thanks.” Ipointed to nowhere in particular. “Um, I really need to go. So, ah, sorry. Goodto see you both.”
I scurried awaybut didn’t miss the sound of Flash saying, “Chicken” under his breath.
Damn him.
* * *
Flash
“You find theshit?” Dad asked.
