“You can do this!” Madden called from his seat at the dining table.
I could do this. I could. Probably.
Chapter 16
Jack
I stopped on the little front porch and waited for Rey.
I still wasn’t sure if he was able to make it to the car, let alone to the Walmart, close as it was.
“It’s okay, you can go down the steps,” he murmured behind me.
Grinning, I took the two steps and turned around. “Do you want me to be supportive or shut up?”
He chuckled, looking absolutely overwhelmed. “I don’t know yet.”
“Okay. Well, do you want me to back the car closer or…?”
He looked at where Toby’s SUV was parked next to the office and shook his head. “I’ve been to the office corner before.”
“Okay.” I waited for him to take the first steps until he stood on the path. “Why are you so slow?”
His gaze snapped to me. “W-what?”
“I asked why you were being so slow. It’s not like you’ve never done this bit before.”
For a few seconds, I could see his wheels turning, then he stepped closer to me and punched me in the tit. Hard.
“I didn’t say you could be a fucking meanie,” he grumped, then pointedly took two steps toward the office before whirling around. “Oh, fuck you, Jack!”
I chuckled. Then laughed out loud when he stomped away toward the car.
I really lo—liked him.
When I climbed into Toby’s SUV and awkwardly moved the seat back so I could fit, Rey tried to fidget himself comfortable next to me.
“At any point, you say you need me to turn back and I will,” I promised.
“I know.” He took out his phone with shaking hands and brought out a map app. “And it’s only twenty or so minutes away.”
“Right. It will take me time once I’m inside, because people are awful the day before Thanksgiving, but…”
“I can always climb into the back seat and hide. It’ll be fine. Just…need to get there first.” He tried to sound so brave, but the vulnerability was doing things to my brain and my heart.
I was glad that he wasn’t even considering coming into the store. It showed maturity I know I wouldn’t have had as a teenager. I would’ve pushed myself too hard,hadpushed myself too hard, and then paid the consequences later.
“What’s your favorite band?” I asked.
Rey frowned. “Haven’t we talked about that already?”
“Oh, I’m sure we have, but my memory is shit about random things.” I shrugged. “Getting a hit on your noggin does that to a guy.”
Rey frowned. “You were in the Army; did that happen there?”
And just like that, he was completely concentrated on me. I felt glad about not having talked about this at length before but also mildly uncomfortable about doing it now or at all, really.
“Yeah. That’s why I got my medical discharge.”
