I feel the ache beginning to build in my shoulder again, it just won’t quit. I’m over it.
Turning the car off, I sit for a moment to ground myself before getting out and taking a deep breath. “Just got to move, man. That’s all.” I mutter to myself, under my breath.
Slamming the car door closed, I move toward the entrance of the store.
Walking inside, I’m immediately enveloped in cool air. Glancing around, there are maybe three other people in the entire store. Perfect. Helps me stay on the down low, since I don’t have the energy at the moment to cope with fans at all.
I grab a basket, starting toward the fruit section.
My peace lasted all of twenty seconds.
Because she is here.
Scarlett Quinn, or better known as the thorn in my side, standing a few feet away, brown hair pulled up into the sexiest messy bun I’ve possibly ever seen and a skin-tight baby pink exercise set. Fuck.
Of course she’s here. The universe just wanted to fuck me over, once again.
My eyes dart around. I should duck into another aisle; I really don’t want to have to deal with her outside work. My eyes move back to her, and at the exact same time, she looks up and our eyes meet.
Yep. That tracks.
I guess I just have to deal with this. “Hey there, little Quinn. How are you on this fine Sunday morning?”
Her eyebrows lift, looking rather unimpressed. “Well, isn’t this a coincidence? You stalking me, Carter?”
Okay, so I definitely didn’t imagine that accent. I scoff, adjusting the basket with my good arm. “I could ask you the same thing.”
She crosses her arms, pushing up her breasts. Hm. Honestly, I could get used to that view. She glances at my shoulder, before meeting my eyes again. “You sure you’re cleared for grocery shopping? You look like you shouldn’t be lifting anything heavier than a plastic spoon.”
“I’m fine,” I lie. Obviously, I’m not, but I’m not going to admit that to Scarlett, of all people. “I’m just grabbing a few things.”
“You could’ve sent someone. You know, to avoid making it worse,” she drawls.
“I don’t trust anyone else to get what I need.”
She looks unamused, but a flicker crosses her face. Something straddling the line between exasperation and interest, though it disappears too quickly for me to figure it out.
I reach for an apple with my bad arm, the shift making my shoulder pull, a flash of pain shooting up my arm. Quick, but enough that my breath hitches.
Scarlett grabs my shoulder softly before saying, “Levi, please get some help. Surely you have people in your life that will help you.”
I roll my eyes. I don’t want her to see she’s getting in my head. “We really gonna do this here?”
“Better now than when you cause further damage from grabbing groceries, Levi. Come on, no one wants to be that guy.”
I huff out a laugh, shaking my head despite myself. “You’re relentless.”
“Only when I have to be.” Her perfectly shaped eyebrows lift again, which I’m sure is a tell that she’s challenging me.
Her tone is calm and steady. Her green eyes piercing, and… I don’t like that. In fact, I hate feeling like someone is seeing through this guard I’ve created perfectly – at least I’d felt like it was perfect.
Clearing my throat, I change the subject. “So, why are you shopping this early?”
Scarlett shrugs, “I enjoy the quiet.”
Nodding, I’m not too sure what to say next.
After about twenty seconds of awkward silence, I gesture toward my basket before saying, “I guess I had better get going then.”
