“I would assume so, as it’s essential to living.”
He stops the cart, causing me to stumble against it. Spencer’s eyes turn stormy, and he steps closer, leaning in to mutter so only I can hear.
“Considering your fingers loved to dig into the shape of my ass, then I would really start coming up with better retorts. Speaking of coming, what was it…” He pretends to contemplate. “Oh yeah, three times, of which two of those times were around my big cock.”
His fingers tuck a strand of my hair behind my ear as he pulls away, and just like a bubble popping, he grabs a bunch of bananas, as if the last five seconds didn’t happen. “Oh, look at that.” He inspects the fruit. “Just a little too small to compare, but hey, we need our potassium, right?” He throws them into the baby seat of the cart and starts to push again.
I bite my tongue and swallow any words that are fighting to come out.
“Should we split up? You know, divide and conquer?” I suggest in a normal tone.
“Sure, I need to find the jars of apple sauce.”
What the hell? I don’t see this guy eating apple sauce, but I don’t want to carry on this conversation.
“Fine.”
He leaves the cart with me, and I begin my moments of solitude, throwing in items that look good, with no thought process. I figure I will just scrape something together when I’m in the kitchen.
Avocados for sure because that is essential. The unrefrigerated oat milk also goes into the cart. Throw in some boxes of granola. Hitting up the international food aisle and going crazy on sauces, I get an idea to make tortellini from scratch. Since they have a pasta maker on sale, I don’t think twice. Realizing I need fresh cheese, I head to the deli counter, lost in my own world.
But when I grab my little paper number from the machine for my turn, I freeze when I hear a familiar voice talking to two other guys, and not in the "oh joy, an acquaintance" way. This is "dread and throw me under a bus" kind of way.
Turning to face my demise, I see Jett, my ex-fiancé’s brother. Shit, I forgot his brother comes to Lake Spark often for "corporate retreats." It’s how I met Jeff, on the Lake Spark beach one weekend. And yes, their parents should be questioned for naming their kids Jett and Jeff.
“April?” He looks at me.
I wiggle a few fingers. “Hi.” There is no excitement in my tone, but I attempt to offer a friendly look.
“I-I… well, uhm, it’s good to see you.” He is trying to be polite as he looks awkwardly at the two guys next to him. They all look like preppy accountants who cheat on their girlfriends. “This is April.”
“TheApril?” one of the guys asks, then his face turns cartoonish.
“Yep. Jeff's ex," I confirm. "What a coincidence. What brings you three here? A weekend getaway?” I raise my brows.
Jett awkwardly scratches the back of his neck as his jaw flexes. “We are kind of checking out the area for a bachelor party later in the year. Surprising the groom.”
“Bet you are.”
“It’s Jeff,” one of the guys mentions.
I try to hold it together, but I want to throw up, as this is news to me. Rage fills me, and pure outright hurt. I was ditched, and clearly, someone moved on, ready for marriage in record time. I have no clue what my face gives away or what to say. It’s been a year since Jeff broke off our engagement, and even though I now know he would have made a horrible husband, I wanted him to have a miserable year or two.
But the problem wasn’t us, or him, it was me. I’m the reason that we had no future.
I feel my throat burn, as if I want to scream or cry. Humiliation is what’s crossing my mind while everyone waits for me to react. I can’t hear or blink, I’m lost in how to respond.
An arm wraps around my middle, breaking my trance.
“There you are, baby.” Spencer pulls me flush against his body, and his hot breath brushes along my jawline before he nuzzles his nose against my cheek. “Did you get everything we need for our dinner tonight?”
My mind now focuses on him and the fact my body seems to remember his touch. I think I might even relax slightly.
“Holy shit, it’s Spencer Crews,” one of the guys calls out.
Spencer keeps me in his hold and gives a hard look to the guy. “Yeah, but I kind of want to finish up our grocery store trip soon. Got a busy night planned with my girl.”
My eyes draw a line to Spencer’s face, and I swear I see a flicker of empathy that I both equally appreciate and hate.
