I kiss her forehead again. “It’s the truth. Now can I show you?” I softly plead.
Her smile is bright. “Tempting, however time is not on our side. Enzo is only away for so long, and I really need to go to the store. And maybe…” She squeezes my arms. “I want to see your new grocery store skills in action.”
I laugh. “Hey, I made it out alive on Christmas Eve. I think I can handle a weekday shop.”
“Good. Now come on.”
Twenty minutes later, we are cruising the aisles of the grocery store making a turn into the pasta aisle. Everything felt strange as we were throwing juice boxes, kids’ snacks, and yogurt cups into the cart. Then I realized it was strange because it felt right. The items were a reminder of the joy I experience when I’m around Lainey and Enzo.
I’m not paying attention, until Lainey says my name and holds up a box of pasta.
“Spaghetti is fine, right? For your macros and Hulk diet.”
It’s sweet that she thinks of the little things. “Kind of you to ask but don’t plan a meal around the demands of my pain-in-the-ass trainer. Spaghetti is perfect, though. Carbs, classic, and I assume Enzo won’t complain.”
She tosses the box into the cart. “Perfect. Itwill pair nicely with those chocolate coins you threw into the cart when I wasn’t looking.”
I grin and shrug. “I mean, we need to have the necessities if we are doing another night of Hanukkah.”
“Fair enough.”
We continue to push the cart and move along. The next aisle is laundry detergent, and I grab a bottle. I side-eye Lainey when I hear her choke on a laugh.
“What’s wrong?”
She smiles wistfully in honesty. “It’s just… kind of weird yet normal that I’m seeing you in everyday life.”
“Explain.”
Her shoulder lifts. “I guess… this is just everyday life, and we seem okay to conquer a grocery store together. It’s a sort of ease, do you know what I mean?”
I press my lips then nod with a smile. “I do. It’s crossed my mind a few times in the yogurt aisle, cereal aisle, and my disappointment that you picked pretzels instead of those fish-shaped crackers that I could steal from Enzo when he has a snack. They are even red- and green-colored for the season.”
“Uh-oh, I just learned your cracker preference. That runs deep.”
I roll my eyes and continue our journey.
Because she’s right on the deep front. It’s so simple yet meaningful.
We’ve come undone around one another. Breaking down walls and falling into a place that I didn’t know existed but feels so right.
I’m not sure what to call it.
But until I figure it out, I’ll only be snacking on pretzels.
CHAPTER 16
LAINEY
My mouth closes then opens, only to snap closed again. I’m staring at Gracie as we sit on my couch. It’s New Year’s Eve and Enzo is sick with a bug. All plans for the night have resulted in me wearing pajamas with Chinese food on the way. It’s okay, I kind of enjoy the cozy feeling of doing nothing.
Gracie waits for me to say something to her earth-shattering news.
“P-pregnant?” I repeat what I think I heard her say.
“That I am.” She quirks her lips out. To my surprise, she seems at ease with her unexpected news.
“And with the coach?” Again, did I really hear this right?
