He saluted. “Yes, ma’am.”
I narrowed my eyes but didn’t rise to his bait. Turning, I jogged inside to grab my purse and slip on flip flops. I thought about brushing my hair and putting on a swipe of lip gloss, but decided against it.
“Ready?”
I let out a little squeal and jumped. Jacob stood in the kitchen grinning like a fool. “Didn’t mean to scare you.”
I ran my eyes over him. He’d thrown on a pair of cargo shorts, but since he was still wet, they clung to him like a second skin. His green Army shirt stretched tight across his expansive chest, and I wanted to jump him right there.
“I’ll drive,” I said.
In less than five minutes, we were parked and strolling inside the grocery store. We quickly tossed chicken, potato salad, beer, and chips inside the cart. I’d just reached for my wallet when Jacob stopped me.
“Let me. I know those women are there because of me. You shouldn’t have to pay to feed them.” I started to protest, but he cut me off. “I’m also going to buy a bag of ice for the beer. Why don’t you go on ahead and get the ice, and I’ll meet you at the car.”
Not wanting to argue, I quickly headed toward the exit where the ice was kept. Just my luck two high school girls were standing outside selling homemade goodies.
“We’re trying to raise money for new band uniforms,” one of them said. “Would you like to buy something and help donate?”
I reached inside my purse and pulled out a five. “I’ll take the pan of brownies.”
I figured it would be a good dessert for everyone tonight. I’d just handed the girl the money when I heard a chuckle behind me.
“You buying more food?” Jacob asked.
The two girls perked up at the sight of him. I couldn’t blame them, it was hard not to.
“We were just telling your…mom?” she trailed off uncertainly. She must have seen the horror on my face, because she quickly stammered on. “I mean, we were telling your…sister?” The poor girl was falling all over herself trying to come up with the right word to describe the relationship between an obviously older woman and the hunky man before them.
“Girlfriend,” Jacob said, grabbing the tray from the girl. “Thank you.”
He gently pushed the tray into my back, propelling me forward. I stumbled along in front of him, numb. I could have lied to myself and said my flushed face was due to the heat…but I knew it wasn’t.
Mom? Sister? Girlfriend? I’m in way over my head.
I unlocked my car and gripped the steering wheel hard—my knuckles turning white. Telling myself to get a grip, I closed my eyes and breathed deeply while Jacob put the groceries in the backseat.
The minute he strapped on his seatbelt, I shot out of the parking lot like my car was on fire.
“Monica? Don’t let what that girl said mean—”
“Don’t!” I begged. “Just let it go.”
Chapter 18
“What’re you thinking?” Kieran asked, startling me from my Monday night food prep. I hadn’t heard the bell ding above the door.
“What’re you doing here?” I asked, ignoring her question.
“I got a call from your mom. She thought maybe you needed to talk.”
I rolled my eyes. I knew I was being a coward, but I didn’t care. The minute we got home from the grocery store last night, I’d refused to make eye contact with Jacob and tried to pretend nothing was wrong. After everyone had eaten, I excused myself and went inside for the night.
I also hadn’t met him for Monday morning coffee outside before he went to work like I usually did, and tonight I’d made sure when he came home from work I wasn’t home. I’d spent the last two hours at This and That.
“Nothing’s going on,” I said. “I just wanted to—”
“Girl, don’t even pretend to lie to me,” Kieran said. “I’m your best friend.”
