“That’s a lot of food.”
“I’m a chef. Big party coming up, and I have to cook for it,” she told him.
“Bad and know how to cook. Plus, you’re smart. Dangerous woman,” Justin teased sexily.
Ayla giggled and bowed her head to hide her smile.
“Um, what are you doing here?” She examined the many items in his cart, mainly beer, chips, salsa, and other dips that the store had put together.
“Also shopping for a party. Fraternity holiday thing.” Justin shrugged. “It’s Saturday night around seven. Maybe you can pop in.”
“Doubtful. That’s the same night of my event, but thanks for the invite.”
“How about you take a raincheck and agree to let me take you out Sunday?” Justin requested.
Hesitant, Ayla’s smile wilted, and she glanced at Coast over her shoulder. Her eyes might as well have been screaming ‘girl, if you don’t say yes’. Yet, Ayla couldn’t bring herself to do it. Kong kept popping in her head, even when she didn’t want him to. She thought it would be easy after he married Nayelli and moved out, but he still occupied her thoughts daily.
She’d wonder what if all day if Audiemar didn’t give her stuff to do. He’d even had her teach a few classes over at Haven House with some of the kids. Coast would go with her sometimes too. Maybe she was right and it was time for her to switch it up. Was she supposed to sit around pining over Kong and praying one day he suddenly woke up with the undeniable urge to be with her. Not just sex, but something real and of substance.Or was it too late? Had he fallen for Nayelli? Was there always something there and her accident just brought them closer?Her spiraling thoughts drove her crazy too.
“You telling me what to do?” Ayla quipped, psyching herself out.
No time like the present.Her inner thoughts got the best of her.
“Sometimes you have to take the lead. It’s what my brother always told me.” Justin half-shrugged.
“Here’s her phone.” Coast went into Ayla’s tote in her cart and pulled out her iPhone.
She put it up to her face to activate her facial recognition and tapped the screen to go to her contacts.
“Put your number in there and text her.”
Ayla had no time to object, but her mouth slipped open as Coast handed a stranger her phone.
Simpering cutely, Justin typed his number and saved it under J before giving it back to her.
“I think you might like my company.”
Coast stared after him with Ayla when he walked away before swinging her attention back to her.
“Girllll you better let that man wine and dine you! You deserve it, and he’s fine!”
“I don’t know. I haven’t dated anybody but my ex, Qassen. Then, there’s this whole Kong shit.” Ayla slipped her phone back into her purse.
“That is exactly why you need to move the hell on!” Coast scrunched up her nose. “Listen, I love Kong, but he’s married and got a lot of shit going on already. I don’t want you sitting around like some old lady, hoping he gets his mind right.”
“Whatever. I’m not sitting around,” Ayla argued. “I’m doing stuff.”
“Yeah, cooking and more damn cooking. When you aren’t in your room watching shows. About what? More fucking cooking!” Coast called her out. “Now, honey, I love your food just as much as the next, but it’s okay to step out of the kitchen sometimes.”
Pausing with her hands on the push bar of her basket, Ayla sniffed the air.
“You smell that? Are those skewers?” She looked around curiously for another sample stand.
“The hell? I’m supposed to be the one with the pregnant nose.” Coast followed Ayla until they reached an employee working some mini chicken and vegetable skewers as they sizzled against a small indoor grill.
Once they each got two samples, Ayla dragged Coast along so they could finish shopping. Almost an hour later, the twopulled up to the house, and Ayla hopped out of the Denali Audiemar insisted she drive, especially when she was shopping. She popped the back latch so they could start taking things inside and the hum of a familiar engine drew their attention to the bottom of the driveway. Kong whipped his G Wagon uphill, pulling in behind Ayla and Coast as they sifted through and organized the haul in the back.
“Ayla!” As soon as Kara’s boots hit the ground, she rushed over to her.
