“I was not.”
“Yes, you were.”
“What good would it do for me to be silent?”
“Uh, to mentally mess with me? To have the upper hand. To let me know that even though we made an agreement, you still have the upper hand.”
I examine my nails and say, “Quite the storyline you’re creating in your head.”
An accurate one.
What is this guy, a mind reader?
He’s a dangerous breed and I’ll need to be on my toes around him.
“Well,” Aunt Kitty says, walking up to us. “Leaving behind a piece of my heart in this store today, but that doesn’t mean I’ll forget the bond I forged.”
Theo raises a brow and I say, “She fell in love with a kayak.”
“Oh, which one?”
“The blue one on display,” I answer.
“That’s a nice kayak.”
“She’s a beauty.” Aunt Kitty sighs. “But sometimes, great loves have to part.”
Theo slowly nods.
“Okay, well, if you have everything you need, then let’s get going. You can check out and we’ll wait for you by the storefront.”
He takes off toward the register while we move to the front of the store. “Maybe we can play some music on the way home,” I say to Aunt Kitty, who prefers to have it quiet in the car for her thoughts.
“You know I get too pumped up with music. I’m not sure these guys are ready to see my moves.”
“I love you, Aunt Kitty, but no one on this planet is ready to see your moves.”
“Care to share your phone number with me, love?” Rupert asks Kitty as he walks up to us. “I can send you these pictures of you in the kayak.”
“Nice try. Do you really think I’d give my phone number to a stalker?” Aunt Kitty shakes her head. “I’ll take a picture of the picture. Now hold out your phone.”
Jesus.
After a few minutes, pictures of pictures have been taken, Theo has checked out, and we are all on our way out of the sporting goods store, with an attendant walking next to us.
“So you’re just going to pull to the front?” the attendant asks.
“Yes, that’s correct,” Theo answers.
“Great, we’ll bring it out front.”
Confused, I ask, “Bring what out front?”
Theo smirks and says, “The blue kayak. Couldn’t let your aunt be separated from her long-lost love.”
Oh for the love of God. He can’t be serious. Why would he buy that for her?
“Ahh!” Aunt Kitty shouts and then grips Theo’s arm. “Are you serious?”
