They both nod, staring up at the bread as if it’s about to grow legs and run out of the cart.
EJ pulls me aside. We’re only a yard away from the cart—close enough to monitor the boys, but far enough that he can whisper to me.
“I’d love to bring you dinner again.”
“You can’t,” I say reflexively.
“Why not?” he asks.
“You already brought us dinner.”
His brows rise as if that’s not excuse enough.
“I can’t keep letting you buy us dinner.”
“Because?”
“Because …” I struggle to think of why. “It’s not right.”
He chuckles softly. “The boys don’t have to know it’s from me. I’ll just text you when I drop the bag on your porch. Or box. Do you want pizza or burgers … or that fried chicken again?”
“EJ …” I try to dissuade him, but my argument feels thin, even to me.
“Angie.”
“Fine. Get us whatever you want. But please don’t bring Pop Tarts.”
He smiles. “I won’t bring Pop Tarts.”
“Thank you,” I say, making the mistake of looking up into his warm brown eyes. “You really don’t have to do this.”
“I don’t have to. I know that. I actually want to. I want to do this—and so much more, Angie.”
EJ doesn’t say anything else. He just walks back to his cart.
I stand still, feeling way too many things, including a residual warmth from his nearness—or his kindness—or both.
EJ looks at my boys and says, “I’ll see you boys later. Be good for your mom. I think she’s got a special surprise for you for dinner.”
“Really?” Levi says.
“I love surprises!” Jack says. “And dinner!”
EJ smiles at the boys and then at me. Then he pushes his cart past us and I head toward the dairy aisle where the boys shoot down two gallons of milk.
Chapter 8
EJ
To wait is not merely to remain inactive.
It is to expect—to look forward to something.
~ Unknown
I’m driving to pick Angie up for our second date. Seeing her and the boys at the grocery Thursday was unexpected. When I dropped the food off at her house later that evening, she met me at the door, stepping onto the porch to thank me.
She politely asked me if I wanted to come in to join them for dinner. The offer was so tempting, but I know her heart. She’s not ready to have me around the boys for a meal. It could confuse them. And we’ve only been on one date. As much as I wanted to say yes, I told her, “If I thought you really wanted me to come in, I would. But I think it’s best I say no this time.”
