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“Hey, I don’t know if Mike asked you yet,” she said, taping the frame closed again. “But do you have a wholesale club card?”

I cleared my throat. “Yeah. Why?”

“I need to start shopping in bulk, but I can’t afford the membership yet. Do you think I could go with you on your next trip?” she asked.

“I… Sure. When do you need to go?”

“As soon as you can,” she said. “The graze board thing has been really busy. I’ve been buying everything at the grocery store, and it adds up. Also, I was hoping you and I could talk for a bit.”

“About what?”

“Just stuff. Catching up. I haven’t seen you much.” She peered at me. “So?” she said. “Can you?”

“Um… yeah, I can go today,” I said. “I get off in an hour.”

She lit up. “Really?”

“Sure.”

“Okay. I’ll go do my grocery order and meet you here?”

“Let’s drive separately,” I said. “That way you can leave from there.”

She nodded. “Right. Good idea. See you in a bit.” She turned for the front of the store.

“Larissa…”

She stopped and looked back at me.

“Thank you,” I said. “I love it.”

She smiled and something about it made me feel like I couldn’t breathe.

“You’re welcome.”

I watched her leave. Then I turned to Waylon. “Hey, I need to make a phone call.”

I went to the back corner and called Mike.

“Sup.”

“Hey,” I said, my voice low. “Larissa was just here. She wants to go shopping.”

“Oh yeah, I was gonna ask you. Thanks, man.”

“Do you want to meet us there?”

He chuckled. “Why the heck would I meet you there?”

Because I don’t feel right being alone with her? Because I don’t want to unpack what that even means that I feel like that?

“I don’t know,” I said. “To help her get it all home?”

“Nah, can you cover for me? I’ve got clients until eight.”

I dragged a hand through my hair.

“I appreciate you taking her,” he said.