Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 64527 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 323(@200wpm)___ 258(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64527 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 323(@200wpm)___ 258(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
As always, I put the check into its envelope with a plain piece of paper wrapped around it and paid for the tracking number to ensure it got where I needed it to.
When I was finished, I thought back to everything I’d picked up at the market the last time I’d gone and how I’d been promising myself that I would start eating more vegetables. I’d only got some tomatoes and more canned beans the last time I was at the market, and I knew I would probably do well by incorporating some more green into my diet.
Or at least that was what I rationalized to myself as I walked up to the doors of the supermarket, thinking of the deep blue eyes and pearly skin that had captivated me days ago.
I really was an idiot, and I didn’t know if it was because I hadn’t gotten laid in forever or because I was just really starting to lose it up on that mountain, but for some reason, I hadn’t been able to get her face out of my mind.
I grabbed a basket from the stack near the door and walked in, making straight for the produce section. Not really knowing where to start, I headed for the prepackaged bags of salad, knowing that at the very least, I could add some stuff to those to make a meal.
As much as I’d told myself that I hadn’t come in to see her, I couldn’t help looking around the store for Macy, knowing I’d spot her immediately.
And I did; she was standing a few feet away from me, pulling out some onions and stacking them carefully on the shelf. I sighed, knowing there was nothing for it. I was going to feel off until I talked to the girl, so I might as well just get it over with.
“Macy, right?”
She visibly flinched at the sound of her name and looked up at me. I felt a pang when I saw the deep grey crescents under her eyes. She clearly hadn’t been sleeping much over the last few days, and I couldn’t help feeling my heartrate pick up, in spite of myself.
I didn’t say anything, though. I just let her start leading the conversation—if it could even be called that.
“Yeah, that’s right,” she said, looking up at me and raising her eyebrow. “But I think you have the advantage over me.”
I huffed a little bit, amused by the annoyed tone in her voice at the idea. I could already tell that she was more like me than I’d realized.
“I’m Dillon,” I said. I almost held my hand out to her to shake, but I had a feeling she wouldn’t appreciate the overture.
“Well, Dillon,” she said, tucking her thumbs into her back pockets. The gesture made her pop her hip out, just a little bit, and it allowed me to take in her curves with new appreciation. “Is there something I can help you with?”
“Yeah, actually. Do you guys have any good zucchini and eggplant?” Somehow, I came up with the exact idea of what to make.
“Sure,” she said, leading me over to one of the shelves and gesturing to the vegetables with an obvious look on her face, as if I would’ve seen them if I’d just looked around.
“Thanks,” I said, reaching out and grabbing a few of the eggplants and putting them in a small produce bag.
“No problem,” she said, her voice sounding tired.
I couldn’t help my curiosity anymore. “If you don’t mind me asking, are you okay? You look pretty exhausted.”
She flinched again, like she had when I’d first said her name. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just… being in a new place is taking some adjusting.”
“Oh, you’re new in town?” I wasn’t sure why I was so invested in making her comfortable with me. I just wanted her to be able to feel safe.
Whoa. Where had that come from? I barely knew this woman, and already I’d gotten invested in making her feel safe with me.
If anything, life had already taught me that I wasn’t good for keeping anyone safe. I was just as likely to put people in danger as I was to bring them security.
“Just moved here a few months ago, actually,” she said. I reached out for some more veggies while watching her out of the corner of my eye. She didn’t look settled, quite the opposite, actually. She looked like she was about to jump out of her skin any second.
“Where are you from?” I tried to keep my tone casual, but it clearly hadn’t been casual enough. She looked back at me suspiciously.
“Why do you want to know?” her tone harder now.
I shrugged a shoulder. “It’s a small town. Everyone knows everyone’s story around here. People like to help each other.”
“But you don’t live in town, do you?” she said. “If you did, I’d have seen you before two days ago. So why do you want to know my story?”