Page 4 (1/2)
I clear rab an available cart next to us and hand hirocery list
"Does it always snow in September?" I ask in an attempt to appear unfazed by his touch
He lays his jacket across the side of the shopping cart "No, it won’t last more than a few days, maybe a week Most of the time the snow doesn’t start until late October," he says "You’re lucky"
"Lucky?"
"Yeah It’s a pretty rare cold front You got here right in time"
"Huh I assumed most of y’all would hate the snow Doesn’t it snow here hs
"What?"
"Nothing," he says with a smile on his face "I’ve just never heard anyone say ‘y’all’ in real life before It’s cute So southern belle"
"Oh, I’h "From now on I’ll do like you Yankees and waste hs and nudges my shoulder "Don’t I like your accent, it’s perfect"
I can’t believe I’ve actually turned into a girl oons over a guy I detest it soto find a flaw I can’t Everything about hiet most of the items on our list and head to the checkout He refuses to leton the conveyor belt, so I just stand back and watch as he unloads the itey The last itees I never even saw hirocery store, Will tells me to turn in the opposite direction in which we came We drive maybe thole blocks when he instructs me to turn left-onto our street The drive that took us twenty minutes on the way there takes us less than a h as I pull in my driveway I realize what he's done and that the flirtation on his end is blatantly obvious
I park the car, rerab my purse Will has already rounded to the back of the jeep so I press the trunk lever for hi hi there holding the trunk up, watching me
With my best southern belle impression, I place my hand across my chest and say, "Why! I never would have been able to find the store without your help Thank you so much for your hospitality kind sir"
I sort of expect hi at me
"What?" I ask nervously
He takes a step toward me and softly cups my chin with his free hand I'm shocked by my own reaction; the fact that I allow it He studies my face for a few seconds as my heart races within my chest I think he's about to kissas I stare up at him He steps in even closer and removes his hand fro ainsta few seconds before he releases his hand and steps back
"You're so cute," he says as he reaches in the trunk and grabs four sacks with one hefty swoop He walks toward the house and sets them at the entryway outside the door
I' to absorb the last fifteen seconds of my life Where did that come from? Why did I just stand there and let him do that? Despite my objections I realize, almost pathetically, that I have just experienced the uy, and it was on the freaking forehead!
As Will is reaching into the trunk for another handful of groceries, Kel and Caulder run out of the house, followed by my mother
The boys dart across the street to check out Caulder’s bedroom Will politely extends his hand out to my mother as she walks toward us
"You must be Layken and Kel’s mom I’m Will Cooper We live across the street"
"Julia Cohen," she says "You're Caulder's older brother?"
"Yes, Ma’am," he replies "Older by twelve years"
"So that makes you…twenty-one?" She turns towardto e behind Will at this point, so I take the opportunity to reciprocate one of her infalad Kel and Lake were able to make friends so fast," she says
"Me too," he replies
She turns and heads inside but purposefully nudges me with her shoulder as she passes She doesn't speak a word but I knohat she's hinting at; she's giving me her approval
Will reaches in for the last two sacks "Lake, huh? I like that" He hands me the sacks as he shuts the trunk
"So, Lake" He leans back against the car and crosses his arone until late Sunday, fa wave of his hand "I ondering if you had any plans for too?"
It's the first time anyone has ever referred to me as "Lake," other than ainst the car too, and face hi with excite to make me admit that I have absolutely no life here?" I say
"Great! It's a date then I'll pick you up at seven-thirty" He immediately turns and heads toward his house when I realize he never actually asked, and I never actually agreed
2
"It won't take long for me
To tell you who I aht now