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"It’s the Avett Brothers," I say She arches her eyebrow and looks atThe fact that she apparently loves this band asdeep in the pit of my stomach that I haven’t felt in years

Good lord, I’ve got butterflies

She glances down at my hand still clasped on top of hers I pullit didn’t ain, though That’s a good sign That’s a really good sign

The entire rest of the way to the grocery store, she tells me all about her family She mostly talks about the recent death of her father and her birthday gift fro her fah this year It explains that distant look she gets in her eyes sometimes I can’t help but feel so she can relate on soh the last few years I tense up at the thought of having to tell her about ht now

I can feel the conversation on her end co to a close, so I point her in the actual direction of the grocery store, hoping it will deflect the parental subject before it beco lot, I’m both relieved and anxious Relieved that I didn’t have to explain ht that I know the conversation is inevitable I just don’t want to scare her off yet

"Wow," she says "Is that the quickest way to the store? That drive took twentythe door open and wink at her "No, actually it’s not" I step out of the car, i since I’ve been into a girl, I wasn’t sure if I still had any ga with her I like her She seems to like me, but she’s not as forward as I aarab her hand, tell her to run, and pull her faster toward the entrance I do this partly because we’re getting soaked, but ain

When we get inside she’s soaking wet and laughing It’s the first tih

There’s a strand of wet hair stuck to her cheek, so I reach up and wipe it away As soon as ers touch her skin, her eyes lock with

Damn, those eyes I continue to stare at her, unable to look away She’s beautiful So damn beautiful

She breaks our stare and clears her throat Her reaction is souarded, like I rocery list and grabs a cart "Does it always snow in September?" she asks

We just had a seriously intense, slightly aard h

"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 You’re lucky"

She looks at me "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 most of the year?"

It’s official The southern accent is h

"What?" she says defensively

I shakeI’ve just never heard anyone say ‘y’all’ in real life before It’s cute So southern belle"

She laughs at my comment "Oh, I’m sorry From now on I’ll do like you Yankees and waste uys’ "

"Don’t," I say, nudging her shoulder "I like your accent, it’s perfect"

She blushes again, but doesn’t look away I look down at the grocery list and pretend to read it, but I can’t help but notice she’s staring at ure

She eventually turns her head and I steer her in the direction of the foods on her list

"Lucky Chare boxes of the cereal "Is that Kel’s favorite?"

She grins at me "No, actually it’s mine"

"I’m more of a Rice Krispies fan myself" I take the boxes of cereal from her and throw the," she says

"The hell they are! Rice Krispies make Rice Krispies treats What can your cereal do?"

"Lucky Charet to make a wish every tih "And what are you gonna wish for? You’ve got three boxes, that’s a lot of wishes"

She folds her arms across the handle of the cart and leans forhile she pushes it She gets that saain "I’d wish I could be back in Texas," she says quietly

The sadness in her answer an thatneed to console her "What do you ," she says "The lack of snow, the lack of concrete, the lack of people, the lack of" She pauses "The lack of unfamiliarity"

"Boyfriend?"

I say it without even thinking It’s like I lose my filter when I’m around her She shoots h she doesn’t want to misinterpret my question

"You miss your boyfriend?" I clarify

She s the troubled look that consuo "No boyfriend," she says