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“Thank you,” she said “Some of that stuff is heavy”

“Do you want so it inside? Your house is on the way ho by”

“No, that’s fine,” she said, looking over her shoulder again She did it quickly, and I was sure she thought I didn’t notice

“Are you sure? I can help get this stuff put away for you Especially the heavy stuff”

“Ok, sure,” she said “If you can help et them inside, I’d appreciate it”

Putting roceries in the back of my truck, I followed her to her place and parked on the street Going up to the back of her car, I grabbed the heaviest of the bags and took them inside behind her

I enjoyed helping her It eird It was different fro anyone That part of the do-good aspect of my personality always lit up when I helped someone But this was deeper,with it I was also struggling hy she seemed so paranoid

As we reached the back of the car for what looked like the last couple of bags, she looked around again and then caught rabbed the last of the groceries and shut the trunk, following her inside and closing the door behind us

Desiree opened her cabinets and started putting things away It didn’t take long to figure out her an to help her

“Hey, I wanted to ask a question,” I said

“Yeah?”

“I noticed you looking over your shoulder a lot earlier” I watched her body language as I spoke “Is everything okay?”

“Everything’s fine,” her mouth said Her body told an entirely different story Anyone who spent as long in thecivilians, could tell she was lying It was even easier forher body for various reasons since she showed up on my doorstep

“Okay,” I said, dropping it for now “It looks like we’re down to the last bit here Is there anything you need after this?”

Both of us reached forward on the counter for the last can Our fingers touched, and we froze The question hung in the air as we stood just inches from each other The tension between us sparked and crackled, and for aelse but the sound of her breath, the tre of her lips, mattered