“No. I almost don’t even want to, but once a week I start it up and drive around the block a few times, which takes me almost thirty minutes, then park it again.”
“It’s much easier to walk everywhere. Faster to walk to work, even than taking mass transit.”
“I’m concerned how it’s going to be come winter and a snowy cold day. I’ll bundle up and I’m assuming sidewalks and everything are cleared.”
“They are. And since we are less than a half a mile away, on those days I tend to either drive in or work from home. If I’m not in, you don’t have to be. Or I can pick you up. It’s not as if it’s out of my way.”
“Really?” she asked.
“Why do you seem so shocked? I swear my mother didn’t raise a heathen.”
“Blair said you’re really nice. I mean, I knew that... from before.”
“I’m still that person,” he said. “Put it behind you I’m your boss right now. Consider me that guy you met a month ago, this time showing you the best places to pick up canned goods.”
She turned her head. They were just sitting in traffic like he’d expected would happen for the short drive.
“I’ll try. Where are we going?”
“Stop and Shop. It’s technically Boston, but really the Brookline area. Less than five miles but could take thirty minutes. So welcome to Boston.”
“I’m learning that. I guess it explains why everyone is so fit around here. They are always walking. Maybe if we had stayed here when I was younger, I would have thinned out sooner.”
“I don’t know that I remembered you as chubby as you might think you were.”
He tried to think back when she was a kid. The glasses and sitting by herself with a book stood out more than wild hair or chubbiness.
“Back then maybe not really. As I got older, it happened. There isn’t a lot to do in Vermont. I didn’t play sports and found comfort in food. Not the right kind either.”
“Doesn’t seem as if it’s a problem now. Not that I’m watching you, but I haven’t seen any greasy burgers or hot Cheetos.”
“I do love me a bacon burger,” she said. “But hot Cheetos? No. Anything that leaves stains on my fingers just grosses me out. Please, don’t tell me you eat them.”
“No comment,” he said, turning back to the road even though they weren’t moving.
Now that meant not throwing his favorite indulgence in the cart.
Fuck that.
He was doing his shopping for the month, he’d get them if he wanted and she could judge. Everyone had a guilty pleasure.
The one he wanted was in the passenger seat, but today had to be about something else completely.
“Well then,” she said. “I’ll know to add that to the chocolate list.”
“Oh God, don’t tell Blair. She has no idea.”
He felt Nora’s eyes on him, so he turned his head. They still hadn’t moved from the light. “Are you afraid of her? How could she not know? I thought she knew everything about you.”
“Not everything,” he murmured. “She doesn’t know about us.”
A flush filled Nora’s face similar to that of his favorite late night snack. Hot and red, ready for him to lick clean off his fingers. This separation thing was fucking hard!
“Are you sure?” she asked.
“Yes,” he said. “Why? I have said nothing and I won’t.”
“Just some things she’s commented on.”
