“Friends, huh? Kenny said she came over with a bag. Not just a purse.”
She swore under her breath. The man was far more observant than she had realized. She sighed. “Her shower was broken. She got covered in coffee at work, so I let her use my shower. No big deal.”
“Right. Right. Kerrie says you two practically drooled over each other the other day at work. And that you drop by her office in the afternoons.”
Damn those Matthews twins. “How nosy are those two?”
“You have no idea. But you’re not denying it.”
They moved further into the produce section. Bette and Matty both liked to do a grocery run on Sunday morning before the churches in town got out. Then it would be crowded. It was nicer to go earlier.
Matty grabbed a bag of yellow onions. “There’s nothing to deny. We’re friends. I’m already at The Church in the afternoon to ride home with Kerrie, so it’s not weird to say hello.”
“Uh-huh. Do you do that with Jayvon?”
“I mean, not really because he comes in an hour earlier than we do, so he’s not usually there that late.”
“What are the odds I could get the twins to eat turnips?” Bette asked, holding one up.
“I think you should just be happy they stopped complaining about broccoli.”
Bette sighed, putting the vegetable down. “True. I’m going to be pushing it this week with making fish that’s not fried catfish. So, what are you making for this not-a-date dinner date?”
Matty narrowed her eyes at the blonde. “I didn’t tell you I was making her dinner.”
“You didn’t have to. Kenny told me.”
“My God, he is a gossip.”
“Only if you ask the right questions.”
Matty shook her head as they entered the bakery area. The scent of fresh-baked goods made her mouth water. She looked over the loaves of bread, trying to find the best one for garlic bread. “Well, we both like Italian food, so I thought I’d make spaghetti.”
“With that delicious meat sauce you make?”
A blush heated her cheeks at the compliment. “It’s just a simple sauce. I thought I’d make that and some garlic bread. Do you think a salad would be too much?”
“I think salad is getting into real date-night territory.”
“If salad is pushing it, then maybe I shouldn’t make the butter pecan cheesecake.”
Bette rounded back, staring at her with raised eyebrows and blocking the aisle. “Dessert from scratch, but this isn’t a date?”
Matty gave her a wonky smile, though it felt more like a grimace. “I mean, it’s not that complicated to make.”
“Are we going by the flower section as well?” Bette asked with a roll of her eyes.
“Uh...”
“We are, aren’t we?”
“I just thought a small bouquet of fresh flowers on the table would brighten the place up. Hester loves flowers.”
“But it’s not a date.”
“Absolutely not.”
***
