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Tess
Going on a beer run with Zag was an experience.
While all we had walked into the store for was beer, we had somehow managed to fill our cart half full by the time we were at the checkout line.
“We just c-c-cam for beer,” I whispered.
Zag grabbed three candy bars and dropped them in the cart. “This is why my dad told me never to do a beer run at a grocery store. You buy more than beer.”
“You are the o-o-one who put most of this in there,” I pointed out.
Zag reached into the cart and pulled out a big bottle of shampoo. “This isn’t mine, babe. Or the pink razors, three packs of gum, and three containers of ice cream.”
I quirked my eyebrow. “N-n-n-n-n–.” I closed my eyes and took a breath. “Necessities,” I managed to get out.
Zag chuckled. “I would agree with you on the shampoo and razors, but I don’t think the same can be said for the ice cream. It’s a good thing we brought your car and not my bike.”
I opened my eyes and stepped closer to the conveyor belt. “Says you.” It might have been better if we brought the bike because then we wouldn’t have been able to get anything but the beer.
We loaded everything on the belt, and I pushed the cart to the end of the lane.
Zag shoved his debit card into the machine before I could even open my purse and then positioned himself to where I couldn’t even pay if I tried.
I wanted to yell at him to let me pay, but the cashier watched us. I’m sure the cashier was already wondering how a woman like me was with a handsome man with Zag. I knew I would stumble over my words, and I didn’t want any curious eyes on me.
I wondered the same thing.
In the darkness, we were equals because I didn’t know how handsome he was. In the broad light, our differences were apparent.
We loaded the groceries into the car and made it home just as the pizza delivery guy pulled up in front of the house.
“I’ll get the pizza.”
Zag met the pizza guy at the curb.
I grabbed what I could from the trunk and hauled it into the house. Zag set the pizza on the table, and I started unpacking the groceries.
“I’ll get the rest of the stuff, babe.” Zag walked out the front door and returned with the rest of the bags on his arms and a case of beer dangling from his fingertips.
“You can eat. I’m just g-g-going to put the cold stuff away.”
Zag set the bags and beer on the counter and laughed. “You think I’m going to sit there and eat while you do all of the work?” He opened the fridge and set the beer on the bottom shelf. “We do it together, and then we can eat together.”
If that was what he wanted.
By the time we had all of the food put away, the fridge and freezer didn’t look as pathetic. It looked more like a broke college student lived there than a woman on the run.
“You want a beer?” Zag asked.
I shook my head. “Never been a f-f-fan.”
Zag grabbed two and nudged the fridge shut with his hip. “More for me, babe. And it’s a good thing I got the soda with the pizza.”
I set up the pizza on the coffee table in front of the TV and handed Zag a plate when he sat down. I filled my glass with dark soda and set it next to his beer.
I flipped through the channels on the TV while Zag loaded up his plate and popped open his beer.
“What kind of movies do you like?” I asked.
“Use to be the ones where they blew shit up all of the time, but I think I might be switching over to something funny since we both got blown up.”
A giggle escaped my lips. “Good call.” Ace Ventura: Pet Detective had started at the top of the hour, and I set down the remote.
I grabbed two slices of pizza and tucked my legs under me as I sat back.
“Pizza okay?” he asked after I had a few bites.
I nodded. “Better than anything I’ve had in Miltonville.”
Zag chuckled. “Miltonville isn’t exactly a booming metropolis of food.”
He was right. “No, but we did have a p-pretty good ice cream place.”
He hitched his head toward the kitchen. “I would assume you’re right since you seem to like ice cream from the looks of the three containers we bought.”
Ice cream had always been something I loved. Sig’s Ice Cream would be the only thing I would miss about Miltonville. They really did have amazing homemade ice cream.
I ate one more piece of pizza, and Zag polished off the rest. I wanted to ask him where he put it, but I wasn’t one to comment on what other people were eating.
I cleaned up the empty box and bottles halfway through the movie. I grabbed another beer for Zag and asked him if he wanted any ice cream.
“Uh, I don’t really think beer and chocolate ice cream go together.”
I wrinkled my nose and scooped a heaping mound of ice cream into my bowl. He was probably right. To me, beer didn’t go with anything.
I handed him his beer, and I tucked my legs under me as I sat down.
“You know three beers means I’m not going anywhere, Tess.”
I glanced at him over my bowl. “I thought that’s w-w-what one b-beer meant?”
“Touché, babe. I stand corrected.”
Having Zag here felt right.
I wasn’t going to question what that was just yet.
