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Pulling up next to her, I wave when she catches sight of me. She doesn't return the gesture. In fact, she looks downright pissed.
I would be too if I were her.
"You followed me?" she practically screams when I step out of my car.
"I'm sorry. Honestly, I have no idea why."
"That's not crazy or anything," she remarks, reaching into the backseat and pulling the baby, who's fast asleep, into her arms.
"I promise, I'm not crazy. My names Addison."
She eyes me skeptically at first, but then the tension in her shoulders relaxes a little. "Haley."
"It's nice to properly meet you, Haley."
"So, Addison, what do you want?"
Her guard is back up, and in that moment, she reminds me of a younger version of myself. Calm, cool, and collected but also waiting to strike first.
"Nothing, I swear. I'm only here to offer any help you may need. And if you don't want that, I'm here to offer my friendship. I'm new to town and I only know a few people."
"Where are you from?"
"Denver most recently but California originally."
"Must be nice. I've barely traveled beyond the county line."
"Fairview is… different. I wasn't sure I would like it at first, but it's growing on me. The pace is what takes the most getting used to. Things here move a lot slower than Denver."
"I can only imagine."
The conversation dies, and we stand there for a few beats before Haley reaches back in the car and pulls out one bag of groceries. Juggling the weight of the baby in one arm and the groceries in the other, she bids me farewell.
"Wait," I call after her, jogging to catch up with her. Taking the grocery bag from her, I watch as her eyes widen in alarm. "Can I come back and see you again some time?"
"Why would you want to do that?"
"I told you, I'm new in town."
"Yeah, but I'm not exactly in the market for friends right now. Gus keeps me busy."
"Gus, I like that. It suits him."
"So I guess the answer is no. It was nice meeting you, Addison," she says, reaching out to retrieve her groceries.
"Please," I beg, pulling the bag away. "If you don't want to be my friend, at least let me help you. I've been where you are before, and I was too ashamed to ask. I wish I had."
"You think you know anything about me? You don't, and I don't need your help," she practically spits each word at me. In hate. In judgment. In anger.
"I know that the food in this bag is enough to last you two days tops. I can see that the place you're staying is a shit hole, but it's probably all you can afford right now. So, either you're not working or your job sucks. All of these things are fixable, and I can help. If you let me."
"You want to help me? Go the hell away and stop looking down on me. I don't need your pity."
Snatching the bag from my hands, I watch as she struggles to open the door to the apartment building. I'm about to ask her if she wants a hand when her groceries spill all over the sidewalk and a tomato rolls over to where I'm standing.
Reaching down to pick it up, I begin gathering the rest of her food, carrying it in my arms until I reach her. When I do, I find baby Gus sound asleep against his mother's chest as it heaves up and down, tears streaming down her face.
"I'm sorry I if it came across as me judging you," I say, carefully placing her groceries back in the bag.
