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“We've got lots of bread, Izzy. I brought a loaf yesterday.” Pop laughs, removing it from the cart and putting it on a nearby shelf.
Picking it up again I place it back in the cart. “But Pop’s, we need more; Nathaniel almost bit my arm off eating my sandwiches earlier.” I laugh.
“What do you mean Izzy?” Pops questions suddenly looking intrigued enough to stop dead in his tracks.
“Well, let's put it this way, he gives Rosco a run for his money” I giggle as I compare Nathaniel’s eating habits to those of Nana’s dog, Rosco, who basically swallows his food whole.
“Go pick anything you want. Get extra for your friend too.”
Pops finishes the shopping, loads the bags into his truck, and drives home. He doesn’t say another word; instead, he just sports a very unfamiliar frown.
Is he mad at me? Mad that I asked for him to buy more stuff? He doesn’t usually mind. He and Nana usually treat me to all the goodies my parents don’t allow me to eat at home. So why is today any different?
CHAPTER TWO
ISABELLA
As I hear voices on the other side of the door, curiosity compels me to leave my room and investigate. I join Pops and my cousins around the table, where the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and sizzling bacon wafts through the air. Hopefully, if I annoy them enough by asking questions and offering to help with clearing away the table, I’ll get them out the door quicker.
"Morning Isabella, did you sleep okay?'' Pops asks, pouring me a milky coffee. Well, I say coffee, but it can hardly be called that when it's mostly hot, frothy milk, lots of sugar, and the tiniest sprinkle of coffee. It still makes me feel grown up to say it's coffee, though.
"There're eggs and bacon on the stove, if you want some. Hurry, before these greedy monsters eat it all."
"Yes, please," I reply, feeling my tummy grumble, bringing me back to the present.
"Are you sure you’re okay here today?" Pops asks again, placing a plate of food in front of me.
"Your cousins and I can stay behind for a day if you’d prefer. Honestly, we don’t mind."
"No!" I practically scream with my heart thumping in my chest, and my cousins all break out in hysterics.
"Looks like she's afraid we'll cramp her style, Pops." Michael laughs.
"Yeah, Izzy's got a hot date, remember?" laughs Daniel as he steals a piece of bacon off my plate and shoves it into his big, stupid mouth.
"Aww, our little Bug is growing up," Toby says, reaching out and pinching my cheeks. I try smacking his hand away, but he just smiles, causing me to roll my eyes.
"It's not a date. He's just a friend. We might not even meet up," I blurt out. I push my chair back, ready to leave the table, and storm off, praying to God no one notices how much I'm probably blushing.
"Boys, leave her alone," Pops says sternly. "Don't tease your cousin."
Pops turns to me and leans down, so we're almost face to face. "It's not a date, right, Isabella?" he whispers, sounding a little embarrassed himself. "Because you're way too young for all that malarkey. Isn't that right?" he adds, sounding more like he's trying to convince himself than question me.
If it were anyone else, their demeanor would be intimidating, but Pops has a face that immediately puts people at ease. At just five foot seven, he’s smaller than my cousins, and his gray hair and wrinkles are from being in his sixties, rather than stress.
"Yeah, Pops." I sigh, looking at the floor nervously. "We’re just friends. Can I go now?"
"I don't know. Maybe I should call your Nana and see what she says," Pops adds, stroking his chin and pacing the floor.
"It's okay Grandpa, Izzy's a good girl... right?" says my oldest and favorite cousin, Toby, coming to my rescue while ruffling my hair.
"Yesss, Pops." I sigh dramatically.
"And you're just going to watch movies on the couch, right, Izzy? Not get into some mischief outside?" he questions, looking at me with squinty eyes.
"Yes, of course Pops, you know I'll behave," I reply, looking at him again hoping that I am showing him that I can stay here alone.
"Well, if you're sure…" Pops finally says but not sounding too sure of himself.
