“Now what?” I started to push the cart again, and she took it from me.
“Candles.”
I followed her down another aisle, then another. “I don’t think you know where you’re going,” I said.
“I’m taking you on the scenic route,” she said, steering the cart. “Look at all these fake flowers and garlands. Good stuff.”
I stopped. “Should we get some? They might look good on the porch.” I grabbed a bunch of sunflowers and added a few white roses to the bunch. “This looks kind of nice, right?”
“I was kidding,” she said, sucking in her cheeks. I could tell she was trying not to smile. “But yeah, that looks all right. Not great, but all right.”
I put the flowers back. “All right, I give up. From now on, I’ll just do the heavy lifting.”
“Nice effort, though.”
Back at the house, Jeremiah’s car was in the driveway.“Jere and I can unload all of this later,” I said, turning off the ignition.
“I’ll help,” she offered, hopping out of the car. “I’m just gonna say hi first.”
I grabbed a couple of the heavier bags and followed her up the steps and into the house. Jeremiah was lying on the couch watching TV. When he saw us, he sat up. “Where have you guys been?” he asked. He said it casually, but his eyes flickered at me as he spoke.
“At Michaels,” Belly said. “What time did you get here?”
“A little while ago. Why didn’t you wait for me? I told you I’d be here in time.” Jeremiah got up and crossed the room. He pulled Belly toward him for a hug.
“I told you, Michaels closes at nine. I doubt you would have made it in time,” she said, and she sounded pissed, but she let him kiss her.
I turned away. “I’m gonna go unload the car.”
“Wait, I’ll help.” Jeremiah released Belly and slapped his hand on my back. “Con, thanks for pinch-hitting for me today.”
“No problem.”
“It’s after eight,” Belly said. “I’m starving. Let’s all go to Jimmy’s for dinner.”
I shook my head. “Nah, I’m not hungry. You guys go.”
“But you didn’t have any dinner,” Belly said, frowning. “Just come with us.”
“No, thanks,” I said.
She started to protest again, but Jere said, “Bells, he doesn’t want to. Let’s just go.”
“Are you sure?” she asked me.
“I’m good,” I said, and it came out harsher than I meant it.
I guessed it worked though, because they left.
chapterthirty-four
At Jimmy’s, neither of us ordered crabs. I got fried scallops and iced tea, and Jeremiah got a lobster roll and beer. The server asked for his ID and smirked when he saw it, but he still served him a beer.
I shook a few sugar packets into my iced tea, tasted it, then added two more.
“I’m wiped,” Jeremiah said, leaning back into the booth and closing his eyes.
“Well, wake up. We have work to do.”
