“No. Nothing about it will go well. I could use the backup.”
“You want me to be you?”
Valerie didn’t understand what they were talking about, but the excited look on Jon’s face made her start to laugh. Because of the serious expression on Brad’s face, she covered her mouth and coughed instead. Brad said, “No. It’s my thing. I just need a wingman.”
Jon pulled his phone out of the cargo pocket of his shorts and swiped up. “What time? Let me check my schedule.”
They hashed out details then Brad looked at Valerie. “We’re done with the moving in.”
She looked at her watch. She had enough daylight left to go to the grocery store so she could spend the evening meal prepping. “Okay. I need to go to the grocery store.”
“I do, too. I’ll follow you.”
Knowing she’d have company in the store lifted her spirits. “Okay.” She told him which store in case they got separated and told Jon and Ken goodbye.
“I’ll text you a list for me,” Ken said as he dried his hands. “We need coffee, but we forgot to grab the coffee maker from the house.”
Jon pulled his keys from his pocket. “I’ll bring it to work tomorrow. Save you the trip.”
“Thanks.”
Valerie dashed through the rain to her car. When she shut the door, she pulled some tissue out of her purse and used it to dab at the raindrops on her face. Since Brad knew her destination, she didn’t worry about waiting for him. Instead, she drove the mile and a half to the large shopping center nearest her house. The rain hadn’t even pretended to let up when she pulled into a parking space, so she got her umbrella out of the back seat and used it for cover as she dashed into the store. After getting a cart, she waited by the door until she saw Brad coming in. She shivered a bit as the air conditioning met her wet arms and legs.
“I probably should have met you at your truck with my umbrella,” she said, slipping it into a plastic bag.
“After working in the non-air conditioning all afternoon, the rain feels great.”
He started to grab a cart then said, “Why don’t we share, and we’ll split it at the register?”
“You want to share grocery carts, Brad? Is this like a grocery store date?”
He grinned. “A romantic grocery store date-date.”
They began to work through the store. She explained how she’d spend the evening preparing meals that she’d freeze or refrigerate. “It saves eating out all the time. Healthier, cheaper.”
“Great idea.”
“I did it in high school. Your mom actually helped me menu plan with it and set up the system.”
He frowned. “I don’t think she did that for us.”
“Of course not. She didn’t work.”
“She had triplet boys. I think she’d object to the notion that she didn’t work.”
With a laugh, Valerie said, “She didn’t leave the home so she could spend time in the kitchen every day. You know what I mean.”
“I do. And I’m very grateful that mom worked as a homemaker. I know dad is, too.” He winked at her and they finished their shopping in the produce aisle. She contemplated some fresh summer squash while Brad filled a bag with green apples.
“Valerie?”
Hearing her name, she glanced up and spotted an intern from work. “Oh, hi, Donna.”
Brad set the apples in the cart and touched Valerie on the back of her arm. She glanced at him. “Have you met Donna? She’s an intern in the engineering department.”
“I have not had the pleasure.”
Donna’s face turned red and she stuttered, “Hi, Mr. Dixon.”
