Page 16 of Inked Heart
I stare at the floor.“When you say it like that...”
“It sounds exactly as bad as it is.”
I laugh weakly.“Yeah.”The cart wheels squeak slightly as I shift my weight.“I should probably finish shopping.”
Damien reaches for the handle.“I’ll help.”
“You don’t have to.”
“I know.”
But he doesn’t let go.And for some reason, standing there in the fluorescent lights of Franklinton’s only grocery store with Damien Grey quietly pushing my cart beside me, I suddenly feel a little less alone.
Chapter Five
When You’re Ready
Damien
There are moments in a man’s life when he knows he should keep his mouth shut.This is one of those moments.
Unfortunately for me, my self-control left the building about five minutes ago, right around the time Emette Black called Quinn stupid in the cereal aisle of Franklinton’s only grocery store.
I grip the handle of her cart as we move slowly down the next aisle.She’s pretending everything is fine, I can tell.People think pretending is convincing, but it isn’t.
Quinn’s shoulders are a little too stiff and her smile comes a second too late whenever she glances up at me.And she keeps blinking rapidly like she’s trying to force back tears she refuses to let fall.
I hate it.Not just the tears but the reason behind them.
“Do you need anything else?”I ask quietly.
We’re standing in front of the baking section now.Flour, sugar, cocoa powder, chocolate chips, all the things she came here for before this evening turned into something neither of us planned.
She glances down at her phone where a grocery list is pulled up.
“Vanilla extract,” she says after a second.
