Page 40 of Don't Fall for the Goalie
The salesman returns with six boxes.
“What the hell?”
Daltyn grins. “Rob is bringing a seven and a seven and a half. Feet often swell in the afternoon or after exercise. We want to be sure you have the right fit.”
“Okay. So he should have two boxes. Why are there four more?”
He laughs. “They have a couple of colors.”
“Oh.”
The next ten minutes are spent trying on only the right sneaker, since the left one is swollen.
The two men dote on me, asking how the shoe feels, holding onto my arms as I stand.
Rob’s touch has no effect on me. Not like Daltyn. Just a small touch from him has me feeling off-balance.
From the way he’s smiling at me, he knows it.
I sink down onto the bench, relieved when it’s over. I don’t even argue when Daltyn buys me three pairs of shoes.
“Sweet pea! I thought that was you.” Gram’s voicebooms through the store as she hurries toward me, a huge smile on her face.
“Oh, lord,” I murmur.
Daltyn curses.
“I’m so glad you came to live with the broody goalie,” she says as soon as she’s in front of me. She’s wearing cheetah print leggings, matching shoes, and a bright pink top.
“I’m not?—”
She claps her hands together. “So romantic. A hurricane ends up bringing two lost souls together.”
“Gram.” I glance at Daltyn, who looks pale.
“I just knew the two of you would end up together. You’re just the cutest couple.”
“We’re not?—”
“You’re going to have beautiful babies someday.”
Daltyn follows Rob to the front to pay like he’s running out of a burning building.
“Gram,” I hiss, grabbing her arm. “We’re not together.”
She stares at me like I’m crazy, then looks at my swollen ankle. “Oh, dear. What did you do?”
I sigh. “Long story.”
“It didn’t happen during sex, did it?” She glances in Daltyn’s direction, who is—thankfully—still at the front of the store.
“No, it didn’t,” I hiss, grabbing her arm.
“Good. Oh, there’s my Eddie. I need to go. I told him I’d only be a minute.”
I take a deep breath, feeling like I’ve just been through another hurricane.
Daltyn heads toward me, that guarded look on his face again. The one from this morning.
