BING
I pull up outside Jen’s block of flats and send her a text to say I’m here. I can’t believe I’m actually taking her shopping. I don’t know what the hell you buy in a supermarket... That’s Mum’s job.
Jen appears wrapped in skin tight jeans, a thick coat, and snow boots. She walks carefully over to my car and gets in, knocking the snow from her feet first.
“Anyone would think it’s the Arctic out here.” I grin and pull away.
“I’ve lived on the beach my whole life. I don’t do snow.” She sniffs, and looks out the window. “It’s horrible.”
“Nah.” I shake my head. “You just haven’t ever had a proper snowball fight.”
“I don’t think I want to have one, if I’m gonna be honest.”
“No, you do.” I insist. “Let’s do your shopping then we’ll have one.” I grin.
“Er....” She turns those baby blues on me. “I’m really not an Eskimo.”
“Sure?” I park in Tesco car park and reach over to tweak her fluffy hood. “You sure look like one.”
Her eyes narrow. “I can tell this is going to be fun.”
I wink at her and we climb out the car. Even though the car park is clear of snow, the pathways are all icy. I’m kind of hoping she slips so I can catch her. And then hold her up. And not let go.
Fucking hell! I’m doing what Alec did and turning into a pussy whipped ass.
I snap myself out of it and watch Jen pick her steps on the least icy bits. She accidentally slips on a bit of black ice, and my arm shoots out behind her, curling around her perfect waist and pulling her close to me.
“I’ve got you,” I whisper in her ear. She nods and puts a hand on my chest, her long blue nails a stark burst of colour against my black coat.
“You’ve got me,” she whispers back, slightly breathless.
“Hold on tight, and don’t let go,” I give her my arm, and she grips it like a lifeline, leaning into me.
“I won’t,” she replies as I grab a trolley.
Silently, a part of me is wishing the conversation had a totally different meaning.
We walk into the supermarket and she finally takes her hood down revealing her blonde locks. She shakes her hair out and digs into her pocket.
“Shopping list,” she smiles sheepishly at me. “If I don’t have a list and stick to it, I tend to buy a load of unhealthy crap I don’t need.”
“I blame my sister,” I mumble. “She’s always been Miss I Want It Now.”
“Yep, shopping with her is a nightmare.”
She picks some bread off the shelf, followed by muffins, and drops them into the trolley.
“Double chocolate chip muffins?” I question.
“Necessary evil.” She smacks her lips together.
“If it’s evil, then why buy it?”
“You really don’t want me to answer that question.” She plucks her way through the fruit and veg section. I think there’s a bit of everything going in the trolley.
“If I didn’t want to know, I wouldn’t ask.”
She shrugs her shoulders and hooks her fingers round the trolley, directing it down another aisle.
The women’s aisle.
“Um,” I manage.
“You said you wanted to know!” She giggles and puts a box of tampons in the trolley. I’m pretty sure I look like a deer in headlights.
Hell no. I did not sign up for buying little mice you insert into your body.
“Are we done in the, uh…” I cough slightly. “Ladies aisle?”
“I’m not sure....” Jen taps a finger against her lips in a steady rhythm. Attention? Diverted.
Her tongue snakes out and runs across her top lip, sticking to the side as she reaches up for a can of deodorant. I let go of the trolley and get it for her, putting it in her hand.
“Thank you,” she smiles.
“No, thank you for buying it,” I wink at her. “I could smell you from where I was stood.”
She drops back from her tiptoes, and levels a glare at me. “If I were you I’d watch it, Samuel, before you and my tampons get acquainted. Very, very acquainted.”
“Sounds kinky.” I start walking again.
“You are so disturbed I don’t even have any words to respond to that.”
“You have no words? Wow. You’re speechless. I feel kinda special right now.”
“Oh, honey, you are special.” She puts milk in the trolley and puts her hand on my arm. “You’re window licking special.”
One side of my mouth curves up in a half grin and my eyes wash over her face. Her eyes are wide with faux innocence, her lips puckered in the smile she’s trying and failing to keep off her face. She raises an eyebrow and reaches behind me for some whipped cream. She looks down and reads the ingredients on the back, her hand sliding down the can.
I’m jealous of whipped cream. I want to punch the can and kick its ass kind of jealous. What the fuck is wrong with me?