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Story: The Strategist

“Hi. Fancy meeting you here.” Arrow was also pushing a shopping cart, but his was already full of fruits, vegetables, boxes of oatmeal, a carton of eggs, antacids, overnight protection pads, and a pack of pork loin. Who was he shopping for?

Tingles rushed down my spine from his presence. Yesterday’s event flared, and my heart raced.

“Hi.” I could feel heat traveling from my toes up to my face.

“How are you feeling?” he asked with concern on his face.

“A lot better, thank you. Sorry I didn’t reply to your message. Busy buying food to prepare for the week. Looks like you are too.” I gestured to his cart.

He stared at his cart and smiled. “Yup. Busy week ahead.” He picked up a package of overnight pads, arched an eyebrow, and dropped it back into the cart.

With his wealth, he didn’t need to go shopping. Didn’t he have a personal assistant? A personal chef that did all the cooking for him?

“You cook a lot for Kaylee?”

I turned to him. “You know Kaylee?”

“I run Whiz Kidz. I only recently discovered that you’re her guardian.” His eyes gleamed.

“So how do you know that I’m her guardian?” Why wouldn’t the tingles stop?

I steered my cart to thepasta and sauce aisle, and he followed me.

“I’m a volunteer for her Heartstrings app.”

My heart thundered. I stopped the cart and gaped at him.Oh no.It couldn’t be true. I didn’t know if I could receive any more unexpected news today.

“You’re . . . Bullseye?”

Nodding, he smiled and offered his hand. “Let’s do this the right way. It’s very nice to meet you, Tulip.”

I felt like I’d just entered a brand-new day where the script and characters had altered, playing different roles.

This was the plot twist I didn’t expect.

Somehow Arrow had been at every corner of my life since I arrived in Providence. Wherever I went, he was there. Even this meeting in the grocery store . . . Did he live nearby? I assumed he lived in his billionaire neighborhood, wherever that was.

But then again, I just discovered that he owned my apartment complex. So he could work around the area. Or maybe he had an apartment in the same building and didn’t tell me! At this rate, anything was possible.

“There it is!” A woman in her sixties wearing a pink hat stalked up to him. “Young man, you took my cart.”

Arrow glanced at the cart, gasped in surprise, and turned to them. “I’m so sorry! I wasn’t paying attention. Must have taken yours by accident.” He gave it back to them. “Please forgive me.”

The pink hat lady exchanged glances with her friend in the fur coat. “It’s okay, right, Vera?”

“Of course, Nora,” Vera replied. “We understand. You were busy flirting with this pretty young lady.”

They both offered me a sweet smile.

“I was indeed.” He smiled, not even trying to deny it.

“Did you ask her out?” Nora propped a hand on her hips.

I couldn’t believe this. Who were these nosy women?

“I did.”

“And?” Nora looked at me and then back at him.