Page 27 of Take My Love

“Yep.” I wave him off, then go and find Amaya after telling Ian to give Silas a hard time for being tardy.

“Pumpkin Spice Latte or Pumpkin Pie Spice?” Silas holds up two creamer flavor options, glancing between both as if he’s making the hardest decision of his life. “Which one?”

“They sound the exact same, so just pick one,” I deadpan.

“No, the pictures on the labels are different. Look!”

He shoves them closer to my face, and I quickly grab one and throw it in the buggy. “There, let’s go.”

“Good choice.” He smirks, while I move to the yogurt section.

“You like smoothies?” I ask, deciding if I should buy one or two containers.

“Yeah, sure. What kind are you gonna make me?”

I side-eye him. “Strawberry-banana with a pinch of rat poison.”

“Oh, in that case, I’ll pass.”

Grabbing one of the tubs, I toss it in. “Anythin’ else you need?”

“Beer?”

“Alcohol is on your tab, not mine.” I walk toward the front of the store. “I’ll meet you at the checkout.”

“Hello, Miss Posey,” Margarita greets while I load groceries on the belt. “How’ve ya been?”

“Good, and you? How’s Millie?”

“Recoverin’ well, though she hates wearin’ the cone, it’s stopped her from lickin’ the wound.”

I smile wide at that. “I’m so happy to hear that.”

Margarita’s pug got hit by a car last week and had to get emergency surgery. Her daughter set up a GoFundMe to help pay for it and it was funded in less than two hours by everyone in Willow Branch Mountain chipping in.

Mom and Aunt JoJo baked goodies, then Bellamy and I brought them over shortly after Millie came home.

“She enjoyed the treats your mama and aunt made her.”

“Oh good! I’m sure they’d love any excuse to bake her some more.”

“Mr. Mathiesen.” Margarita’s eyes widen as she glances between him and me. “You two shoppin’ together?”

“No,” I respond at the same time Silas answers, “Yep.”

Margarita’s knowing grin has me shaking my head.

“I’m lettin’ him stay in my spare bedroomtemporarily,” I tell her.

“You keep sayin’ it like that, I’m gonna start thinkin’ you don’t want me there,” Silas quips, nudging me with his elbow.

Shooting him a glare, I walk away to bag our items.

Just because I’m taking the high road and letting him stay doesn’t mean I want to be on friendly terms. Keeping him at adistance is what’s going to help me get through this until he finds a place.

“Have you looked for any available apartments?” I ask him when he comes to help me.

“Between goat yoga and being haunted by your ghost, I haven’t had time.”