Page 46 of This Blood That Binds Us

“Okay . . . I promise.”

Aaron slapped his legs and popped up off the bench. “Good! Now what are we doing? I know we said the library was the move, but now, I’m thinking that sounds extremely boring and my attention span is not there today.”

A smile danced on my lips.

“Well, that’s okay. We don’t have to. We can do anything. I was going to head to the grocery store after.”

“Can I come!?”

Aaron’s eyes were wide.

“You want to come to the grocery store with me?”

“Yes, I want to go! Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve been to the grocery store? Months! It’s funny—when you don’t need food anymore, you kinda miss the mundane.”

Pure excitement radiated through every muscle in his body as he bounced.

I exhaled right before he grabbed my arm and pulled me from the bench. “I can’t believe you want to do something so boring.”

“It won’t be boring with me!”

“I don’t mind. Come if you want to.”

“Yes, yes, yes!” Aaron skipped around me like a kid. “Sorry, I am feeling really good today.”

“Hm, you don’t say.”

“You’ve never noticed this place?” I said, pulling my car into park.

“Kim, grocery stores are the least of my worries right now.” Aaron wasted no time bolting out the door.

I took my time gathering my things and heard my door open beside me.

“For you, madam!”

Aaron’s voice carried and echoed from the mountains around. The grocery store was tucked off the side of the road and looked like every other building in town. They were all made of the same materials. White slatted wood panels and brown shingled roofs. It was one of my favorite things about town. It made everything feel cozy.

“Well, thank you, sir.”

Butterflies soared in my stomach momentarily. I’d never had someone open my car door for me. Ever. There was a first for everything.

I grabbed my purse and swung it over my shoulder. “Now, don’t get too excited. I have to eat pretty healthy because I’m training for a marathon, and I live in a dorm, so I don’t have a lot of room.”

“You eat healthy? Kim, you’re in college. Live a little.” He grabbed a cart from one of the outside racks and hopped on the back. “Away we go!”

Aaron was like a kid in a candy store, zooming around, looking over every display. I casually walked around with my cart, waiting for Aaron to come up to me and display some item he loved. To my surprise, I didn’t find it annoying. It was endearing and fun. For thirty minutes, he didn’t get tired of showing me new items.

“Kim, You HAVE to get these! Please!”

I turned around, and Aaron was holding not one but two packages of blueberry waffles.

“I don’t need waffles. You’re just trying to live vicariously through me.”

“Yes, yes, I am!” He threw both into the cart. “Oh my god—and these! I lived on these!”

He grabbed a package of Oreos. “Double Stuf!”

“Aaron, they’re going to kick us out if you keep yelling.” I laughed.