Page 32 of Until Nalia

“You try to pay, we’re gonna have problems.”

“I’m pretty sure we already have problems,” she mumbles before slamming the door and walking off to join the kids.

“Umm, where are we going?” Nalia asks with a frown in her voice as I pull into the grocery store parking lot after leaving Sonic, where the kids shared an order of jalapeño poppers and drank some new drink with boba in it. Nalia didn’t get an ice cream cone this time, which was disappointing since I enjoyed watching her eat it last time, but she did get a drink, and I was able to pay before she did, even though she did attempt to get to the girl who brought out our food before me.

“I need to pick up a few things.” I pull into a parking spot and put the engine in park.

“Oh, well, I’ll just wait in the car with the kids.”

“Babe, my jeep doesn’t have the roof on, so even with the AC running you’ll be hot. Just come inside.”

“Fine.” She lets out a disgruntled sigh, and I fight the urge to smile. I know she’s ready to get away from me. And I’m starting to see that it’s not because she doesn’t like me, it’s the opposite, and she doesn’t know what to do with that.

“What are we having for dinner?” Coop asks as we walk into the store with Nalia pushing the cart, and Zuri standing in front of her holding onto the handle.

“Bud, you just ate.”

“I know, but it’s going to be dinner time soon.” He runs around to the front of the cart, hopping on.

“How about tacos?”

“Yes.” He shoots his fist in the air, making me laugh.

“Can we have tacos too?” Zuri asks, turning to look at Nalia.

“Sure, I just need to get the stuff while we’re here.”

“Or you two could have dinner with us,” I suggest, and she gives me a look that shows clearly that she is less than pleased with the invite.

“Dad makes the best tacos,” Coop tells her.

“Can we?” Zuri asks, and she stares at her for a long moment before she looks at me and sighs.

“Yeah, all right,” she agrees reluctantly.

“Awesome.” Coop grins while Zuri smiles.

“How about you two go get the tortillas, then meet us back here?”

“Sure.” Coop says hopping off the cart and Zuri squeezes under Nalia’s arm to go follow him.

“On a scale of one to ten, how annoyed are you?” I ask when the kids are halfway down the aisle and out of earshot.

“Why would I be annoyed?” Her gaze meets mine. “I mean, it’s not like you’re intentionally asking me about things with the kids around, so I feel like I don’t have a choice but to say yes.”

“You always have a choice, baby.”

“Do I?”

“I’m not holding you hostage.” It’s a lie. I am, and worse, I’m using Zuri and Coop as my unknowing accomplices. Do I care? Not even a little. I like being around her, I like looking at her, and I like the sound of her voice, even when she’s annoyed like she is right now. I really like the way she smells—like vanilla and some kind of spice—and the fact that I now know she tastes sweet like those gummy worms that she’s always eating. And how soft her lips are is not just something I’ve made up in my head.

“If I had said no, both Zuri and Cooper would be disappointed.”

“Probably.” I shrug

“See.” She widens her eyes. “You left me no choice but to say yes.”

“Again, you always have a choice, baby, but maybe you didn’t want to say no either.”