Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 64929 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 325(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64929 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 325(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
I should have been able to think of something funny or witty like he could’ve, but my brain went blank. I blushed. Too many things flooded to the surface. “Ooowen.” It was like we were both kids again, and I was trying to get him to stop teasing me. Only now I wasn’t sure if I really wanted him to stop or not. I knew he could see right through me, but his leer turned softer. He took pity on me, at least for the time being. “Come on, Adri, groceries and coffee.”
Walking through the store with both of our hands on the cart and trying not to look odd, we picked out things and debated over brands and prices. It was so normal but so out of the ordinary for us. We lived together and paid bills together, but I couldn’t remember doing anything this domestic with him. It was so easy to pretend we were like any other couple going through the store.
“But I don’t want the pulp kind.” Now we really did sound like everyone else, except Owen sounded like he was a kid again.
“You got to pick the milk and the cereal. And I lost the cheese too. I get to pick this time.” I was going to have to get a backbone, or else we’d end up with all his favorites. “Oh no.” Owen shook his head. “You picked out the bread and the sausage for the omelet and those little potatoes when I wanted the bigger ones. It’s my turn.” Owen reached for the pulp-free juice, his pout turning to a grin as he assumed he’d won.
“Hey!” I wasn’t ready to admit defeat yet.
“Harold, they look just like we did when we first got married.” The woman’s voice coming from behind made us both jump. We quickly turned, seeing an older couple giving us a knowing look. The older guy, Harold, just gave her a look like she should mind her own business. “Mary, leave those boys alone.”
She gave us a sweet smile and reached out to pat Owen’s arm. “It’s so hard when you first start living with someone. But don’t fight over silly things that don’t matter.” Considering the fact that she wasn’t going all homophobic or something, I think we both were ready to let her say whatever she wanted.
We nodded, and I finally managed to mumble out something passable, “Um, yes, ma’am.” She gave Owen another pat and started to let her husband drag her away while he muttered about nosy women. I thought we were in the clear, but she turned back just before they started to round the corner. “Besides, aren’t you boys supposed to be drinking pineapple juice instead? That’s what that article on Facebook said last week. And remember, don’t fight about silly things.”
Owen managed — barely — to wait until they were out of earshot to blurt out, “What the fuck?” His suppressed laughter had me shaking my head.
“That’s a very good question.” I glanced over at him. “Was that lady just…” I wasn’t sure how to say it in Walmart. Owen clearly knew what I meant anyway because he started to snicker. “Oh yeah. She might be right about the pineapple juice, too,” he said. “How ‘bout we compromise and get some of that instead? We can research how true that theory is. Maybe you can work that into your paper, too,” he offered helpfully.
Not. I gave him a look, but I couldn’t help but smile. “Compromise it is,” I agreed, feeling odd. On one hand, being mistaken as a couple could get awkward if we ran into anyone we knew, but on the other… It felt nice. Besides, as long as we didn’t start making out right there in the refrigerated aisle, we could easily justify it as sibling bickering.
It didn’t matter as much as I might’ve expected it to. It was easy to dismiss the ‘what ifs’ with him right there beside me, grinning like he was genuinely… happy. And there I was, smiling back at him, feeling just as content.
“Anything other than tasty jizz juice?” he asked.
I stared at him, not sure if I should laugh or pretend not to know him.
“…That sounded better in my head,” Owen admitted before I could say anything, running his hand through his hair. “How could that sound better in your head?”
Owen considered a moment. “Ingredients for tasty nuts?”
“That sounds like we’d actually be eating your balls, man. I’m not eating anything that weird. Eating you out isn’t the same thing. Even I know that.” The images in my head ran from sexy to weird. He was not safe to take to Walmart. “Come on, before you get us kicked out or something.”
Grabbing both kinds of juice and getting the OJ with the pulp before Owen could say anything, I started pushing the cart down the aisle. He followed, grumbling and making snarky comments under his breath. When he said something about me guessing which one of us should drink the pineapple juice first, I just blushed.