Chapter 2
Two
W ell, self-defense class had been a complete and utter embarrassment. Sloane felt her cheeks heat as she thought about how desperate Gage had looked when he asked her to stay.
God. She was mortified at the way she’d run out of there. And the way she was choosing to ignore the nonstop texts from Mae. In her wallowing, the afternoon had completely gotten away from her. Sloane normally would have stopped at the grocery store on her way home, but instead, she’d found herself plopped in front of her TV for the afternoon.
Yeah, she’d lied to Gage. Not her best moment, but having a client was the only excuse she could come up with that didn’t make her seem like a complete freak, so she blurted it out and just went with it. And because she chose to hide her shame by sticking to her sofa all day, she was scrambling to get her groceries for the week before the sun set.
The box of shredded wheat in her hand looked terrible, and she shuddered at the thought of trying to force the dry cereal down her throat in the mornings before work. Mornings, and breakfast, were a particular struggle for her, but she’d made a goal earlier that year to be better about eating, and she was forcing herself to stick to it.
Still, the shredded wheat went back on the shelf and her hand gravitated towards the rainbow fruit cereal she’d loved since childhood.
“Hey.”
Her hand tightened around the box. Shit. Shit. Shit. So much for avoiding him.
She forced herself to take a steadying breath, and clear her mind of the desire to run. Gage was her friend. Her very handsome friend, who had seen her act weird and cagey since he moved to Silver Springs and did his best not to push her for an explanation. It would be fine.
“I’m glad I ran into you. About this morning?—”
Okay. So not fine. Sloane forced herself to stand tall, keeping her eyes trained on Gage’s face.
“No. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have just left class. Sometimes things just… overwhelm me, and I have to get myself out of the situation.”
“I get it. I just wanted to make sure you’re okay.”
“Well, as you can see, I’m in one piece.” Her eyes dropped to her watch. “But I do need to get going. My lunches for the week aren’t going to make themselves.”
“Red, I?—”
Sloane fought the urge to roll her eyes, slap her hands on her hips, and stick her tongue out at Gage. He knew she found the nickname ridiculous, but he still continued to use it.
“You could have given me literally a million different nicknames, and you chose to give me one based on the color of my hair? Do you know how many years I had to go to school to work in my chosen field?” Sloane grabbed the brightly colored box of cereal, wrapping her arms around it like a shield. “Why does Stone get to keep the nickname ‘Doc’ when I’m the one who has a doctorate?”
“Why do you think the guys call you ‘the good doc’? Besides, I like it when you’re feisty,” he said, completely dodging her small rant. “I would not have pegged you as a Fruity O’s fan, though.”
“I’m a grown woman, Gage. I can be strong, and demanding, and still enjoy a little of life’s whimsy.”
He held his hands up before brushing past her, missing contact by only an inch, to grab a box of chocolate rice puffs. She didn’t hold back the eye roll then.
“Looks like I’m not the only one who prefers children’s cereal.”
Gage’s face fell as he looked down at the box in his hand. “These were my son’s favorite. I like to eat them on the mornings when I’m really missing him.” There was no malice in his words, just truth.
“Gage…”
He turned his back and placed the box into the cart. “I’ll see you around, Sloane. Get home safe.” The cart moved past her in the opposite direction she was walking in. “And if you really don’t like the nickname, I’ll make sure I don’t use it again.” His whispered words were gone almost as fast as he took off.