“Oh, give me some credit, Livia! I do know how to cook.”
“In that case, maybe that does smell good,” I play along, “or I just might be really hungry.”
“Well then, this is for you!” Mom hands me a plate—the sight of eggs, bacon, and a pancake makes my stomach growl. “I went all out.” She can’t hide the widening grin on her face. It does smell good, and I am starving, and she knows it.
“I need you to go to the store for me when you’re done,” she says, sparing me from more messing around, and presents me with a list from the kitchen drawer. “There is a market down on the main road. It’s big and should have everything we need. I have to take the boys to an orientation at their new school, and your dad won’t be home ’til dinnertime.”
My good mood had dissipated further with her every word. Mom is always trying to find a way to take me out of my shell and face my demons, but it doesn’t mean I want to go along with it. I give her a wary glance and say, “No mom, really? A market is full of people.”
“Livia, it won’t take long. Besides, you can’t lock yourself away forever.”
“How am I supposed to get there? Walk?”
Mom’s features set in a stern look. “Your car is in the garage. It arrived here early this morning. Now go on.”
I scarf down my breakfast without another word and head back upstairs to my room. I put on jean shorts, a purple polo shirt, and flip-flops.
In my car, I set up the GPS to take me to the grocery store. I have a new S40 Volvo. I got it for birthday present a year ago, and it still smells like the coconut body spray Alyssa spilled in the backseat three months ago. The scent makes me nostalgic, and I’m suddenly very eager to get out of the car.
When I pull into the parking lot of the market, I park in the first spot I see and head inside. I open the list my mom gave me and it’s like a mile long, and I don’t even know what a Coriander is. I am going to be here for a while.
After an hour and a half, I have everything but the Coriander. I walk to the vegetable aisle, searching the names on the signs.
“Can I help you find something?” a male voice asks.
I glance up to see a pair of green eyes twinkling at me. The boy with those eyes has a warm face and spiky blond hair that looks like it requires a lot of work.
“Uh, this is embarrassing.” I smile at him. “But I’m looking for a Coriander, and I’m not sure what it looks like.”
The request catches him off guard. “Coriander, huh?” he asks, scratching the back of his head and grinning. “It would be with the spices, but I think we’re out of them, actually, we should get some by the end of the week. Sorry.”
“That’s all right.” I couldn’t care less, really. I’m relieved that I’m finally done with what seems like an endless shopping spree. I start to turn my cart toward the registers, but can feel him looking me up and down, trying to be discrete while totally checking me out. My cheeks are getting hot.
“You here for vacation?” he asks.
“No, I just moved here from New York.”
He narrows his eyes. “Oh, are you the Coopers’ new neighbor?”
“Word travels fast, huh?”
His grin returns at my answer. “I’m Kyle.” He offers me his hand, which I shake and introduce myself.
“If you’re ready, I can ring you up,” he adds.
We walk to the cash register and I sense his emotions shifting. He’s getting anxious in my presence. When I was younger, I used to think that boys felt anxious when I was around because they didn’t like me. In time, I learned it was completely the opposite. Alyssa said that I should take their feelings as a compliment.
“So, did you grow up here?” I ask, trying to put him at ease.
“Yep, born and raised.” He smiles, but his emotions contradict his expression.
“Is that a good or a bad thing?”
“It’s a small town, but the island gets tons of tourists in the summer. We have a lot of outdoor stuff to do, so yeah, that part is nice.”
“Are you in high school?”
“Starting senior year next week,” he says as I pay for the groceries.
“So am I. How exciting,” I add with my not-so-great sarcastic humor.
Kyle’s lips curl into a smirk. He walks out of the cashier’s area and toward my shopping cart. “Let me help you out with these bags.” He doesn’t wait for me to say no, he just takes my cart and walks out to the parking lot.
“Where’s your car?”
“Right over here.” I lead him to it and open the trunk.
“Nice ride!” His eyes rove the vehicle. “Yours?”
“Yeah, it’s a really safe car.”
He lifts an eyebrow, “Was that the line you used to get your folks to buy it?”
“No, that was the line they used to get me to drive it. Believe me, you don’t want to drive in New York City traffic.”
“I can imagine.” He shakes his head in agreement and sets the last of the bags in the trunk.
“Hey, thanks for the help and all,” I say, feeling a bit more comfortable around him.
This perks him up. “No problem.”
He turns to leave, but he stops short and faces me again. I feel his nerves spike. “We’re throwing a party at a friend’s house tomorrow,” he begins hesitantly. “Most of the seniors will be there. It would be a chance for you to meet people before school starts.”
“That’d be fun,” I tell him. “If you give me the address for the party, I’ll try to stop by.” I doubt that I’ll make it. It would be awkward to show up at a party where I don’t know anyone. Besides, too many people and their emotions in one place is a recipe for a migraine.
“I’ll text you.” Kyle pulls his phone out of his pocket and hands it to me. “Just dial your number and I’ll add to my contacts.”
I type it in and hand his phone back to him. There’s a shot of triumphant relief that goes through him for getting my number so easily.
“See you later,” he says, and turns around to head back into the store, acting like his heart isn’t beating way too fast. I smile at that. He’s cute and nice. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to go to this party, after all.
* * *
I get home and the boys are playing in the front yard. They swarm the car when they see me driving in. “Hi, guys,” I say as I step out. “How was the school?”
Gabe rolls his eyes. “Yeah, you know, just a school.”
“Yeah, yeah, I know. Help me carry these groceries in, will you?”
“Mom cooked breakfast today, and it was really good,” Ian says.
“That’s right!” I smile down at him. It is nice to have her home, but I wonder how long it will take for her to get bored and start missing her job.
After I’m done putting the groceries up, I change into my running clothes and put my bikini on underneath, hoping to find the lake Dad said we have on the property. When I’m about to step outside, Mom calls me back.
“Livia, where are you going?”
“Just a run—I’ll be back in a little while.”
“Be back before five o’clock. I want everyone here for dinner.”