CHAPTER 35: Adrian
747 Words
CHAPTER 35: Adrian
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“Do you want some coffee or something?” Adrian didn’t want to leave Ellie smiling and texting that asshole Marc.
“I don’t drink coffee.”
“Really? Me either.”
She looked up from her phone. “You don’t? I thought I was the only person on the planet.”
“Nope. Never liked the taste or the smell.”
“Me either.”
This should be a strange bonding moment, but she looked at him like he was playing a trick on her. “I can get you something else. Come inside with me and pick something out.”
Her damn phone beeped again.
“No. Thanks. I’m fine.” She looked back down, dismissing him.
He wanted to grab the phone and tell Marc to f**k off but instead he shut the door and walked into the gas station mumbling, “Women are so stupid. That guy humiliated her last night and now she’s texting and smiling. I’m a f*****g idiot.”
After taking a piss he grabbed a water. He was horny, hungry, thirsty, irritated with the woman in his car and f*****g tired as hell. He would’ve rather had spent the day in bed with Ellie, f*****g and talking and sleeping. Why hadn’t he met her on any other night besides Christmas Eve. He grabbed a bag of chips and then a Coke. He needed the caffeine.
He headed for the counter and stopped. He didn’t care what she said, he couldn’t go back to the car with nothing for her. It’d serve her right if he did, since she was smiling and texting her bonehead ex, but he couldn’t do it. He put his items down on the counter. “I’m going to leave these here for a second.”
“You want me to start ringing them up?” asked the old guy at the register.
The store was empty except for him. “Yeah. I need to get some other things.”
He walked back to the coolers along the wall. He grabbed another water and then stared at the ton of different sodas and drinks. He had no idea what she liked. He couldn’t even remember what she’d drank last night. He was pretty sure it’d had juice in it. He grabbed another Coke, a Sprite, a Dr. Pepper and an orange juice. He walked back to the counter and unloaded before turning and snatching another bag of chips and pretzels from the nearby rack.
“Long trip?” The clerk already had a bag ready and was filling it with the items as he rang it up.
“Not really but I have no idea what she drinks or likes to eat.”
The clerk looked around him out the window. “My wife likes the bags of mixed stuff.”
“Mixed stuff?” He had no idea what that even was.
“That stuff.” The clerk pointed to the bags of Chex Mix.
“Oh.” He hadn’t thought of those. There were a few different flavors. He had no idea which she’d prefer so he grabbed two different ones. “Can’t hurt.”
“Yeah, and if it makes her happy then”—the guy smiled wistfully—“you’re happy.”
“I suppose.” He’d be happy if she’d agree to f**k him again instead of flirting with her asshole of an ex.
“Do whatever you can to make her happy, my boy. A happy woman makes a happy man.” The older guy laughed. “Been married for thirty-five years. I know a thing or two.”
“Thanks.” He paid the guy, handing him an extra twenty. “Merry Christmas.”
“Thank you. Merry Christmas.”
He grabbed the bag and headed for the car. Ellie was no longer looking down at her phone. Hopefully, she’d told Marc to f**k off. He walked around to the driver’s side, his gaze catching on the present from last night which had fallen on the floor behind his seat. He’d forgotten all about that. He got in the car, dropping the bag between them.
“Wow, you’re hungry,” she said.
“It’s not all for me.” He grabbed a water and a bag of chips before starting the car.
“You’re taking this to your parents’ house?” She was trying hard not to laugh. “Is this your contribution to Christmas dinner?”
“Hardly.” He pulled out onto the highway. “I didn’t know what you liked.”
“You...” She glanced into the bag. “You bought all this for me?”
The clerk had been right. She may not be exactly happy—surprised, shocked, stunned were better adjectives—but under that was happiness and it made him feel like a hero. It also scared the s**t out of him.
It was one thing to want her in a good mood, so she’d sleep with him again but when her moods started making his feelings change that wasn’t good, not at all.
- Writer
