An Exceptional Twist Read Online Free Page A

and I shop here, Trader Joe's,
and Sprouts for the most part.  We normally hit the
farmer's market on Sunday afternoons, too.”  Seemingly
hesitant, she added, “You’re welcome to come with me after we’re
done here.”
    “Sounds good to me.”  Pulling the
phone out of his pocket, he added, “I kind of picked up how to
get here, but let me put the address in my
navigator.”  He started plugging the info into his
Samsung Smartphone.
     

     
     Leah watched Stefen shop, noting that
he didn't look at any prices before putting items directly in his
cart. She could never do that. The sale paper was the first thing
she picked up on her way into the store and, for the most part, she
bought store brand goods.
    It was probably because she had learned to
be frugal from her single mom. Grateful that she wasn't doing any
of her bargain shopping today, she picked up the items he mentioned
needing as he rambled on about how much he enjoyed this store
because of its high quality products.  She felt the same
way, but when he said it, the words just sounded
arrogant. 
    As they strolled toward the check-out line,
Stefen asked, “Aren't you getting anything?”  
    Nice of you to notice after we’ve
already gone through the entire store.
     ”Nah, I was here a few days ago.” As
soon as she leaned down for his items in the cart, he touched her
elbow and motioned for her to step aside.  She shivered
from his light caress.  
    Taking a quick peek at
him, she thought, hijo de puta— I hope he
didn’t notice that .  
    The sly grin on his mouth said that he had.
Then he proceeded to pick up one item at a time before gently
placing each on the check-out belt. 
    Seriously? She tried not to laugh at him. They were just
groceries.  
     ”It’s not too busy today, but I'll
have to remember to come during the week next time.” Stefen swiped
his credit card on the machine after greeting the check-out clerk
with his killer smile.  
    Leah caught the girl at
the register melting.   Oh
brother, am I going to have to put up with other girls gawking at
him today?  How nauseating.
     In the parking lot, Leah pushed the
button on her remote to open the back of her van. She pulled
her cooler bags out from a hidden compartment and unzipped them.
“Put the frozen and refrigerated items in these.  I
already have ice packs keeping the bags cold.”
     Stefen raised an eyebrow, transferring
the things that needed to remain cold into the bags. “You think of
everything don't you?”
     Shaking her head,
she pursed her lips and sighed. “No, if I thought of everything, I
would’ve remembered to bring the bags into the store.” Leah shimmied past
him to return the cart, and then hopped into the driver's
side. 
    On the way to the farmer’s market, she
thought about how much her life had changed recently.
     “Are you okay?” Stefen
asked. ”You seem down all of a sudden.”
     “Yeah.  It just hit me how
different my weekends will be now that Abby’s
married.  We've done everything together since
college.  It’s just going to be…really weird.”
    I can’t believe I’m having
this revelation right now. You’re opening yourself up too much to
him. She tried to hide just how much this
troubled her as they pulled into a parking space.
     “She isn't dead, Leah,” he reminded
her. “Only married. Oh, wait a minute. I guess that's kind of the
same thing.” He smirked.
     She gasped, pulling her key out of the
ignition.  “What? You don't believe in marriage?”
    Wait, this isn’t news.
     “It’s not for me at all.” He shook his
head vigorously. ”I can’t imagine being stuck with the same
person for the rest of my life.  Way too monotonous.” He
smiled widely as though this statement was charming.
    Really? Is that what he thought women wanted to
hear?
    “Well I'm planning on getting married
someday,” she told him defiantly.  “I'm just waiting for
the right guy.  Besides, marriage