It’s sad that on a Saturday, I have nothing better to do than go grocery shopping. The shopping trip is literally the highlight of my weekend.
It was Josh who convinced me to go. First, he discovered we were out of Lucky Charms and wrote it in all capital letters on the shopping list that I keep on the fridge. He mentioned last night that we didn’t have any. Then this morning, he looked especially forlorn as he poured himself a bowl of Cheerios instead of Lucky Charms, repeatedly mentioning that he wished there were some colorful marshmallows in his cereal. Then he wrote it on the shopping list a second time.
He also pointed out that I could go shopping without having to get a babysitter. Josh has been pushing for a little more freedom, and to be fair, he’s old enough to stay by himself for an hour while I’m at the supermarket. So here I am, buying Lucky Charms and I guess eggs and cheese and bread and some other stuff we need.
While I am inspecting a head of lettuce in the produce aisle, I get the distinct feeling I’m being watched. I look over my shoulder and wince at the sight of a familiar face. It’s Kelli—that girl who waited on us the other night at the Shamrock. The one who was on the cheerleading squad with me, back before my entire life went to hell.
Our eyes make contact. At this point, it would be worse to ignore her, so I wave hesitantly. “Hi…”
The woman shoots daggers at me with her eyes. “I know you.”
I freeze, not sure how to respond. Does she mean she knows me from when I was out with Tim? Or does she recognize me from all those years ago? I hope it’s the former.
“You’re the woman who was having drinks with Tim the other night,” she says.
I let out a sigh of relief. “Uh, yeah.”
Her lips curl in disgust. “So what are you—his girlfriend?”
“No,” I say quickly. Not that I owe this woman any explanation, but I’d like to get out of this supermarket without her scratching my eyes out
with those long red fingernails. “Tim and I are just old friends.” “Didn’t look that way to me.”
“It’s true.” I look over her shoulder, trying to catch the eye of a security guard. “If you want Tim, he’s all yours. He told me you had a boyfriend though.”
Her face fills with rage. “He was talking about me to you?”
Oh God. “No. Not at all. He just mentioned you went out, but now you had a boyfriend. That’s it.”
Kelli looks completely furious. I can see why Tim wasn’t eager to go out with her again if this is how she behaved. Of course, she seemed super nice around him. I’m sure if they started dating, she would have kept this side of her from him for as long as she could.
“You know,” Kelli says, “Tim brings plenty of girls to the Shamrock.
Don’t think you’re so special.”
He does? I don’t know why that revelation makes me sad. Maybe I had been hoping that the other night was more than just drinks with an old friend. “Like I said, it wasn’t a date or anything.”
Kelli narrows her eyes at me. Her lips turn down. “Do we know each other from somewhere else? You seem familiar.”
I try to make my expression blank. “No, I don’t think so. I just moved here.”
Now would be a good time to make a gracious exit, before Kelli figures out who I am. But then her eyes widen into saucers, and I realize I’m too late.
“You’re that girl!” She snaps her fingers. “You’re… Bridget Something. You’re the one who got Shane Nelson sent to prison.”
Of course she’d get my name wrong, but remember the name of the handsome star quarterback perfectly. For a moment, I consider denying the whole thing, but it’s futile. She knows it’s me. “That was a long time ago.”
“That was total bullshit.” Kelli practically spits out the words. “I knew
Shane. He was a good guy. He would never have done those things.”
I don’t point out to her that the object of her flirtation, Tim Reese, was even more instrumental in getting Shane sent to prison than I was. But Tim’s transgression was more forgivable than mine because he’s hot.
Anyway, I’m not surprised she’s defending Shane. This is nothing new
—plenty of people in Raker, especially people who knew Shane well, were
furious at me for testifying against him. Shane was a football star, and everyone loved him. I had been his girlfriend, and people felt I was betraying him. Even if I didn’t have to leave for other reasons, I could never have stayed in Raker after what I did to him.
But I had to testify. I had to tell the truth about that night and get that monster locked away for good.
“You weren’t there that night,” I say quietly.
“I didn’t need to be,” she retorts. “You got it wrong. Shane was innocent.”
“No,” I say, “he wasn’t. Believe me.”
Before she can say anything else, I turn my shopping cart and speed walk to another aisle. After everything I’ve been through, the last thing I need is some crazy girl stalking me in addition to all my other problems. I go through the aisles as quickly as I can, gathering the items from the shopping list, mostly from memory.
It’s only when I get into the car that I realize I forgot the Lucky Charms.
