Читать книгу Unexpected Destinies - Constance Ruth Clark - Страница 7

Chapter 3

Nick pushed his cart through the supermarket like a man on a mission. He paused just long enough to toss some carrots and apples into his cart and then sped off again. He rounded the corner into the meat section and started to search for a steak.

“Nick!”

Turning, he frowned briefly as he tried to recall the name of the woman who was coming toward him, a huge smile on her face.

“Caroline?”

“Yes. How are you?” She was entirely too cheerful for a Saturday morning.

“I’m good, how are you?” His response was automatic as he tried to remember the last time he’s seen her. Wasn’t it high school?

God, that seemed so long ago.

“I’m excellent. I’m a nurse now.” Caroline laughed, showing her perfectly straight teeth. She was attractive in a small town girl kind of way. “It’s so funny that we ran into each other out of the blue like this.”

“It’s a small world.” Nick wasn’t sure how funny it was, but he didn’t mind chatting with her for a few minutes. He was only in a hurry because he hated shopping and did it as quickly as possible.

“How is your family?” she asked, moving around him and picking up some ground beef. She looked at him expectantly as she put it in her cart.

“Pretty good.” He rummaged through the steak cuts until he found one he liked and tossed it in his cart. “My sister’s married with three little girls. They are adorable and my parents spoil them rotten.”

“Aw, that’s sweet,” Caroline grinned up at him and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. “What about you? Any kids or a wife?”

Nick motioned toward his cart full of bachelor-type foods. “Nope, still single.”

“I’m shocked.” She gave a little giggle. “I was sure you and Jayne would have…” She shook her head. “No, I’m sorry I guess not.”

“No.” Nick shook his head ruefully. “Not after what happened.”

“That was pretty awful,” Caroline said.

“What about you, any kids or a man?”

“No kids, and I’m divorced now.”

“Hey, do you want to go get some coffee sometime?” Nick didn’t know why he offered except he was tired of being alone all the time.

They were both single, why not?

“I’d love to.” Caroline gave him her number and after promising to call he zipped off to finish his shopping.

Three days later, he called her and they met for drinks at a quiet, little bar, perfect for hanging out and talking.

“So why haven’t you ever married?” Caroline asked, sipping her fruity drink slowly.

“Just never found the right girl, I guess.” Nick took a swig of his beer and glanced around the bar.

“Remember when we dated in high school?” she asked, leaning forward.

“Uh, kind of,” Nick shifted in his seat uncomfortably. “I mean we hung out a lot and stuff.”

“Oh Nick.” She laughed and pushed at his arm playfully. “You’re such a kidder. Of course we dated. It was senior year.”

“Yeah.” He decided not to make an issue of it. A couple of dates wasn’t exactly the long term relationship she was making it out to be.

“Remember prom?” She leaned even closer and he couldn’t help noticing her breasts falling forward to expose her cleavage, likely exactly what she’d planned.

“Vaguely. I was drugged, remember?” He didn’t mean to sound angry, but the thought of what had happened at prom still pissed him off.

“Oh, so was I.” Caroline nodded heartily, her boobs jiggling, managing to look both the innocent and seductress at once.

“Were you?” He frowned as he thought back to that fateful night. “I didn’t know that.”

“Oh yes. My date was pretty mad too.”

“Yeah.” Nick took another swig of his beer.

Prom night was still pretty hazy and he didn’t like thinking about it because what he remembered most was the look on Jayne’s face when she had backed away in horror and told him she never wanted to see him again.

He spent the evening chatting with Caroline and decided it hadn’t been such a bad time after all, so he found himself asking her out on an another date which she eagerly accepted. Three dates later and he decided it was time to call it quits because she was obviously hearing wedding bells.

“Look Caroline, I think you’re great, but I’m just not ready for that kind of commitment right now,” Nick said, trying to be nice about breaking up with her.

“Oh Nick, you’re just saying that. You know we’re perfect for each other,” she grinned up at him. “We’ve known each other forever and we’re very compatible.”

“Not enough for marriage.” His tone was firm.

“Marriage,” she gasped. “Oh Nick, I knew it would come to this.”

“What?” He frowned in confusion. “It’s not coming to any…”

“I have to think about this, oh it’s all so sudden,” she said.

“Well yes, but...”

“Goodnight, Nick.” She leaned forward and pressed her lips to his.

“Ummph.” She pulled back and frowned at his attempt at speech.

“I’ll see you later, thanks for a great night,” she said, and ran inside before he could say another word.

“That went well,” he said to no one in particular, and kicked a stone in the walkway as he headed back to his car.