Easy (Chicago Blaze 6)

Fox Foods is jokingly touted by its employees as “the most popular grocery store in Greentree Falls.” It’s an easy feat because it’s also the only one. In a town of only 2,000 people, Fox Foods is a hub of sorts.

When a big storm blows through, you can bet the local retired men who meet up at the snack bar for coffee every morning as soon as it opens at 5:00 a.m. will be there talking about it. When the city of Greentree Falls raised garbage collection prices a few months ago, carts were stopped in our aisles for long conversations about how awful people thought it was.

“Morning, Allie,” one of our checkers, Jim, says to me as he walks through the sliding front doors beside me.

“Good morning, Jim.”

“How are the kids?”

“They’re good, thanks for asking.”

He nods and heads in the direction of the employee break room to get ready for his shift. I head for the small managers’ office, located right behind the staff bathrooms. We hear every flush, and the space is cold in the winter and hot in the summer, but at least it’s quiet.

“Hey, girl,” Kelly says as I walk in and hang my purse on a hook in the closet.

“Morning, how are you?”

As she pours me a cup of coffee, she shrugs and says, “Can’t complain. I did my husband this morning so at least I’ll be able to get to bed at a decent hour tonight.”

I nod. “I’m already looking forward to bedtime tonight. That damn raccoon woke me up in the middle of the night again getting into the garbage cans.”

She passes me a cup of steaming coffee in a chipped old mug that has I shop at Fox printed on it, with our store’s grinning, pointy-eared mascot giving a thumbs-up.

“Hey, have you thought any more about going on a blind date with Ross’ coworker? He says the guy is super nice and wants to meet you.”

I groan and take a long sip of coffee, trying to figure out how to politely decline again.

“I’m so busy with the kids,” I say, trying to look sorry.

“Don’t bullshit me, Allie.” Kelly folds her arms and glares at me. “It’s been four months since you broke it off with Hairy Larry.”

I roll my eyes. “I never should have told you about his back hair.”

“It’s time to move on, okay?”

“I’m not stuck on Larry Wright in the least,” I say, laughing as I sort through employee time cards. “I was relieved when we broke up. And I like being on my own.”

“Do you really, though?”

“I do.”

“Maybe you could just meet Dave. Just once. You might be surprised.”

“Have you met him?”

Kelly shakes her head. “But Ross says he’s really great.”

“Ross thinks watermelon Oreos are great,” I remind her.

“Allie, stop being so stubborn. Think about it, okay?”

“I will.”

“You’re lying.”

I smile. “I don’t want to go on a blind date, Kel.”

“Well, beggars can’t be choosers. Didn’t you say you’ve only had one other relationship besides Larry since high school?”

“So what? I’ve got my hands full with the kids.”

“Yeah, but—”

I shuffle the time cards into a neat pile and stand up. “I’m good, okay? I like my life just like it is. I can spread my stuff all over the bathroom counter and no one cares. If I want to go to bed early, I don’t have to give anyone morning sex so I can.”

Kelly shrugs. “Let me know when you decide to stop being afraid.”

I recoil. “Afraid? What, from what I just said, makes you think I’m afraid of a relationship?”

“Nothing. But from what you’ve told me about that guy in high school, I know you are.”

“I am not.”

She arches her brows skeptically, and a flare of annoyance makes me dig in my heels.

“Do I carry around feelings about what happened with me and Erik? I guess I do, and I probably always will,” I admit. “But that was ten years ago. We weren’t meant to be. And I dated Hunter Jackson for almost a year several years ago, and Larry for a few months. I wouldn’t have done that if I was stuck on Erik, would I?”

Kelly’s expression softens. “All I know is, when you told me about Erik, your face was different than when you talk about Hunter or Hairy Larry. Your voice was, too. I could tell that he meant more to you.”

My throat tightens. I’m caught off guard by her unexpected, yet completely accurate assessment.

“He did,” I say softly. “But that was a long time ago.”

She puts a hand on my shoulder. “I just want you to be happy, Allie. You spend all your time and energy looking out for the kids, and I want you to have someone who looks out for you.”

“I’m fine, really,” I say, pasting on a smile. “I need to get these time cards taken care of.”