Page 19 of This Life of Mine

“No.”

“What?” She blinks innocently, though the corner of her mouth twitches.

“We’re here for milk.”

“I know.”

“You have that look.”

“What look?” She presses a hand dramatically to her chest.

“The one that costs us money.”

She scoffs. “That’s incredibly judgmental.”

“It’s incredibly accurate.”

“I’ve changed.”

I stop pushing the cart and just stare at her. She lasts all of three seconds before grinning.

“Okay, maybe not.”

“You bought a twenty-four-dollar candle the last time we came.”

“It smelled amazing.”

“It smelled like vanilla.”

“It smelled like generational wealth,” she shoots back without missing a beat.

Laughter bursts out before I can stop it.

Only Val could justify an overpriced candle by assigning it a tax bracket.

Then her eyes widen. “Ooh.”

I follow her gaze to the sushi counter.

“Don’t.”

“But look at it.”

“It’s grocery store sushi.”

“It’sfreshgrocery store sushi.”

I tilt my head in agreement. “You’re impossible.”

“And yet...” She bumps my shoulder. “...you still choose me.”

I pretend to think about it.

“Questionable life decision.”

She laughs. “So...sushi?”

I point toward the dairy section. “Three minutes.”