Page 10 of Finding My Charming
I poked at the green burrito a few times. “I don’t like the way he said my name, like he knew me. Or the fact that he felt the need to gang up on me. Plus, he’s a total weirdo. I expect it from you, but not a stranger.”
“A cute stranger?” she interrupted.
“Was he cute? I didn’t notice.” I ignored her gaze and cut the burrito in half to examine its contents.
“I call BS.”
My jaw dropped with my fork and knife. “Sherrie! That’s the naughtiest thing I’ve ever heard you say!”
She shrugged with a proud smile on her face. “I saw how you two kept looking at each other when you thought the other wouldn’t notice.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I’d identified zucchini, onions, and at least two kinds of peppers so far. What kind of burrito doesn’t include beans and cheese?
“You thought he was a babe, didn’t you? Is that what you kids are calling each other these days? I can never keep up.”
I groaned and gave up on my lunch. “This conversation is disturbing.”
“Oh please. I promise not to embarrass you next time he comes in, so you can talk to him a bit more.”
“Why would he come in again?” My gaze dropped from her to my mutilated, uneaten burrito then returned to her.
“Because I order from there at least once a week, and he is always the one to deliver. I’ve gotten to know him quite well over the past several months. He’s a sweetheart.”
“Yeah, I noticed how close you two are.”
“Is that jealousy I hear? I’m allowed to have more than one best friend, you know.”
Her teasing was really getting on my nerves, mostly because I knew she was right. I was acting like a child.
“You’re my special grandma.”
She laughed for a few seconds before realizing I was serious. As pathetic as it was, I was jealous of stupid what’s-his-name. Sherrie had always been the one I talked to about things. I never related to my mom or her mother, so I’d adopted her as my pseudo-grandma.
“Oh, honey! You know I love you, and no one in this world could replace you.”
“Promise?”
She held up her pinkie and thrust it toward me. “Promise.”
I hesitated. “So, you don’t love the stupid boy that brings you gross food more than me?”
“Well, when you put it that way, he doesn’t sound like much, huh?” She winked at me. “Don’t leave me hanging.”
I laughed and wrapped my pinkie around hers. “Thanks, Sherrie.”
“I love you, girlie. Even when you are slightly off your rocker.”
“I love you, too.”
She wrapped me in a great bear hug just as the front door opened, and my dad walked in.
“Am I interrupting a moment?” He smiled but looked mildly concerned something was wrong.
“No, Bryce. I’m just apologizing for ordering such a disgraceful lunch for Elise.” She gestured toward the pile I hadn’t thrown away yet.
Dad looked at my lunch then my face. “Yeah, I doubt that went over well.” He set the brown bag he was carrying on the desk in front of me and smiled. “I’ll trade you my cold, gross turkey sandwich from the deli around the corner that you love for your delicious-looking pile of mush.”
And that was why I loved my father. He’d sacrifice anything, even a good lunch, to make sure I was happy.
