I was an efficient shopper, and the way I loaded things on the conveyor meant that when I got home, similar items were in the same bags. It was a quick job to put away the groceries, and normally it took me only a few minutes. But Brandon and I both lingered over the task, drawing it out unnecessarily to avoid the conversation we needed to have. When I noticed him taking boxes of pasta to the cupboard only one at a time, I knew it had reached a critical point.
I shot him a look that made him blush, then I smiled so he would, too. He nodded once and slid the remaining boxes along the counter toward the cupboard so he could put them all away. I finished with the perishable vegetables, then held out a hand. Brandon took a deep breath, let it out slowly, and walked closer.
He grabbed my hand
