maybe even ten, because it obviously makes her happy as fuck. It looks like this right here is her happy place.
I glance down at my watch and realize weâve already been here an hour. The pet shop owner keeps giving Shayla dirty looks, probably because she knows sheâs here just to get her puppy fix. Every time she looks like sheâs about to say something though, I send my own look in her direction, which shuts her up.
âVinnie, how cute is this little guy?â she asks, lifting up a giant puppy in her hand.
âDo you want to get one?â I ask, once again without thinking.
Fuck.
What was wrong with me?
âNo,â she says, smiling and shaking her head. âIâd love a puppy, but I wouldnât buy one from a pet store. Iâd rather get one from a registered breeder.â
I open my mouth, then close it, having no idea what she was raving on about. Why did she want to come here then?
âI just wanted to see some puppies,â she says, shrugging with a small smile on her delicious lips. âDo you want to get something to eat now?â
âSounds good,âI tell her, rubbing my stomach. âI could seriously go for a burrito.â
âBurritos it is,â she says, easily agreeing when once again I expect her to argue. This is her chance to go and eat in a fancy restaurant or something, after being cooped up for so long, eating nothing but takeout.
âYou sure? We can go eat somewhere else if you like,â I say as we get back into the car, glancing over in her direction. âI can grab a burrito on the way home.â
âA burrito actually sounds good,â she says, kicking her bare feet up on the dashboard. âChicken, white rice, and chipotle sauce.â
I grin at that. âFuck yeah. Looks like we finally agree on something.â
SIX
Shayla
âI CAN order things online,â I explain to him. âItâs not my name or credit card, so it canât be traced to me. So thatâs why I donât really need to do any shopping.â I walk by some green grapes and pick up a bag, putting them in the cart. âGrocery shopping, however . . . Iâm in heaven right now.â
Vinnie shakes his head in amusement and grabs some salad. âAre we going healthy then?â
I grin as I put some potatoes in the cart. âHalf healthy, half junk food?â
He throws his head back and laughs. âMy kind of girl.â
We both look into each otherâs eyes after he says that, a weird tension building between the two of us. Itâs me who clears my throat and changes the subject. âI think the two burritos you had covers the junk food for the day.â
He shakes his head, disagreeing. âThereâs corn and shit in there. That makes it healthy. What are we going to do for dinner?â
âYou cooking?â I ask, raising an eyebrow.
âI was hoping you would,â he says, flashing his straight white teeth at me.
âSince you took me out today, Iâm sure I can make an exception. What would youââ
âLasagna with breaded chicken,â he says quickly, before I can even finish the sentence.
âIsnât that a little weird?â I say, brow furrowing. âDid you make that up, pairing those two together, or is it an actual thing?â
âYou asked and thatâs what Iâd like.â He pauses. âPlease.â
âOkay,â I say, dragging the word out. âSounds easy enough. Iâve never made breaded chicken before, but Iâll just google a recipe.â I pull out my phone and check the ingredients. âSimple.â
âFuckinâ awesome,â he mutters under his breath, making me smile.
âWhat about dessert?â
âIâll let you choose that,â he says, grabbing some steaks and putting them in the cart. âAnything chocolate works for me.â
âHow about Oreo and Nutella cheesecake?â I