Ex Jalapeño

"Be back in a minute," Denton called.

Bree slung her purse over her shoulder and waved alas he disappeared into the surrounding aisles.

No response.

'Maybe he didn't see me.'

Or...

'Maybe he ignored me.'

'Doesn't matter.' She picked up her pace, scanning the aisles as she strolled past them.

A shadowy figure ducked around a corner.

'Now I'm imagining things.'

Despite herself, she glanced around for a place to hide. Just in case. Thieves weren't so scarce.

Since when were the aisles so empty? Literally nothing?

'Focus. Walk. There's nobody following you. Relax.'

She passed aisles of cleaning supplies and toiletries. 'Not what I'm looking for.'

Movement. Out of the corner of her eye. A black figure. She tossed a casual glance over her shoulder. Her muscles tensed.

'Sutter? My ex is literally following me.'

He was cloaked in an oversized hoodie. Trademark serial killer outfit, right? His stride was too confident. How long had it been? Not long enough.

Her breath stuck in her throat.

'Please, please.'

He was gaining on her.

'This isn't happening. I'll just step into this aisle and he'll walk right past.'

A stack of cans toppled as she slid around the corner and leaned against the rack.

Chips. Canned beans. Corn. Pickles.

'See? He's not following you.'

Heaving a sigh of relief, she stepped away from the rack and scanned the shelves.

'May as well get Denton a snack for the roast tonight.'

"Bree? I thought I saw you."

She stiffened at the familiar gravely voice behind her. "Stop following me."

He let out a low chuckle. "I wasn't following you."

"What were you doing then?" she challenged, pivoting coolly on her heel. "Hmmm?"

"Getting a snack. Chips." He layered a cocksure grin over his face and tugged a package from the shelf. "Oooh, cheesies. I was hoping to find some jalapeño."

She scoffed. "You can't fool me."

"Who's fooling?"

"Jalapeño? Spicy?"

"Exactly. My favorite." He tilted his head to one side. "I love spice. The burn. It keeps life interesting."

'Is this how we play?' She glanced over the crammed shelves. No jalapeño. "Clearly, they're unavailable." 'Like me.'

He laughed again. "On hold, maybe."

"Out of commission," she insisted. 'Get out.'

"How much would it cost to put them back in commission?" He leaned closer.

Instinctively, she took two steps back. "I'm sorry-"

"I'm willing to pay the price."

"There is no price."

"Bree, honey, I thought you were getting hot dogs for tonight's roast?" another voice broke in.

Denton. Finally. She curled her fingers around his arm as he sidled up next to her.

Sutter's eyes widened, then dropped back down to her.

'Understand now?'

"I'm afraid I distracted her," Sutter toned in, unapologetically. "I've been trying to convince her to try some spicier chips."

"I don't like spicy."

"Clearly." Sutter was giving Denton a once over, from his curly brown hair and glasses to his sneakers.

She lifted her chin. 'So what if Denton is younger than me. I said, get out of here.'

"Everyone likes the spicy chips. Except children, of course," Sutter commented, still ogling Denton.

'Are you saying you're spicy?'

"I'd advise to never give spicy chips to children. They're liable to cause someone pain."

'Are you calling me spicy?' "If children can't handle them, I have my doubts you should get near them."

His eyes took on a serious glow that didn't belong in the middle of this conversation. "I made that mistake once. When I was younger."

'I'll agree.'

"But I've grown up since then, changed a lot of who I was."

'Don't give me those lines.'

Denton cleared his throat. "I've never had chips that spicy."

"Believe me, they're worth it. Unless they get into the wrong hands." Sutter seemed to be trying to read her expression.

She steeled annoyance onto her features. 'I made that mistake once, too. And look who got burned.'

"I'm just saying I don't think they're safe where they are now. Children don't know what to do with chips like them."

'Being subtle, are you? Not buying, Sutter.'

Denton frowned. "I'd be more concerned about the children getting a hold on chips that hot."

'Hot is the wrong word to use, Denton.'

But Sutter was grinning at her like a Cheshire cat. "You'd be surprised. I've seen chips crushed by children who don't know how to handle them right."

'Taking the blame now? Isn't it a little late for that? Well, you're right. It was your fault. Maybe I should take over this conversation.'

"I wouldn't-"

"The chip crumbs are my favorite," Denton intoned, innocently.

"We can tell." Sutter's eyes didn't leave hers.

'You think you crushed me? Well you did. Take the satisfaction and leave. I don't have time for you.'

That serious light passed over his gaze again.

'Stop doing that.'

Something akin to an unspoken apology rested there. An apology she would hate to hear. Because it would make her question every decision she'd ever made. Make her rethink her future. Make her heart a muddle of emotions she'd wanted to forget.

And then the moment disappeared. Apology gone.

His eyebrows arched tauntingly. "So, will it be the cheesies? Or the jalapeños? You already know which one's the better option."

'The better option? So you think you're tantalizing? Well, you are. And that's the reason I got my heart broken the first time. I'm not stupid enough to do it again.' She tossed her hair over her shoulder, not caring that it slapped Denton ungraciously in his face. "I love cheesies. Why would I want anything else?"

"New flavors," was his ready reply. "Or - flavors you loved and-"

"Jalapeños don't interest me in the least." 'When do you take a hint?'

'Never,' his light blue eyes seemed to say.

"Bree, honey, we'll be late to the roast."

Sutter tossed a withering glance at Denton before shoving the plastic bag of cheesies into Bree's arms. "If you change your mind, I can cut you a good deal."

A sticky note on the underside of the bag snagged her attention for the span of two seconds before she glanced up at him again. Or - to be specific- glanced up at where he had been standing. Now thin air.

Denton shrugged. "Guess he's just too passionate about jalapeños. So weird."

'Yeah, weird. And way too forward. And nosy. And- I could keep going.'

She slid her hand into Denton's and tugged him closer. He smiled - awkwardly.

Was Sutter right? Was Denton too young?

'What are you thinking? One look at your hotshot high-headed ex, and you're second-guessing your relationship? Snap out of it.'

But the blue sticky note on the bag that said, "Chip's help line" followed by a phone number stared at her unsettlingly. And why was she even thinking about calling it?