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“Sorry, that was mean. It’s nice you guys are still friendly.”
    “We’re not. That’s the first time I’ve seen her since . . .” I paused before I stuck my foot in my mouth. The last time I saw Kim was a huge mistake. “Since senior year.”
    “Oh.” Silence spread between us, and I wished the line would move faster. The last thing I needed was to bump into Kim again while I was standing with Kat.
    “What is all this?” I asked, hoping to break through the silence.
    “I hope you don’t mind. I had a few things I had to pick up.”
    “I don’t mind.” Curiosity struck me, and I peered down into her basket. Body wash, makeup, probably to cover the light dusting of freckles on her nose, paper towels, a book of word search puzzles—I’m sure she had one in her bag already—and a TV dinner. I reached into the basket and pulled it out.
    “What are you doing?” She grabbed for it, but even though I was on crutches I was still taller than her. “Give it back,” she demanded.
    “You’re not eating that.”
    “And why not?”
    “First off, this crap is worse than the stuff they tried feeding me at the hospital. Second, there is not one ounce of healthy nutrients in this.”
    She planted her hands on her curves. “First of all, it’s cheap. Second of all, this coming from the guy who thought dipping his cheese fries in ketchup was healthy.”
    “What? Ketchup is made from tomatoes. Tomatoes are healthy.”
    Her lips parted and her eyes narrowed. I arched an eyebrow at her and she answered with a roll of her eyes.
    “I’m going to need to eat too. Why don’t we stop after my appointment?”
    Kat lifted her hand to her temple and took a deep breath. “I can’t.” She balled a fist into her hair again, pulling it tight. “I can’t afford it.”
    Money had always been an issue for Kat. I wondered if she still worked to help pay the bills. When her mom started treatments, she couldn’t work, and her dad died years before, so it was up to Kat.
    “Lucky for you, I’m old-fashioned and would never let you pay.”
    Her body went rigid, hands tightening on the basket. “I don’t want you buying me dinner.”
    “Why? It’s not like I haven’t before.”
    Her head tilted, and she let out an annoyed sigh. “That was different.”
    I leaned towards her until I was engulfed by her sweet scent. “Was it?”
    “Yes, it was.”
    “Why?”
    “Forget it.” She moved away and grabbed a word search book out of her bag. I called that one. She made a show of turning to a clean page and sliding her pen off the back cover.
    I placed my hand on her shoulder and bent down to her ear. “Why?”
    Her shoulders stiffened. “We aren’t together,” she spat and stepped away.
    “I never said we were. I’m hungry. You’re hungry. I don’t see a problem here.”
    Her arm dropped and the book smacked against her thigh. “I’m not dressed.”
    “Really? Because if you were naked, I’m sure I would’ve noticed.”
    She rolled her eyes again. “I’m not dressed to go out. I look like a mess.”
    I positioned myself in front of her, leaning forward on my crutch so I could place my finger under her chin. “You look beautiful.”
    The corner of her lips tugged, and I could see her trying to fight off the smile. She let out a puff of air. “Fine.”
    “Was that so hard?” I asked, cocking an eyebrow and staring at her with a stupid smirk.
    An annoyed laugh slipped from her lips, and she shook her head, sucking in her bottom lip.
    “Say it. Come on. I need to hear you say it.”
    “Extremely,” she said with a smile.

Chapter 5
    I was an idiot to think I’d be able to get Kat to talk to me over dinner at Felice’s. Every time I tried to steer the conversation towards her and the last two years, she closed up. I hated that she couldn’t talk to me anymore. I used to be her venting board. The one person she confided in about everything.
    Yet as I forked the last piece of steak into my mouth I