49

“Give me a job, Drake. I’m just standing here, useless.”

I laughed at his description and nodded toward the beer section. “Pilsner. Find us a good one. And stick with cans, so we don’t have to fuss with a bottle opener.”

He disappeared down the aisle, and I meandered over to the bread, finding what looked like a rye-wheat, the aroma telling me it was freshly baked. And last, for dessert, I picked up a slice of Black Forest cake.

I met Easton at the counter, where we set all the food and beer.

“Don’t even think about it,” he said as I began to take out my wallet.

“But this was my idea. Please let me pay.”

“This entire trip, including the dinner, is on Hooked.” He kissed the side of my forehead. “I’m paying.” He handed his corporate card to the older woman and put his arm around my waist.

She silently ran his card through the machine once I selected the appropriate number of plastic bags we would need to buy, and I bagged our food, adding napkins and wooden forks and knives. “Beautiful