To The Single Dad in the Store by J.S. Cooper
Chapter Twenty-Eight
I walkedinto the front door and hurried to Shelby’s room. “Shelby, are you home? Shelby? It’s me, Nellie.” No one answered me. I opened her door and looked inside and the bedroom was empty. Her bed was also unslept in. I knew this because it was freshly made and Shelby never made her bed first thing in the morning.
I turned around and I looked at Steele. “She didn’t sleep here last night.” I grabbed my phone and tried calling her again, but it went directly to voicemail again. “Oh my gosh. I hope she’s okay. I just don’t know what to do. I don’t know who to call. I could call our other best friend Ashley and see if she’s heard from her.”
“Yeah. Why didn’t you do that?” Steele said. “Maybe she went and stayed with Ashley last night?”
“No, I don’t think so. But I’ll try.” I called Ashley quickly.
“Hey, girl. What’s up?” she answered in a sing-song voice. “Shelby tells me that you got a new man. Give me the dealio.”
“Have you seen Shelby recently, Ashley?” I interrupted her.
“No. What are you talking about?”
“Well, she didn’t come home last night.”
“What’d you mean she didn’t come home last night? Didn’t you guys go to that party together? You guys didn’t go home together?”
“No, we didn’t.”
“Why? Where did you guys go?”
“I kind of went back somewhere else and left Shelby at the party. I know. I know. I’m awful.”
“You slut!” Ashley squealed in delight. “You went back with that grocery store guy. What’s his name? Trashcan Sam?”
“No, his name is not Trashcan Sam.”
“Oh yeah. Grocery store Sam?”
“No, he’s grocery store Steele.” I groaned as I caught myself. “I mean his name is Steele.” I glanced at Steele and I could tell that he was trying not to laugh. “Anyway. Have you heard from Shelby or spoken to her at all today?”
“No, I haven’t. Oh my gosh. What do you think happened to her? When’s the last time you saw her?”
“It was at the party. Look, I’ll call you back or you can call or text me if you hear anything. Okay?”
“Okay. Don’t forget, girl. Now you’ve got me worried.”
“Bye.”
“Bye.” I hung up and looked at Steele and shook my head. “Ashley hasn’t heard anything from Shelby. I really hate to do this, but I’m going to have to cancel our date today.”
“What, you’re canceling on me again?” He raised an eyebrow.
“I know, I know. I feel awful. And I know it’s because of my best friend yet again, but I love Shelby. She’s like a sister to me. And if anything’s happened to her, well, I would never forgive myself. I’m so sorry. You know how much I like you. I mean, I’m falling in love with you. You know that. I just—”
“It’s okay, Nellie.” He grabbed my hands and pulled me towards him. “It’s okay. Of course, it’s okay. I love this side of you. I think you’re an amazing woman. You’re so selfless. You’re beautiful. And you’re kind, and all of this is okay. I’m glad that you’re the sort of person that will blow off a date to look for your best friend. Friends and family come first.”
“You don’t mind that Shelby comes before you?” I asked him, surprised.
“Well, I don’t know that she will always come before me. She is just more important than the date, right? You’ve known her for years, and she is like your sister. I’m a new guy in your life. And yes, I think I’m going to spend—actually I know I’m going to spend the rest of my life with you, so it’s okay. I’m glad you’re the sort of person that will put your friends first or family first. Because one day when we have kids and we have a family, I know that you always look out for their best interests, and I know that you would do the same thing for me.” He kissed me lightly on the lips. “You’re stuck with me for life. I know it sounds crazy to say that now, but I love you. And we’re going to do whatever we have to do to find Shelby. And we’re going to get her home as soon as possible. Okay?”
“Oh, Steele. You are absolutely the most amazing man. I love you. I really love you. I know we were made for each other.”
“We are peas in a pod, soulmates. We were destined for each other.” He made a face then. “If anyone ever heard me say that, I’d kill myself. Because as far as everyone knows, I’m the most unromantic man alive.”
“Well, I have to tell them the truth.” I giggled.
“Don’t you dare,” he said as he squeezed my ass.
“Hey, now—” I began, but I was interrupted by the sound of my phone ringing. I answered it immediately. “Hello? Hello, Shelby. Is that you?”
“Hey, calm down, sister. What’s going on?” She giggled.
“Shelby! I’ve been so worried about you. Where are you?”
“Um, I’ll tell you later.”
“What’d you mean you’ll tell me later? I’ve been out of my mind.” All the worry I’d been feeling turned into exasperation. “I even told Steele that we’re not going to go on our date today because I wasn’t sure where you were!”
“It’s okay. I’m fine. I’ll tell you more later. Okay. Are you at home now?”
“Yeah, I’m at home. What happened to your phone?”
“What? Nellie, it’s okay. I’ll see you later. I love you. I just wanted to make sure that you knew I was safe because I knew you’d be worried because I didn’t come home last night.”
“Well, about that … I actually didn’t come home last night either.”
“No way,” she laughed. “Wow!”
“Wow, indeed. I can’t wait to see you. I’m here with Steele.”
“Tell him I said hi.”
“Well, you can tell him hi in person. We’ll make breakfast.”
“Okay. Love you, Nellie.”
“Love you too.” I hung up and looked over at Steele. “I just volunteered for us to make breakfast.”
“I heard.” He grinned. “I guess it’s a good thing I’m a fantastic breakfast maker, isn’t it?”
“I guess so.” I laughed. “But I think there’s one thing I think we need to do first.”
“Oh?” His eyes lit with excitement. “Your brother’s not home?”
“Not that, goofy.” I laughed and grabbed his hand. “We have to go to the grocery store so we can get items to make pancakes and bacon.”
“Ah,” he nodded sagely. “Back to the scene of the crime, huh?”
“Yup, back to the spot I first laid eyes on you.”
“I’m down with that, but you just have to promise me one thing.”
“Oh, what’s that?”
“I want a kiss by the produce section.” He winked at me. “I want to let all the other grocery store dudes that are roaming around looking for women that you’re all mine.” He kissed me softly, and as I melted against him, I knew that the man next to me was a keeper and that I was the luckiest woman in the world.
Thank you for reading To The Single Dad in the Store. The final book in the series is Shelby’s book and its called To My Dad’s Hot Best Friend. You can preorder it here.
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