I headed to the store to get a few groceries for dinner, after coming back from the strip mall. It was basically just a bunch of shops on a road.
I walked through the store. I grabbed some stuff specifically for me. I got candy and some snacks. As well as some cute stuff I saw for my room. I also got all the things I needed for dinner.
After I had all the stuff on dad's list, I went to checkout. I walked to a register that didn't have a line.
The girl running the register looked around my age maybe older. Her name tag read Sophie.
"I love your outfit," She complimented me. I was wearing a colorful striped cropped tank top and a pair of paper bag denim shorts.
"Thank you," I smiled as I put all my groceries on the conveyor belt. I paid for everything and headed to the car.
My goal when I got to my car was to get as many bags in the back as possible at the same time. I didn't feel like packing groceries for ten minutes before I left the parking lot.
My plan did not work. I picked up most of the bags and almost toppled over.
"Let me help you," A familiar voice said. That voice belonged to William Erickson.
He grabbed a few bags out of my hands and placed them in the back of my car.
"Thank you Will" I thanked him.
"It's no problem," he shrugged as he went back to get more groceries from the cart and put them into the car.
"You don't have to do that," I said in protest as he continued to put all my groceries in the back of my car.
"Don't worry Cora. It's fine. What kind of athlete would I be if I didn't help out the coach's daughter?" he said. I couldn't tell if he was joking or being serious.
I nodded my head in an over exaggerated motion. "So, that's what this is all about? Saving the coach's daughter in her times of need, so she would go tell her father and you'd get on his good side" I joked.
He threw up his hands in surrender. "Ah, you got me. That was my goal all along" He joked back. We both broke out into a laugh. "No, but really it was hardly anything."
"I appreciate it, thank you. Now if you don't mind I have to get the groceries home for dinner"
"I've got to go too. See you later Cora" he smiled.
"Bye Will" I waved as he walked towards the store.
***
"Okay Dad, I got everything you asked for and a little bit extra. I bought a few snacks and things for my room, but I can pay you back, don't worry." I said as I saw him in the kitchen awaiting my arrival.
He shrugged me off, "No worries Coco, you don't have to"
I guess that's a perk of being the youngest and only daughter.
"Okay, do you want some help with dinner?" I asked sweetly. If he want's to pay for my snacks, he's got to at least let me help cook dinner.
"Um sure sweetie, but you don't have to."
I shook my head. "No, I want to"
"Can you start on the salad, and I'll cut the pork?"
I nodded and began to dice the tomatoes I bought.
The boys came in a few minutes later sweaty and gross from their run. Cooper tried to come over and hug me.
"You better take a shower before coming within five feet of me. " I put my hand out to stop him. Which of course only caused him to come closer. "I will seriously chop your arms off, if I'm tempted or maybe just for fun" I warned intimidatingly.
His smile dropped, and his face paled. He dropped his arms to his side and basically ran upstairs. The other two laughed and teased him on the way to take their showers.
"One of you can use my bathroom, but if you do anything else than take a shower I know where you sleep!" I called upstairs.
Dad laughed and shook his head at me. "I love it when they're scared of you. I can't tell if I've done something right or very wrong as a father" He laughed.
"Trust me it's something right." I kissed his cheek and hugged him from the side.
He took the plate of seasoned pork chops and took them outside to the grill. I started on the mac and cheese. It wouldn't take that long to cook.
Twenty minutes later we were all sitting at the dinning room table talking about our day.
The boys had a day off from practice, so most of them stayed home and played video games.
"How was your day full of shopping Coco?" Cooper asked.
"It was fine, I got a few things for my room and some clothes." I shrugged. I looked over at the bags of my stuff still on the counter as well as all my bags of clothes on the couch. I really needed to put those in my room. Normally they didn't care for a whole haul on what I get when I go shopping.
"Thanks for letting me use your car Connor" I thanked him.
He nodded as a you're welcome because his face was stuffed with food.
"I did run into Will at the grocery store though"
"Oh really?" Carter asked.
I nodded and chewed what was in my mouth. "Yeah he helped get the bags into the car. We didn't really talk, both of us had to go" I explained.
"Speaking of Will, we're going to his house for dinner tomorrow night. His parents want to welcome us to the town."
"That's really nice of them" I said.
"Oh yeah, we get to see Will's crib" Carter pumped his fist in the air.
I turned to Dad. "What about you Dad, how was your day?" I asked.
He explained his day for us. Not much happened on the day off for him or the boys. They all did their daily workout but other than that I don't think any of them left the house.
My phone dinged, and I picked it up in reflex. We tried not to be on our phones at the table. It wasn't a rule. It's more like a goal we set for ourselves to be more connected to the family and not our phones.
It was Remi.
At the movies with Bryce!! Kind of nervous.
I smiled at the text and replied.
Good luck! Don't be nervous it's just a friendly outing ;)
"Cora" Dad warned. I looked up at him and all the boys staring at me.
"Sorry it's Remi, she's on a date" I put my phone in my back pocket, so it's less of a distraction.
We finished eating dinner, and it was Carter's and Cooper's turn to wash the dishes and clean up the kitchen.
The rest of us headed up to our respective rooms. I watched as few episode of The Big Bang Theory.
My phone rang, and I paused the show to see Remi's contact picture on the screen. I answered immediately in excitement.
"AHHHHH!!" She screamed on the other side of the phone.
"Tell. Me. Everything." I squealed. "Wait do you think you could sleepover I if I asked?"
"I could ask my mom"
"Okay, call me when you know"
A few minutes later she called back and told me her mom said yes. I told her I'd ask my dad and call her back.
I jogged downstairs to where Dad was most likely sitting on the couch watching TV.
"Hey Dad" I jumped on the couch next to him. "Can Remi spend the night? You met her, and she's really nice. Plus she's already been to the house."
"Of course she can Coco" He laughed.
"Yes! I'm going to go tell her" I jumped up and ran to my phone to tell her.
She told me she'd be here soon. I put up all my clothes that have been sitting on my bed ever since I brought them in here after dinner. I also put up the decorations I bought and got the candy out.
A few minutes of tidying up my room I heard the doorbell ring. I ran downstairs to find Carter opening the door.
"Are you Coco's friend?" Carter asked.
"Remi!" I squealed excitedly.
"Cora!" She pushed past Carter to get to me. She enveloped me in a hug immediately. The initial force almost knocked me over, but I kept my balance and wrapped my arms around her while laughing.
"Gosh Rem, you make it seem like you haven't seen me in forever." I laughed and we broke apart.
"It feels like it,"
"You look cute" I looked her up and down. She wore a sage green cropped tank to and a pair of ripped denim shorts with black converse.
She smirked and flipped her hair over her shoulder. " I know, but I have so much to tell you"
I smiled at her. "I can't wait"
Carter walked by us and rolled his eyes. "Dorks" He mumbled, but he had a small smile. I could swear I saw his cheeks have a tint of pink on them.
Hmm.
"Let's go to my room" I said and dragged her upstairs.
I basically threw her on my bed and demanded every little detail of the date and she did not disappoint.
"He walked me out to my car after the movie was over and we just talked for a little bit and got to know each other a little bit more. We've known each other for most of our lives, but it felt different. It's surprising how much I learned about him tonight. When we said goodbye, I hugged him. He kissed my cheek before leaving." she ended. The smile on her face was so cute. I literally couldn't help but fangirl.
"Awww that's so cute!" I squealed.
"AHHH I know!"
I heard a phone buzz and I looked at mine. The screen was black which meant it wasn't mine.
Next thing I know, Remi was squealing and threw her phone at my pillow.
"What happened?"
She pointed at her phone with a huge smile across her face. I grabbed it in confusion and saw that Bryce texted her.
"I hope you had a good time tonight. I'm sorry it was a lame excuse for a first date. I look forward to going on another one if that's okay with you." I read aloud. "You have to answer him" I threw the phone back at her.
"What do I say? What do I say?" She freaked out. She threw the phone back at me. "You answer I can't"
I let out a chuckle. "Just tell him that you had a good time, it wasn't lame, and you would like to go out again" I handed her her phone back to her.
She typed out something and showed it to me for approval. I nodded with a smiled at her nervous demeanor. For the weeks I have known her, she's never been this nervous before.
She pressed the send button and threw it back at my pillow.
I laughed and grabbed the phone. He texted back.
Glad you thought so I'll see you tomorrow
Goodnight Remi
"What does it say? Wait don't tell me. Nope just tell me, I can take it. Ugh just give me the phone." She reached over and snatched the phone out of my hand. I couldn't help but laugh at her bipolar state right now.
"Remi this boy. I think you got yourself a good one"
Her cheeks turned red as the looked at her phone and heard me. "Ugh I hate you" She smiled at me.
"Good because I can't stand you and I've been waiting for the right time to tell you" I joked.
She took a deep breath of relief. "Thank God, I thought I would have to pretend to like you the entire night. I can just leave now" She got up and I dragged her back on the bed with me.
We both busted out into laughter. Tears came to my eyes and I held my stomach because it hurt so much.
The rest of the night we talked about the guys on the football team, the guys from our favorite tv shows and movies, and the guys from our favorite books. It was just a bunch of guy talk.