Heavy: A Contemporary Romance by J. C. Mells Page A

of provisions acquisitions,” Zak said as we drove along Sahara Avenue. “Up ahead on the right you’ll see Smith’s. Smith’s is where you’ll go once you’ve got a little experience under your belt. Consider today as the warm-up to Smith’s.”
    “Is it weird that I’m curiously excited about going into a grocery store right now ? Maybe even a little aroused?” I laughed at Zak as I spoke.
    “Ooh, too much info, girlfriend . Save it for Tattoo Guy,” he joked back.
    Zak finally pulled into a parking lot and we both got out of the car.
    “Here we have Fresh & Easy. If the name alone doesn’t make you want to shop here, the quality product will. They’re a much smaller store when compared to some of the other chains, but they have good, fresh produce, as well as some great, easy-to-warm-up, homemade packaged meals. I’m going to assume you haven’t done too much in the cooking department either?”
    “ I’ve had to fend for myself in the past before. I’m not that helpless.”
    “By ‘fend for yourself’ you probably mean you had to heat up something made by someone else, right?” Zak rolled his eyes at me.
    “Maybe… all right… God damn it, yes. You got me. I’ve made sandwiches. Oh, oh, oh… and popcorn in the microwave.” I puffed out my chest with pride.
    “Oh dear . It’s worse than I imagined,” Zak mocked. “You know you filthy rich bitches can have gourmet meals delivered fresh to your door every day, right?”
    “But where’s the challenge in that, Zakary ? This is the new, more independent me, remember? Oh, can I push the cart?” I asked as soon as we crossed the threshold into the store.
    “God , help me now,” Zak said laughing and rolling his eyes up to the heavens again.
    “Just don’t let me buy any junk food . You know, things like cake, or cookies, or potato chips,” I said changing my playful tone to a more serious one. “Purging empty calories is how I started my bad habits in the first place. I’m so close to getting my green chip. If I have a weak moment and have things like that in the house….”
    “Say no more, girlfriend . I’ve got your back,” Zak replied.
    An hour later and we were loading bags upon bags of groceries into the back of Zak’s SUV . I thought I was going to be nervous being around all that food, but with Zak keeping me clear of the bakery and snack sections, I really had a blast. Grocery shopping just made number three on my top three list of favorite things to do – just one below spending time with Zak. Sex with Thatch Reston was still holding out at number one. Go figure. Could be worse. Getting high and numbing my body to not feel any guilt used to be up there at the top of that list a few months ago.
    “That was so fulfilling,” I finally said as Zak negotiated his way through the traffic as we head ed home. “Doing something so simple as stocking your kitchen pantry gives such a feeling of accomplishment. I’ve never had that before. I want more.”
    “Please don’t tell me you want to do more grocery shopping . After what I just witnessed back there, you are far from ready for Smith’s yet.”
    I laughed at him and fake-punched him lightly in the arm.
    “No, silly, I mean I want to do something else normal. Like go to a baseball game, or to the movies… or maybe even get a job, or something.”
    “Whoa there, Norma Rae. Put on the brakes and shut the front door. What do you mean, a job?”
    “I mean getting up every day and having a purpose . Filling my time with a series of small, everyday accomplishments. Oh, and who’s Norma Rae?”
    Zak gave another sigh . “Google her. Sally Field won an Oscar playing her. You never wanted to pursue acting like your father?”
    “Are you kidding ? I’m already a professional actor,” I laughed dryly. “I spent my entire life acting and playing the role of someone I really wasn’t. I certainly don’t want to do it as a career.”
    “You know , I did a little stint as an