Going Shopping

Adam pushed the cart slowly through the bustling grocery store, keeping a steady pace as Michelle carefully examined the ingredients in the Asian food aisle. She picked up a bundle of fresh cilantro, inhaling its fragrant aroma with a smile.

"What's all this for?" Adam asked, his voice low and curious. He watched her with interest as she added the cilantro to the cart.

Michelle glanced up, a smile lighting up her face. "I'm making pho for a small feast at our place. It's kinda like a mini party" she explained, moving on to select some fresh basil and mint. "Just me, Kennybear, some good food, and maybe some games. It should be fun."

Adam nodded, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Sounds nice," he said, his eyes lingering on her as she continued shopping. "Do you need any help with the cooking?"

Michelle looked up, her smile widening. "You can cook?" she said warmly. "We'd love to have more variety in food!"

"It's mostly Italian, like pasta," he replied, his voice soft. "Thanks for inviting me."

Michelle smiled at him, her eyes sparkling. "Of course. We've been together for a while now!"

As they moved to the next aisle to grab rice noodles and bean sprouts, Adam realized those words meant nothing. They're essentially a couple at this point. They spent time with each other, they've shared food with each other, they even have had sex together, but she still loves Kenny. He then gently took Michelle's hand, causing her to turn towards him in surprise. Without saying a word, he stepped closer and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her gently towards him. Before Michelle could react, Adam leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to her cheek. The intimate gesture made Michelle make a cute "Oh!" She pulled back slightly, her eyes wide with shock. "Adam, I..."

But Adam's arm remained around her, his thumb gently caressing her side. "I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "You don't like it?"

Michelle's heart raced, a mix of emotions flooding her mind. She glanced around, noticing the curious stares of a few shoppers, but her focus quickly returned to Adam. Her slender body being held by a large arm, almost as if she was his property. She noticed his masculine cologne, which sent her feminine hormones into overdrive. She had to calm down. "I-It's fine" she managed to say, her voice trembling, "T-This isn't the place". She would get to see Adam at the tomorrow. Not only that, the issue with Kenny realizing that she invited Adam is another matter.

Adam nodded, loosening his hold but not letting go entirely. "Sorry."

Michelle looked down, her emotions in turmoil. She squeezed his hand gently, her heart heavy with conflicting feelings. "Let's finish shopping," she said softly, her voice barely audible. Adam nodded in response. Adam silently followed Michelle as she continued to search for ingredients. The only thing in his mind was that gesture. It definitely caused a reaction from her, and it wasn't negative. If this meant anything, he had just moved one step closer to claiming Michelle all to himself.

The duo quickly finished shopping and paid for their stuff using Adam's card. As expected, there was a lot to carry. As they wheeled their dying cart to the parking lot, they spotted a little girl standing near the entrance, looking around with wide, tear-filled eyes. She couldn't have been more than five years old, clutching a small stuffed rabbit to her chest.

"Oh no…Are you lost?" Michelle asked gently, crouching down to the girl's level.

The child nodded, her bottom lip trembling. "I can't find my mommy," she whispered.

"Don't worry," Adam said softly, kneeling beside Michelle. "We'll help you find her."

The little girl looked between them, her fear slowly giving way to trust. She reached out and took both their hands, her tiny fingers wrapping around theirs. Michelle and Adam exchanged a quick glance, a silent understanding passing between them as they led the child through the parking lot. As they walked, Adam couldn't help but notice how natural it felt, like they were a family. He glanced down at the little girl, her small hand secure in his, and then at Michelle, who was holding the girl's other hand with a comforting smile. Adam couldn't help but notice how natural it felt, almost as if they were a small family. He allowed himself to imagine it: he and Michelle as parents, walking hand-in-hand with their child. He glanced at Michelle and saw a similar tenderness in her eyes as she looked down at the little girl. She would make an amazing mother, and he would be the perfect father.

"We'll find your mommy soon," Michelle assured the girl, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "What's your name?"

"Emma," the little girl replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

"That's a beautiful name, Emma," Adam said, smiling down at her. "Do you remember where you last saw her?"

Emma nodded. "In the fruit section."

Michelle also felt a motherly instinct in this scenario. With haste, she led Adam back into the store. "We'll head back there and see if we can find her," she said, guiding Emma through the rows of cars. It wasn't long before they reached the entrance of the store. Michelle spotted a frantic woman speaking with a security guard, describing Emma in detail.

"There she is," Michelle said softly to Emma, pointing towards the woman.

"Mommy!" Emma cried, letting go of their hands and running towards her mother.

The woman turned, relief flooding her face as she scooped Emma up into her arms. "Oh, thank goodness," she breathed, hugging her daughter tightly. She looked over at Michelle and Adam, tears in her eyes. "Thank you so much. I was so worried!"

Michelle smiled warmly. "We're just glad she's safe."

Adam nodded, his heart swelling with a mix of emotions. "Take care," he said, watching as the woman walked away with Emma. Michelle and Adam then waved goodbye and headed back to their car. 

As they got into the car, Michelle broke the silence, looking at Adam with wishful eyes. "You were great with her, you know~"

Adam put the keys into the car and turned it on with a stoic face. "You were too," he replied, meeting her gaze. "For a moment there, it felt like we were her parents."

Michelle smiled softly, a hint of a blush on her cheeks, "Y-yeah, it did..."