Chapter 27: Grocery Shopping

Wilt PoV

Wilt followed Loxus to the nearby supermarket. It still shocked him that Loxus thanked him. He had expected the guy to threaten to hurt him. Guess it went to show how much he cared for the kitten.

The supermarket's fluorescent lights flickered overhead as Wilt and Loxus walked down the aisles. Wilt couldn't help but steal glances at Loxus, who seemed more at ease, almost human, with the kitten nestled against his chest. It was a side of Loxus that Wilt had never imagined existed—the tough exterior giving way to something gentler, kinder.

"So, what should we get?" Loxus said, adding several bags of junk food into their cart.

Wilt put his hands on his hips and sighed. "First off," he grabbed the junk food, "we need to put these back. As athletes, we gotta avoid this stuff."

"Eh?" Loxus said, staring at his bag of chips like a cat denied of his tuna.

Wilt shook his head, a small smile forming despite his feigned exasperation. "Come on, man. You know better. We need real food, not just snacks that'll slow us down on the court."

Loxus grumbled but relented, watching as Wilt replaced the junk food with healthier options—fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains. "Fine, but you're cooking," Loxus declared, a challenging look in his eyes.

Wilt laughed. "Deal. But you're helping. No free rides in our dorm room."

Loxus rolled his eyes. "Feels more like I got a mom instead of a dormmate."

Wilt raised an eyebrow, his grin widening. "If I'm the mom, that makes you the kid, which means you should listen to me, right?" he teased.

Loxus scoffed, but there was a hint of laughter in his voice. "In your dreams, Wilt. I'm nobody's kid. But fine, I'll help out. Just don't expect me to wear an apron."

"Too bad, I was thinking pink would be your color," Wilt shot back, chuckling as he imagined the tough Loxus in a frilly pink apron.

Loxus groaned. "You're insufferable!"

"Why? Because I clap back?"

"Exactly," Loxus retorted, but the corners of his mouth twitched upwards. "You always have to have the last word."

Wilt shrugged. "Can't help it if I'm naturally witty."

Loxus scoffed but had a hint of a smile as they continued down the aisles.

As they shopped, Wilt pointed out the best deals on chicken breasts and whole-grain pasta, while Loxus reluctantly added fresh fruit and vegetables to the cart. Every so often, Loxus would sneak a less-than-healthy snack into the mix, only for Wilt to catch him and replace it with a more nutritious option.

"Okay, okay, I get it," Loxus finally conceded after Wilt swapped out a box of sugary cereal for oatmeal. "Healthy body, healthy mind, right?"

"Got it in one," Wilt said with a nod. "Besides, think of it as fuel for the game. We need to be at our best if we're going to dominate this season."

Loxus seemed to consider this, his expression thoughtful. "When you put it like that, it doesn't sound too bad."

As they continued their shopping, Wilt found himself enjoying Loxus's company more than he'd expected. They bantered back and forth, discussing meal plans and workout routines, and even the kitten seemed to enjoy the ride, peeking out from Loxus's hoodie to observe their food.

"Say, want me to make some food for Fluffy too?"

Loxus scoffed. "It's Dusk, not Fluffy. Also, you know how to make cat food?"

"I've read about it. Cats can eat chicken too, ya know." Wilt glanced at all the chicken breast in their cart. "And we got a ton of the stuff on deal. We can boil some chicken for Dusk. It's healthy for cats. We'll just avoid the seasoning, of course. Especially stuff like garlic. Not sure about cats, but I know dogs can't eat that stuff."

Loxus seemed impressed. "Didn't peg you for the domestic type," he said, a playful jab that earned him a light punch on the arm from Wilt.

"Hey, I can take care of myself. And now, apparently, a kitten too," Wilt replied with a smile.

They moved on to the pet aisle, picking out a small bag of dry cat food to supplement the fresh chicken. Loxus hesitated before also grabbing a tiny, plush mouse toy, trying to hide it under the healthier food items in the cart.

Wilt caught the action and laughed. "What's that? For Dusk or for you?"

Loxus's face turned a shade redder, but he shot back, "For your information, it's for Dusk. Cats need playtime too."

He swung his arms behind his head and grinned. "Sure, sure."

The punk rolled his eyes at Wilt.

Wilt couldn't resist the urge to tease Loxus a bit more. "I'm just saying, if you ever want to switch from basketball to being a guy in a catsuit who plays with toys for The Tube, you've got a promising career ahead of you," he said with a chuckle.

Loxus shot him a look that was half-annoyed and half-amused. "Keep it up, and I might just let Dusk scratch up your basketball shoes."

Wilt made a mental note to keep his most precious belongings away from him and Dusk.

They made their way to the checkout, their cart now full of healthy food, cat supplies, and a few treats—because balance was key, Wilt reasoned. As they unloaded their items onto the conveyor belt, Wilt felt a sense of contentment he hadn't expected. Maybe rooming with Loxus wouldn't be the nightmare he'd anticipated.

"Uh, you plan to pay for everything, right?" Loxus asked.

Wilt sighed. He had almost forgotten that Loxus was basically broke. He wondered how Loxus even managed to pay for college. Surely, he couldn't have stolen too much, right?

"Sure, leave it to me. But consider getting a job on campus, okay?"

He sighed. "Now you sound like a wife."

Wilt couldn't help but laugh at the comparison. "Well, if I'm the wife, that makes you the deadbeat husband, doesn't it?" he quipped, enjoying the light-hearted nature of their banter.

Loxus rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress a smirk. "Deadbeat, huh? I'll have you know I'm very supportive. I take care of Dusk," he added with a chuckle.

"Taking care of your kitten doesn't pay the bills, Loxus," Wilt retorted, but his tone was friendly. "Seriously though, a job might not be a bad idea. It'll give you some spending money, and who knows, you might even find something you enjoy."

Loxus nodded, considering the suggestion. "I'll think about it. But for now, let's just focus on getting through this checkout without going broke."

Wilt glanced at the cashier lady and blinked as he saw her blushing.

"We were joking," Loxus said, irritated. 

Wilt snickered. Did she think they were actually a thing? Like he would ever date, much less marry a punk like Loxus. Sure, he was handsome and all, but his attitude was awful. He preferred a girl like Natasha.

As they paid for their groceries and made their way back to the dorm, Wilt found himself looking forward to the meals they'd share and the games they'd play. Maybe, just maybe, this was the start of a beautiful friendship—or at least a truce until their season started.