“Time difference still getting to you?” he asks.
“I guess so.”
“You will be on Montana time just in time to get used to it before you go back to Pennsylvania.”
“Truth.”
He opens the passenger door for me, and I hop in. He left it running so it’s toasty warm inside. When he gets in, he puts his hand on the back of my head rest, looks behind him and backs out of the driveway. As he is shifts back forward in his seat, he winks at me, and I hold back a smile.
“What is on the agenda?” I ask.
“I was kinda hoping you could tell me,” he says.
I cock my head and look at him. “Me?”
“Yeah. I really don’t know where to go to find the kind of stuff Sarah would want.” He digs in the pocket of his tight blue jeans, lifting off the seat slightly. I don’t know why more men don’t wear Wranglers. “Here.” He hands me a crumpled paper. “It’s the list Chris made.”
“One large framed artwork, 4 smaller framed artwork, knickknacks for the shelves, a dark purple and white area rug, a chair for the desk, pillows for the window seat, desk accessories, pens, notebooks and a window feeder.”
I set the note on my lap. “That’s quite the list.”
“Yup. Could you imagine me having to pick all that stuff out by myself?”
“It’s a good thing I’m here.”
He smiles at me, and I feel my cheeks flush. After last night I see this man in a whole new light.
"Let's stop at the bird store first, and then we will find some home decor stores."
"Sounds good to me," he says.
The time flies by on the forty-five-minute drive. We talk about our favorite music, movies, and ice cream. His is cookies 'n cream.
"This one," I say as I hold the window bird feeder up. "It's simple, easy to clean and like four birds could sit here to eat."
"Looks good. Should we get food for it too?"
"I'm sure she has some, but another small bag wouldn't hurt."
We pick a bag of mixed seed, check out, and go to a home decor warehouse.
The next four hours are spent searching high and low for the perfect pieces for my friend’s mini library.
One of the stores we go to has carts that turn and roll in every direction. I may have climbed in, and Troy may have pushed and spun me around the aisles. It was so much fun.
"You want to grab some lunch before we head back?" he asks me after we get into the truck once we leave the last store.
"Yes, I'm starving."
"What do you feel like having?"
"Oh, it doesn't matter to me. You pick." I turn and smile at him after I buckle.
He shakes his head. "Oh no. Nope. That's a trap. You pick. I'll eat anything."
I laugh. "Okay, how about steak?"
"One of my favorite foods."