Husband With Benefits-Chapter 552: A Shopping Trip

Autumn ran into her room, closing the door behind her. What did he take her for? Her mind raced with a torrent of emotions—anger, frustration, disbelief. She leaned against the door and closed her eyes for a moment. The confrontation with Pierce had been more intense than she had anticipated, and it left her feeling raw and exposed.

Moments later, a soft knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. "Autumn, are you alright?" Gabriel’s gentle voice sounded through the door.

She hesitated for a moment before responding. "Yes, I’m fine. Just needed a moment. Is he gone?"

She heard him sigh through the door and tried to hear intently," Yes. I threw him out and warned him to not bother you."

Autumn nodded," Oh.. Thank you."

There was silence after that and she wondered if he was gone. But before she could move to check, his voice sounded again," Arabelle wants to go shopping for groceries. Would you come along. I could take her alone but I’m sure you would worry."

Autumn sighed and nodded, even though he couldn’t see her," Alright. I’ll be right there.And Gabe.. thank you.."

***

Arabelle grinned and skipped down the street, her small hand clasped in her sister’s. Today was a happy occassion. Mister Gabriel.. no Gabe had agreed to take them to the supermarket and cook something tasty. And he had thrown that bad Pierce out onto the street.. That had been so cool the way he’d picked him up and thrown him onto the street. He’d made her sister cry so many times.

She looked at his hand and carefully slipped her other hand into Gabe’s. He looked down at her and she gave him a radiant smile which caused him to curl his fingers around her, making her feel happy.

Autumn glanced down at Arabelle’s hand nestled in Gabriel’s, and a strange, warm feeling spread through her. She felt a peculiar mix of comfort and something else she couldn’t quite name. When she looked up, her eyes met Gabriel’s for a fleeting moment, and she saw a flicker of something in his gaze. Before she could decipher it, the moment was broken by Arabelle’s excited voice, "Gabe, what are you going to make for me tonight?", as looked up at him with wide, expectant eyes.

"Hmm. I was thinking something really tasty. I make this green salad with lots of lettuce, brocolli, green beans, etc...

"Ewww! I don’t like eating vegetables! You promised me something tasty! Veggies are not tasty...," Arabelle wrinkled her nose in exaggerated disgust.

Gabriel chuckled, shaking his head. "Alright, alright. How about spaghetti with lots of cheese instead?"

Arabelle’s face lit up instantly. "Yes! Spaghetti! But with extra cheese, okay? Not just a little bit."

Gabriel pretended to consider it carefully. "Extra cheese, you say? Well, I suppose I could manage that. But only if you promise to eat at least one bite of the green salad."

Arabelle pouted for a moment, then nodded solemnly. "Fine. One bite. But only if it’s really, really tiny."

Gabriel laughed, and even Autumn couldn’t help but smile at their playful banter. "Deal. A tiny bite of salad in exchange for extra cheesy spaghetti."

Gabriel raised an eyebrow, feigning shock. "Cookies? After all that spaghetti and salad? Are you sure you can handle it?"

"Yes, yes, yes! I can handle it!" Arabelle insisted, bouncing on her toes with excitement as she let go of their hands and clapped her own, in excitement, " I’ll go and get the cookie dough, right away!" Before she ran away, she stopped and turned around, caught Gabe’s hand and handed it to Autumn," Here, take care of Gabe. He is new in B-town and could get lost!!"

Both Autumn and Gabe were taken aback by the sudden gesture and could only look down at their hands as Arabelle skipped away. Unsure what to do, Autumn was about to jerk her hand away from him when he suddenly and firmly, curled his fingers around her hand and leaned down," Autumn, someone to the left is intently watching us."

Autumn suppressed the urge to look around and see who the woman was and simply nodded up at him," So, what do we do?"

"We act as a new couple in love and shop around for groceries, that is what we do.. So let’s grab a cart and start shopping. And we might have to talk so, keep the conversation going." Gabriel spoke softly near her ear, making her blush. She knew what he was doing and why, but everytime he leaned close to her ear, she would feel ticklish. She tried to think of some topic they might have but found herself at a loss.

As she grabbed and pulled the cart, she tried to desperately think of something and when she couldn’t, she finally asked," You can cook?"

He grinned at that and she blinked. He really did have a wonderful smile... "Too late to ask that, Miss Autumn.If I can’t cook, then tonight’s dinner would be a punishment. Now, while I don’t claim to be a chef like my brother, I promise you, I can make some delicious meals. So, my cooking would not give anyone food poisoning, for sure."

He let go off her hand as he moved along the aisles to grab some packets of pasta and she felt bereft for a moment.. She looked down at her empty hand and frowned before placing it on the handle of the cart, watching him check the packages for their ingredients while threw some into the cart and the others back onto the shelf.

She watched the cart fill up halfway and finally asked him wide eyes," That is too much.. We won’t be able to finish this much in months.."

Gabe shook his head," Tsk tsk. Of course, we’ll be able to finish it. Autumn, now that you are married to me, you need to worry about only one thing.. The pantry needs to be well stocked at all times..."

"Do you eat a lot?" She asked him as he walked along and he shook his head," No, I expect a few guests to come over in some weeks."

"Guests?" she asked wide eyes. She had not even thought of next week and he was already planning on entertaining into next month...ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom