Andrew and his girlfriend are long gone. I take a step back, lifting my eyes to meet Jaxon’s dark, probing gaze. His eyes search mine, waiting for a reaction. Or he’s letting realization set in.

I shove him square in the chest. “What the hell, Jax?”

“I saw you turn down this aisle, and I heard the way that asswipe and his girlfriend were talking to you.” He shoves his hands into his pockets. “I figured you needed backup.”

“And the kiss?”

A smirk tugs at that delicious mouth of his. “I improvised.”

I roll my eyes and jerk my cart around him.

“Raegan, wait.” Jaxon stops my cart with his foot. “Can we please talk?”

“I don’t want to talk to you. I thought I made that clear.”

“Rae, I believe you. I believe that you didn’t take the ring, and I swear I didn’t send those cops to search your house.” He pushes his fingers through his hair. “Please. I’m not asking you to forget about everything I’ve put you through. I’m just asking you to think about giving me another chance.”

“Why? Why do you want another chance so badly?”

“Because … because I …” He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. “Because I care. About you, Raegan.”

My heart strains against my chest, pulling me toward him. But my brain smacks its hands, like a mother swatting her child away from the cookie jar. “Well, you have a funny way of showing it.”

I push my cart down the aisle and leave Jaxon standing there, looking completely deflated.

“I wish I could’ve seen the look on Andrew’s face!”

I fight the urge to smile. “That’s not the point, Grandma.”

She scoops three more jellied cranberry slices onto her plate. “I don’t see what you’re so angry about.”

“If you kissed him back, you can’t hate him that badly,” Mom says.

Grandma nods. “There’s a fine line between love and hate.”

“I liked him before I hated him. That’s the problem. It’s just … complicated.”

“Things weren’t this complicated back in my day. Your grandfather took me to dinner and the next day, we were engaged.”

Mom laughs. “Not that we want you to do that, Raegan.”

“I’m just saying, you don’t need to make things so difficult. If Jaxon likes you, and you like him, then you should be together.” Grandma leans in toward Mom. “The boy is very good-looking. Their babies would be beautiful.”

Mom chokes on her turkey.

I cover my face with my hands. “We’re not making babies.”

“I don’t have much time left,” Grandma continues. “I want to meet my great-grandchildren before I die.”

“It’s Thanksgiving,” says Mom. “Can we not talk about your death, please?”