Breathing easier, she suggested the pasta section next. “We need lasagna—the wide, flat-shaped pasta.” With an upbeat voice, she tried to hide the anxiety pulsating through her. Her eyes darted back and forth between spaghetti, angel hair, and egg noodles. She couldn’t find the lasagna pasta. Her thoughts wandered to Matt. Where was he? Would she see him again? Jorden tried to shove the thoughts away.

“Is this what you’re looking for?” Alex held up a box of long, flat pasta.

“Yes. Where did you find them?”

“Right in front of you. Maybe you need to get your eyes checked.” Alex put the box in the cart.

“Maybe.”

They spent the next thirty minutes looking for the remaining ingredients. Jorden tossed a carton of ice cream into the cart without thinking.

“Anything else?”

No answer.

Alex tapped her on the shoulder. “Did you hear me?”

“I’m sorry.” Jorden checked the cart. “How about a nice bottle of red wine?”

“Good idea. I’ll check out the wine section. You go ahead and get in the check-out line.”

The cashier rang up their last items just as Alex rejoined Jorden. “Let me get this. I buy and you cook. What do you say?”

“Deal.”

Alex pushed the cart to the parking lot and placed the bags in the back seat of his Mustang. Jorden looked over her shopping to-do list. All the items were checked off—except picking up her car. She couldn’t stop thinking about it.

“Don’t forget I want to get my car. Let’s swing by my apartment before we drive back to our place.”

“Shouldn’t we get these groceries home first? It’s hot out,” Alex commented as he turned on the car’s air conditioner.

“The groceries will be fine in your car. My car must feel like an oven. I haven’t driven it in four days.”

“Why not tonight? We can drive over after dinner. Your roommates should be there.”

Jorden forced herself not to clench her teeth. Before she could think, the words spilled out. “Nighttime isn’t a good time. Our apartment is a gathering spot and there are always men stopping by. I won’t get to talk with Darby or Emma Lynn.”

“Oh. You never wrote about all the men. What else haven’t you told me?”

Jorden fought for patience. “I never wrote about their male visitors as I was always in my bedroom writing you. I didn’t think you would want to hear about Darby and Emma Lynn’s soldier friends. Please, I just want to get my car.”

“You don’t need your car. I think you should sell it. I can take you wherever you need to go. It’s crazy to drive north in two cars.”

Jorden’s mouth dropped in disbelief. “I don’t want to sell my car!”

“We can talk about it later.”