Read Online One Broke Girl by Rhonda Helms - Free Book Online

moms pushed food-laden carts down aisles, mumbling to themselves and clutching handfuls of coupons. Where the hell did people find coupons anyway? That would be my next quest.
    I whipped out my handy list, grabbed my own cart and made my way toward the vegetable section.
    Ten minutes later, I was ready to burst into frustrated tears. Why was everything so damn expensive? My earlier grocery trips hadn’t been this difficult. Then again, our food budget was a lot smaller now. Fresh anger welled in my gut, but I swallowed it down then crammed the useless list into my purse.
    Okay, I simply needed to adjust my expectations. And maybe find a job as a high-priced call girl or drug dealer or something.
    So much for my nothing-illegal statement to Bianca. That made me chuckle and shake off the threatening edge of darkness. I wove my cart down each aisle, searching for the cheapest products I could find. It was gonna be essentials only, and if Dad didn’t like it, he could suck it. I had as of yet to see him get a job, and I was gonna be taking on three now. Which reminded me, I needed to up my nagging until he did. I couldn’t carry this family on my shoulders.
    Peanut butter, bread, pasta, pasta sauce, tuna, mayo. Good start and less than half my allotted funds for food. We needed a bit more though, so I grabbed a box of frozen fish filets, three boxes of mac and cheese, hot dogs, bologna and sliced cheese.
    Nothing fancy, but it would do.
    When I reached the candy aisle, I stopped and stared. Three months ago, I’d have grabbed a candy bar without a second thought. But it would push me out of my budget.
    Shame gripped my lungs tight as I recalled a conversation I’d had with Fiona at a spa this past summer. We’d been lying there, getting body wraps and drinking mimosas, making fun of people who rushed to the store the first of the month with their welfare checks.
    How little I knew then about the struggles of working-class people. I was glad Natalie hadn’t been there to hear me. Or Bianca. I’d hate for them to know how thoughtless I’d been before all of this.
    I moved away from the candy, got in the checkout line then laid my food on the conveyor belt. As I saw the spread, I bit my lip. How the hell was I going to get all of this home? I hadn’t planned that far. Boy, it was gonna be an awkward ride on my bike.
    “For a lunch lady, you eat a lot like a bachelor,” a husky voice said from a few feet behind me.
    My heart gave a painful thud, and I turned to see Gavin, mouth turned up in a wicked smile. I laughed in an attempt to divert attention from the heat flooding my cheeks at the sight of his sexily mussed hair and bedroom eyes. “I can’t cook worth a damn, but I’m a helluva food scooper.” I eyed his food on the conveyor belt right behind mine. Huh, his small grouping of purchases looked a lot like my stuff. Guess he was right.
    He shrugged without looking the least bit apologetic. “I can’t cook either.”
    “Good afternoon,” the young cashier greeted me as she started swiping my goods.
    My muscles tensed as each item ran across the scanner. I’d done the calculations on my phone, including tax, to ensure I didn’t run over, but I was still a bit nervous. I couldn’t afford to have any bill payments bounce by overspending. And I didn’t want to do that mortifying thing where you had to put food back if you ran over what you were supposed to spend.
    My last grocery trip had required me to do so, but thankfully, I hadn’t known the people around me.
    “Twenty-nine dollars and eighty-eight cents,” the girl declared, and I almost sagged with relief as I handed her my debit card then started throwing stuff in plastic bags.
    “You’re gonna squish your bread like that,” Gavin said with a laugh. He stepped over and helped me get the food sorted into several bags.
    I swallowed as I caught a whiff of his cologne. The urge hit me to lean closer, nuzzle my nose right under his ear and breathe