“Actually…” I hesitated, studying the produce to avoid looking in her face. “I haven’t really been out and about. We haven’t been here long and it’s a little intimidating to go out alone, to be honest.”
There. That should be a good enough explanation, right?
Elena’s expression softened. “Yeah, it can feel like this at first. The city’s actually pretty small once you get used to it.”
“I hope so.”
“It will.” She nudged a mango closer to me. “There’s a little café by the harbor that’s basically impossible to mess up. Good coffee, good pastries. Very safe starter location.”
“Sounds perfect.”
“If you ever want company,” she added casually, “I’m usually there in the mornings.”
“That might be the best thing that’s happened to me all week. Now, what else do I need to know to really fit in?”
“Well…” Elena reached past me for a cucumber. “First rule of living here: Don’t shop on Sundays unless you want to fight half the city for tomatoes.”
“Good to know.”
“Second rule: The fish market by the marina is better than anything in here.”
“Also good to know.” I nodded enthusiastically.
“And the third rule,” she added, gesturing at my basket, “you definitely need help.”
“So obvious?” I laughed.
“A little.” She put her thumb and index finger close together and squinted at them. “But to be fair, I wouldn’t have known that by looking at you. You very much look like you fit in, I wasn’t sure if you might be local after all.”
“Well, that’s nice to know. My grandparents were both from here, so I’m happy I fit in to some degree.”
We moved towards the meat section, where she showed me which brands and cuts to choose.
“Oh, really? Did you come here alone?” Elena asked.
“Here, as in the store or in general?”
“Both?” She raised her brows and giggled.
Think fast now, Addy. What’s your cover story?
“I’m shopping alone, but I’m here with my boyfriend. He, um, got offered a job here.”
That sounded reasonable, right?
“Oh, that’s exciting. What does your boyfriend do?”
Deflect, deflect, deflect.
I laughed airily. “I never actually understood what he’s up to, but it seems to work out for him, so I’m sure as hell not complaining.” I paused. “I would label him as avery intense businessman.”
“Very intense businessman,” Elena repeated, amused.
“That’s the official title,” I confirmed.
“Sounds exhausting.”
“For him, maybe. I mostly just nod supportively and pretend I understand what’s happening.”