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Lucy should have seen it coming, she should have known that a man (a very attractive man—not that she would ever admit that) and a very cute baby (her baby was the cutest and yes that’s her being bias.) would attract women.
She should have know that Tim carrying her daughter through the store because she refused to be put down, and he was making her laugh. So of course heads were turning a little as they walked through the store.
Lucy was pushing the basket while Tim was ahead of her with Emma. She rolls her eyes a little when Tim stops to ask where the baby food is (he knows where the baby food is, he was just in a good mood). She’s not sure why, she asked him to help with the grocery shopping and by that she meant the baby wrangling.
“Just down aisle 3 sir.” The employee says and she blushes red when Tim smiles at her. “I can walk you—”
“We got it.” Lucy says. Tim turns to look at her, and then turns back to the employee.
“We got it.” He confirms. “Thank you.” The girl nods and Lucy turns around, Tim catches up to her.
“You know where the baby food is. You bought it for me—” She stops. Tim had gotten her baby food before. It was awhile ago but Lucy was exhausted and she came home to nothing in the pantry for Emma. She called Tim because he was the last person she had called and at the top of her recents lists.
It was a little strange that he was doing all this for her when they weren’t together. They were just friends.
Friends.
He was without a doubt the person she relied on most apart from Jackson. But Jackson had moved away. Lucy was once again alone in LA, except she had Tim now. And everyone at the station.
There was just something about Tim that made her feel safe and comfortable.
He also made her baby happy, and she trusted Tim. Emma was a mama’s girl, she didn’t trust anyone.
Until Tim.
“Not at this store.” Tim says. “I went to the one closer to your apartment. Plus it has some organic options. So—”
Lucy gapes at him a little, she swears Tim was already like a dad to Emma. “Fair.” She says. “Why are we at the one closer to your house then?”
“Because that’s where we were.” Tim says shrugging like this is normal and it is normal. This is normal for them. Lucy has no idea when that even became a thing.
“We have to drive to my apartment to put it all away. And Emma’s things are at your house.” Lucy says.
“Yes and?” Tim asks. “Why is that weird?”
“It’s not—”
“Oh my gosh Tim?” A voice says. Tim freezes and Lucy does too. The voice sounds familiar although Lucy’s not sure why. “What are you doing here?”
Lucy sees a blonde woman looking at Tim. Her eyes are on his face and completely avoiding Emma who is in his arms with her head on his shoulder.
“Shopping.” Tim says drily. “Isn’t that what everyone is doing?” Lucy lets out a laugh and the woman turns to look at her.
“Something funny?” She asks snidely. She doesn’t wait for Lucy to answer but instead turns back to Tim. “I was just thinking of you. Do you want to have coffee? There’s a great place—”
“No.” Tim says. “I am shopping with Lucy and Emma.”
“Well that’s her kid right?” The woman asks. “You aren’t the dad. Just give it back and let’s go.” Lucy feels something get lit up inside of her. She doesn’t know who this woman was (she looks familiar) but she doesn’t like that she is hitting on Tim like he isn’t busy doing something. She doesn’t like that she referred to her daughter as it.
“Yeah I am going to stay with Lucy and Emma.” Tim says his face looks a little twisted. It must have bothered him as well. “She wants me.” He emphasizes the she and gestures to Emma. He’s not lying about that. Emma seemed extra attached to Tim lately, she would call for him every morning.
(What was going on with them? They were just friends.)
“You are a glorified babysitter because her mother can’t take care of her.” The woman says sending Lucy a nasty look. “You can do what you want.” Lucy’s not sure what she did to this woman other than being with Tim.
(Not with Tim. No just with him at the store with her daughter buying groceries).
“And I am.” Tim says. “You have no idea what you are talking about. Lucy is an amazing mother.”
The woman doesn’t seem to hear a word Tim says. “Well I think you should call me sometime.” The woman says. “I will show you a good time.”
Lucy feels a flare of jealous, and she’s not sure why. She shouldn’t be jealous. Tim is not hers, she has no reason to be jealous.
“You know what Tim.” Lucy says and she’s reaches to take Emma from him. The little girl reaches for him, and Tim looks confused and a little hurt. “Go on. I can handle this.” She puts Emma in the basket and turns away from Tim.
She goes down an aisle and then another one. “Im.” Emma says sadly. “Im.”
“I know baby.” Lucy says. “Im is busy.” Emma’s lip trembles and Lucy gives her a kiss on the forehead.
Lucy keeps walking and turns a corner almost crashing into…Tim.
“What the hell Lucy?” He says and then walks over to Emma and picks her up. The baby squeals happily and hugs Tim.
Tim looks at Lucy like he’s expecting an answer. “What?” She asks. “You two were hitting it off.”
“No we weren’t.” Tim says. “She’s a nuisance and annoying. She referred to Emma as it and brat.”
“Oh hell no.” Lucy mutters. Tim gives her a knowing look. “I just thought you would want to get a cup of coffee with her.”
“I would rather change Emma’s diaper all day than hang out with her.” Tim says drily and he looks serious. “She is not…” He looks at his eyes scanning her up and down.
“What?”
“Nothing.” He says. “Just don’t leave me alone like again.” Lucy studies him now, she is so confused as to what is going on.
“Fine.”
“You weren’t jealous were you?” Tim asks bumping her shoulder. “Because there’s nobody…” He stops again and bounces Emma a little.
“She came on a little strong but no I wasn’t jealous.” She says (that’s a lie) but she’s not about to admit it.
“Sure.” Tim says. “And I agree about her coming on strong.”
“Good.” Lucy says. Tim nods and he looks like he wants to say something else but decides against it.
(There are so many things that she wants to say too. But she decides against it.)
“Let’s finish shopping.” Tim says. Lucy nods and follows him when he starts walking.
She would deal with all these confusing feelings later.
She would.
For right now, shopping with Tim and Emma is exactly where she needs to be.