WHEN LOVE RETURNS

CHAPTER 7

After the awkward breakfast with Sam, where his teasing lingered in Erica's mind, Aunt Nena announced it was time to head to the market. Erica barely suppressed a groan. Why do I feel like every day here is going to be an ordeal? Still, she followed Aunt Nena and Sam to the truck, her head filled with dread.

As they pulled up to the market, the bustling energy hit her immediately. Vendors shouted over one another, their voices blending into a chaotic hum. Erica's nose scrunched involuntarily as an overwhelming medley of smells invaded her senses: fish, fresh produce, raw meat, and something she couldn't quite place but found particularly unpleasant.

"Oh my gosh," Erica whispered under her breath. She turned to Aunt Nena, forcing a polite smile. "It's... lively here."

"It's wonderful, isn't it?" Aunt Nena replied with a grin, clearly in her element. She handed Erica a woven basket. "You'll be helping me carry the goods."

Erica looked at the basket as if it were some ancient artifact. Is this a joke? I don't even carry my own shopping bags in the city. She glanced at Sam, who was leaning against the truck with his usual unbothered expression. He caught her eye and smirked.

"Don't look so lost, Miss City Girl," he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "It's just a basket. It won't bite."

"Ha-ha," Erica replied flatly, rolling her eyes. "I'm just not used to... this."

"Well, you better get used to it," he shot back, already walking toward the rows of stalls. "Life here isn't like your fancy malls."

Erica sighed and followed reluctantly, clutching the basket as if it were a punishment. Aunt Nena led the way, expertly navigating the crowded market. Erica trailed behind, trying not to trip over the uneven ground.

"Here, Erica, grab those tomatoes," Aunt Nena said, pointing to a pile of bright red produce.

Erica hesitated, eyeing the dirt smudged on their skins. "Uh... they're a bit... dirty."

"They're fresh," Sam said, his voice tinged with impatience as he picked up a handful and tossed them into the basket. "That's how real food looks before it's scrubbed clean for your supermarket shelves."

Erica huffed, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. Great. Now he's the food expert too. "I wasn't complaining," she muttered, though her expression said otherwise.

As they moved to the fish section, Erica's discomfort grew. The smell was overpowering, and she wrinkled her nose in disgust. "Do we really have to stop here?"

Aunt Nena laughed. "How else do you expect us to have fresh fish for dinner?"

"I don't even like fish," Erica mumbled under her breath, but Aunt Nena didn't seem to hear her.

Sam, however, did. He turned to her with a raised eyebrow. "Let me guess. You prefer your seafood in the form of sushi, delivered straight to your door?"

Erica glared at him. "Actually, I don't eat sushi either. Too raw for my taste."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "Figures."

As they continued through the market, a group of kids darted past Erica, one of them accidentally bumping into her. She stumbled, feeling something wet and muddy splash against her feet. She looked down in horror to see her sandals smeared with mud.

"Ugh! Seriously?!" she exclaimed, her voice rising above the market noise. "Can't people control their kids?"

Sam, who was a few steps ahead, glanced back at her. "Relax. It's just mud. It's not the end of the world."