Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 106538 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 533(@200wpm)___ 426(@250wpm)___ 355(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106538 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 533(@200wpm)___ 426(@250wpm)___ 355(@300wpm)
I point to a spot on the floor. “Stand right here. Don’t move.”
She rolls her eyes. “Is blinking moving?”
I don’t answer with more than a frown before following the man into the office.
“One of our employees said they saw you put something in your bag without paying for it.” He nods to the bag. “I need to see your bag and your receipt.”
I set the bag on the desk. “The receipt is in the bag. But I can tell you right now there is a box of condoms in the bag that won’t be on the receipt.”
He retrieves the receipt and unloads the groceries.
I keep my mouth shut until he finishes and makes eye contact.
“Listen.” I sigh. “I don’t know if you have kids, but I’m a single dad, and—”
“Sir, if money is an issue, there are places you can get free contraceptives. I really should report—”
“No.” I shake my head a half dozen times. “I know what this must have looked like, but can I tell you what actually happened?”
He glances at his watch as if he may or may not have time to listen to my explanation.
“It wasn’t my plan to bring my daughter with me, but I had no choice.”
That’s not entirely true, but I don’t think he has time to hear how Lola’s sad eyes have brought me to my knees since her mother died.
“I bought all of those groceries, sent her out to wait by our bikes, and then I was trying to buy a box of condoms without her knowing. But she came back inside, and I panicked and tossed them into the bag so she wouldn’t see them. Then I was ushering her toward the door to have her wait outside for me while I paid for them, but you stopped me before I had the chance to do that.”
He removes his hat, exposing his bald head, and scratches above his ear while eyeing me with suspicion.
I pull out my wallet and set a fifty on the desk. “You can keep the change if I can walk out of this store without the police being called.”
“Are you trying to bribe me?”
I deflate, hand on my hip, head bowed. “I’m trying to thank you for understanding my situation. I’m trying to thank you for not making a big deal out of this, since the last thing my daughter needs, after surviving a car accident that killed her mom, is for her dad to be arrested for shoplifting a box of condoms.”
I hate myself. This is the lowest. I never imagined the day would come when I’d use Brynn’s death and Lola’s trauma to elicit sympathy.
The guy clears his throat and pockets the fifty. I’m not the only one in this room struggling with morality. He repacks the groceries, putting the box of condoms at the bottom of the bag.
“I’m sorry about your wife.” He hands me the bag of groceries.
I take them with more force than necessary and turn toward the door. “Yeah, I can tell you’re really sorry.”
Lola licks her lips after taking a sip of the soda. “What’s a survey?”
“Come on. I’ll tell you later.”
Chapter Seventeen
Maren
“This is stupid.” I stare at Ozzy’s house from across the street. It’s nine fifteen on Sunday night, and the main level of his house is dark. With a shallow breath of courage and a lapse in common sense, I climb out of my RAV and sneak around to the south side of the house, loose rocks along the hill threatening my footing. There are two windows, but one is small, like a bathroom window, so I choose the bigger window, with light behind the drawn shades. Before I tap on it, I play it safe and text Ozzy.
Maren: Hey
Ozzy: Hey! U back in Missoula?
Maren: Yes. What are you doing?
Ozzy: Staring at the TV
Maren: Want to stare at me instead?
My phone vibrates with a FaceTime from Ozzy. I bite my lower lip and shake my head while answering it.
He squints at the screen. “Where are you? I can barely see you.”
“Sorry. I’m outside.”
“What are you doing outside at this time of night?”
“I think I’m on a booty call of sorts that’s not going as planned,” I say.
He blinks several times before he stands up from his bed. “Are you . . .” He opens his blinds, and I wave.
The etched confusion on his face softens, and his lips curl into a killer smile. He ends the call and opens the window.
“Is this okay?”
He helps me inside. “It’s definitely okay.”
I glance around his room while unzipping my hoodie. My curiosity about his space takes a back seat to his bare chest.
Ozzy’s lips twitch when I tear my gaze away from his chest and focus on his face.
I blush with a slight laugh. “Sorry. I, uh . . .” I cross my arms.