Page 64

WE’VE GOT TIME

“Ultra deluxe. Ribbed for her pleasure. Strawberry?” I continued reading the marketing copy about how a piece of plastic would make me a better lover. “What part of that sounds sexy?”

The pharmacy in Firefly still had a sign out front that read “Chemist.” When I walked in, it was deserted, and not even a cashier could be found. I assumed they were out back mixing potions and harvesting their eye of newt.

I didn’t know when I’d see Bobby again, but this time, I wasn’t going to show up without condoms… an entire box of condoms. For such a small town and a pharmacy with only two aisles before reaching the pharmacist’s counter, they certainly had a wide selection.

“Magnums. Extra girth.” Only one box left on the shelf. Well, damn. Either there were some wishful men in Firefly or the fresh mountain air made for impressive packages. I took the last package. As far as I was concerned, Bobby qualified.

I snatched a box of good ol’ fashioned condoms on the off-chance Bobby wanted me to climb on top of him. While they had an impressive selection of condoms, their lube left something to be desired. I grabbed a bottle. “It’ll do,” I mumbled to myself.

Now that I looked like a sex-crazed maniac, I tried to maintain a level of maturity.

I remembered stealing my first box of condoms as a kid and feeling guilty.

I slid the cashier an extra ten dollars before leaving.

In hindsight, I’m pretty sure the man behind the counter knew exactly why I paid penance.

The pharmacist popped up from behind the counter. I was surprised to see a young woman. Considering the folks in town, I was expecting Harvey or Walter. I gave a slight wave as I walked by. Now that I had enough supplies for at least a date or two, I needed munchies.

If Rose found out I partook in something as mundane as cheesy stix, she’d throw a fit. A day hadn’t passed without her preparing a pie, cookies, cupcakes, and, just for fun, a seven-layer cake. Firefly wasn’t good for my waistline, and at this rate, I’d be diabetic before I left.

“But it’d be fun getting there,” I mused.

I grabbed a bag of chips and headed to the front of the store. As I passed the cooler, I frowned at the sight of Moxie. The taste returned with a vengeance. I’d never be rid of it. I’d have to find a way to get my revenge on Edward and Bobby.

When I reached the register, I spotted the small silver bell. With a vigorous tap, it filled the store. I dumped my purchases on the counter while I looked through the breath mints.

Bending down, I hunted for my favorite wintergreen. I could hear the pharmacist walking down the aisle and sliding behind the counter. Plenty of mint but no wintergreen. I’d have to settle.

“It’ll have to do.”

“Find everything??—”

I froze at the sight of Will in a white dress shirt and tie. On his chest, a small red name tag read, “William.” My surprise turned to embarrassment as he glanced down at my purchases.

“I… uh??—”

“Oh God, don’t say anything.”

I nodded. It was one thing for Abraham and Laurel to make jokes. Now, the kid questioning my motives with his uncle held the scanner. Picking up a box of condoms, we avoided eye contact as it beeped.

“Find everything you need?”

“And this.” I slid the mints between the chips and lube.

“Can’t have you defiling my uncle with bad breath.”

My cheeks didn’t warm; they burned. It’d be comical if we were on good terms. Laurel would have thrown a fit, saying she didn’t want to know about it.

Abraham would have likely given me a punch in the shoulder and a knowing smirk.

Will, on the other hand, held up a bag, dropping the box inside, all the while making maximum eye contact.

He didn’t look away as he held up the lube. Beep. Dropped in the bag. The second box, the Magnums, and no reaction other than the beep. He won. I looked away, pretending to examine the store. “So, you work here?” Yes, lame, but what else was I going to say?

“It seems I do.”

“Banking money for college?”

“I’m trying.”

Could I fake a phone call and excuse myself? I had won the hearts of Laurel and Abraham, but it seemed cozying up to Will wouldn’t work. He didn’t hate me, but he wasn’t going to let me through his defenses by charm alone.

“Remember that article?”

His eyebrow rose as he dumped the mints in the bag. I bet he worked through headlines in his head as he rang up my order. Men who overcompensate. Hollywood actor reveals sex addiction. Wet & Wilde: The sordid story.

“Yeah. Have something for me?”

“Not yet??—”

“Come back when you??—”

“I got offered a contract for Centurions 2.”

The disenchanted glare softened. “That’s it?”

I shook my head. “I told them I needed to push back the signing for the play. It’s not a story… yet. I need to figure some things out before??—”

“Does Bobby know?”

I shook my head. “Not yet. That’s why I don’t want this in a newspaper. Yet.”

Will pushed a button on the register. I handed him a credit card as he mulled over the information. He might be a reporter, but I suspected his loyalties were with his family.

“You’re going to talk with him, right?”

I nodded. He handed me the bag. Despite the awkwardness a few minutes earlier, he came out of his shell when it came to his uncle. “I promised you the exclusive. But let me make sure it’s a story worth printing.”

“I'm trusting you.”

“I'll make sure your story??—”

“With my uncle.”

“I'll earn that trust.”

“I hope so.”

He said nothing as I headed to the door. Will found himself at a crossroads—the story to get him into college and wanting his uncle to have a happily ever after. Or maybe that was me projecting my conundrum?

Outside the pharmacy, I couldn’t sit on this question. There wouldn’t be a miscommunication or secrets kept. I picked up my phone and started texting Bobby. Nope. This deserved a phone call.

With every ring, I tried to find the words. With a delete key at my disposal, I prepared to wedge my foot firmly in my mouth.

“Mon chouchou.”

Yes, I smiled. It had grown on me. “Are you free?”

“Right now, I’m hanging from the rafters in a barn.”

“Seriously? Why’d you pick up?”

“You called. I assumed you were dying.”

“I won’t keep you.” Part of me was relieved. “Date tonight?”

“I think I can clear my schedule. Text me details?”

“Will do. And don’t fall. I make a horrible nurse.”

“But you’d look so cute in a candy striper outfit.”

“Talk soon.”

“Bye. Bye.”

I had a few hours to figure out what I was going to say. It’d only take me figuring out the rest of my life. How hard could that be? Twenty minutes of jotting down notes and then tea with Rose. Easy, right?

I gave a slight shake of the shoulders, straightening out my shirt and zipping up my jacket.

It was time to head home, do some soul-searching by the fire, and prepare for a conversation that could very well change the rest of my life.

Part of me worried I’d make the wrong decision. I let Edward’s words echo in my head.

“Firefly gives us what we need.”

It was time to put my needs first.

“Damn, Rose.”

The lake appeared like glass, not even the slightest ripple across the surface.

On the far side, the mountains poked above the tree line, reaching into the clouds.

Between two peaks, the sun had started its descent, turning the sky a vibrant orange.

If not for the sound of Bobby’s truck approaching, this would have been the definition of serenity.

I crossed my legs, getting comfortable on the pier. I ran my hand along the wood, the texture reminding me of Bobby’s hands. During the summer, I imagined the locals would put their boats in here and push off to go fishing. Now, there were still chunks of ice along the rim that had yet to melt.

Rose said it would take my breath away. That turned out to be an understatement.

The city at dusk had a charm to it, but not like this.

I had a complicated conversation on the horizon, and yet, my anxiety was nowhere to be found.

Even as the engine cut out and Bobby opened the door, I looked forward to him joining me.

This was too beautiful to experience on my own.

As soon as his boots hit the wood, my heart picked up its pace. Forty feet, and then it widened into a landing. If it had been warmer, I’d have brought a swimsuit and jumped in. I guessed if I did it now, my package would shrivel into nothing.

“You know this is where they had their first date?”

Rose had mentioned it. “She decided on that date she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him.”

Bobby stood next to me before taking a seat. He shimmied closer so our shoulders touched. His hand rested on my thigh. My body craved his touch. Every point of contact felt like a little bolt of electricity.

I wanted to talk, to throw it all on the table, but I couldn’t find the words.

This could ruin a picture-perfect moment, or I could bask in the beauty with someone beautiful.

I leaned against Bobby, resting my head on his shoulder.

Without a word, he wrapped an arm around my back, holding me while we watched the sunset.

One minute turned into twenty. I lost track of time as the last sliver of the sun dipped behind the mountains. Peace. It’s the only thing I could think of. For the first time in years, the world slowed and gave me the opportunity to steep in my thoughts.

“Tessa called me about a contract.”

“That’s great news.”

“Centurions sequel.”

“You don’t sound thrilled.”

I sat upright, spinning about, so I faced him. “It’s going to be nine months of filming. I’m sure I’ll need to be in Georgia, Toronto, or, depending on the script, New Zealand.”

Bobby took my hand, giving it a squeeze. “It sounds like an adventure.”

“You’re not upset?”

He let out a long sigh. When he smiled, it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I knew this had an expiration date.”