Page 60 of Last Date

I waved at her. “No. I’ll go. I wanted to pick up some allergy medication anyway.”

Hesitating, Helen said, “Are you sure?”

“Yep.” I headed to the door. “Do you guys need anything?”

“Ooh, get some donuts,” Charlene said excitedly.

I frowned. “From the drugstore?”

“No, silly. Sugar Dot Donuts is right across the street.”

“I was just getting ink, now I’m making a donut run?”

Charlene held out her hands in a praying gesture. “I’ve been craving their maple bars. Please, please, boss?”

Groaning, I said, “Fine.”

“Yay! Thank you. I’ll love you forever for this.”

I shook my head and left the shop. Maybe I should have refused her request, but I hated disappointing her. Or anyone. I probably needed to learn how to say no more often, but it seemed easier just to give in sometimes.

When I entered the drugstore, I went to the office supplies section first. Once I found the cartridge I needed for the printer, I headed across the store to the pharmacy. I was browsing the types of allergy medication they offered, searching for a non-drowsy formula, when I saw Selena on another aisle.

Her eyes were red, as if she’d been crying, and she looked more disheveled than the last time I’d seen her. I decided to say hi, to see if maybe I could do anything to cheer her up. As I neared her, she seemed to shrink, looking startled.

“How are you, Selena?” Since we’d already seen each other, I couldn’t not speak to her, even if she looked less than thrilled to see me.

Her face twitched. “Uh… great. How are you… Kip, right?”

“I’m good.”

“Glad to hear it.” The serene, sophisticated young lady who’d greeted me on Allister’s boat was nowhere to be seen. This version was fidgety, and her eyes darted around the store. Her hair was up in a messy pile on top of her head, and her rumpled clothing looked like she’d just fallen out of bed.

I glanced at her basket, noticing three bottles of peroxide and two boxes of bandage rolls. I frowned. “Is everything okay?”

She followed my gaze. “Yes.”

“That’s a lot of peroxide.”

She swallowed hard. “It was on sale, so I grabbed some extras. I’m… bleaching my roots today.”

“Ahhh.” Her roots looked plenty bleached already, but I was no expert.

She shifted nervously. “The bandages are for one of the crew. He cut his hand.”

“I see.” I smiled politely. “I was wondering how you’re holding up. I know the last few weeks must have been hard for you.”

Her face softened momentarily. “Yes, it’s been horrible. At least we still have jobs. The Green family has kept us on to maintain the yacht, thank goodness.”

“I’m glad.” I grimaced. “I was horrified to hear that Elon had been attacked last night.”

She gripped the handle of her cart tight. “Shocking. Sickening.”

“Yes.”

“I feel like the world has gone insane,” she whispered.

“I understand why. You’re very close to the Green family.”