Page 48 of This Blood That Binds Us

Hanging on the cart, he averted his attention, cleaning the dirt from under his fingernails. “I don’t have a plan right now, I guess. I’ll just tag along when my brothers go out again. They like to go together...but I don’t know. It feels too casual. Too weird. I don’t like it.”

I tried to imagine myself in Aaron’s position. What it would be like to have to attack the innocent for their blood. The fear. The guilt. It hurt to even imagine. Despite being one of Aaron’s victims, I knew it was harder to imagine him having to do something like that. As I got to know him, I could see howcompletely devastating it must have been for him to have to make those choices.

I nudged him to try to get him to perk up. “Come on, let’s go check out.”

Upon reaching the checkout counter, the cart was full of junk.

“What is all this stuff? How did you even get it in the cart without me noticing?” I hoisted the groceries onto the conveyor belt.

“I have my ways.” Aaron snickered. “Don’t worry, I’m paying for it all.”

“Uh, no, you’re not. I can pay for it myself.” I leaned into the cart and fumbled for my purse.

“Kim, I’m paying for it. I put like eighty percent of the stuff in here.”

Ignoring him, I continued to search for my wallet in my cluttered purse.

He walked around me to stand in front of the cashier. “Don’t listen to her. I’m paying.”

I snatched my wallet from my purse. “Hey! Don’t listen to him. I’m paying.”

The young cashier stood frozen, dumbfounded with our banter.

“Ah ha!” I grabbed my card and held it in the air.

Aaron spun around me, blocking the card reader. “Nope, nope. Not happening!”

“Aaron, no, you’re not paying for my groceries.” My frustration was building as I sighed and folded my arms. “What are you doing?”

He held up his hands in surrender, his voice soothing. “I promise I’m not trying to win by trying to assert some weirdo dominance over you. I’m your friend, and I want to pay because I picked all this stuff out. I. Feel. Bad.”

“Okay, I get that, but I don’t need you to do that. I can pay for them.”

Aaron smiled again. “Then, I’m sorry.”

I raised a brow. “Sorry?”

“For this!” In one fluid motion he swiped the card from my hand and chucked it as far as it would go.

I could hear the distinct snap of the plastic as it landed two aisles away. I dashed after it with a grunt. As quickly as my anger came, it was gone. It disappeared as I combed through the dusty tile floors. Upon reaching the corner aisle, a girl with long brown hair greeted me.

“Oh my gosh. Thank you so much! I’m so glad you found it.”

Her eyes were glossy, vacant. None of the muscles in her face other than her mouth moved.

“Here you go.”

I slowly reached out to grab the card, observing her blank expression. “Okay, thanks again.”

“Here you go.”

Something about her didn’t sit right. Her unblinking expression never left mine as I turned to leave and headed for the front door.

Aaron was casually leaning against the cart, waiting for me.

“You’re a jerk.” I crossed my arms.

“Sorry, Miss Independent. It had to be done.” He watched me, probably expecting me to smile, but I turned back toward the aisle I had come down.