Rhyne cast him his best dry grin.“What’s the worst it could do?Kill me?”
His friend chuckled in reply and walked past him.“Glad to know you’re still the same old son of a bitch we all know and love.Now get the fuck outta my way.I need to take a piss.I was on the verge of going in the kitchen sink when I decided to check on you one last time.”
Rhyne let out a bark of laughter as the door slammed shut behind him.Shaking his head, he ambled back into the living room where the game had been paused.Nash was nowhere to be seen, but that wasn’t unusual.The man was more of a book mouse than a fan of TV.More than likely the guy was in his room, deep into some tome, as he often was before bedtime.
Noticing the pizza box on the footrest, he lifted the lid to find three slices left untouched.Grabbing one, he resumed his seat on the couch and took a bite.Yes, it had gone cold but he wasn’t picky.
Welsh soon returned and took control of the remote.Together, they watched the rest of the game but Welsh didn’t delete it when they were done in case Nash wanted to view the rest of it.
Tossing the last pizza crust into the box, Rhyne got to his feet.“I’m calling it a night,” he announced.He carried the box into the kitchen, crushing the cardboard so it would fit into the trash.Sucking up the last few drops of diluted blood from the bag, he started to throw it into the insulated backpack, along with the other empties, when he stopped himself.
He couldn’t explain why, but for some unexplainable reason, something was urging him to keep it.Not toss it among the others.
He’d had those strange feelings before.He’d learned that when he’d ignored them, there had always been a price to pay later on.But when he’d given in to them…
Resolute, he left the kitchen for his own bedroom, taking the bag with him where it was safely tucked into the top drawer of his nightstand.
“Tomorrow, I’m going down to the dollar store and get me one of those kiddie books they sell that teaches colors.”
Strangely enough, the idea actually had him looking forward to the coming day.Actually anticipating it like a kid eager about a forthcoming event.
And that hadn’t happened to him in a long, long time.
CHAPTER4
Encounter
Grace awoke the next morning feeling like packed dirt.Worse, she knew what it meant.Strike three came when she discovered she was freshly out of tampons.She had exactly one left, thank heavens, and she needed it that morning.
“Why the hell didn’t I notice it before now and get some when I was at the store last?”
She briefly debated whether or not to buy a few pads from the hospital supply closet, but administration frowned on personnel using them as an on-site supermarket.Of course, there was a chance she could wheedle Bernie into letting her have a couple of pads to get her through until lunchtime when she could make a dash for the corner drugstore.But, again, if admin somehow found out, she’d face disciplinary action.
Grace checked the time.If she hauled ass now, she could pick up a box from the dollar store on her way to work.Tearing off a sheet of paper towel, she grabbed her toaster pastries to dashboard dine and rushed out the door.
The nearest Grab-n-Go Dollar Store was midway between her apartment and the hospital.“And on my side of the road!”It was a fortuitous happenstance.She didn’t have to worry about going up to the next intersection and waiting for the light or for traffic to thin out enough to make a U-turn in order to get to it.Then doing the same thing again once she had her purchase to put her back on track.“I can run in, get a box, and pay in less than five minutes!Tops!”She made a face.“Hopefully.”She gave another check of the time, glancing at the clock on her dashboard.Five minutes she could easily spare.
Fate was smiling down on her.A car was pulling out of a parking slot in front of the store as she pulled in.She took advantage of the opportunity and pulled in.
The clerk behind the counter greeted her with a, “Welcome to Grab-n-Go!”when she entered.Although she’d been to this location before in the past, it wasn’t for the particular item she had in mind.Pausing beside a display of snack chips, she looked for the sign that would give her a clue as to where the tampons would be.
“Can I help you with something?”the clerk inquired.
Grace kept her voice low.“Tampons?”
Smiling, the female clerk whispered back, “Aisle three.”
“Thanks!”
Unfortunately, the direct way to aisle three was blocked by a cart filled with cardboard boxes.Items the clerk was unloading and putting out on the shelves between waiting on customers.Undeterred, Grace turned down the adjacent aisle in order to reach her target via the back way.
She ignored the books, stationery, markers and pens, and blank journals as she strode past them.She almost swept past the man perusing the coloring books and kids’ workbooks until her hunk radar alerted her.She couldn’t help herself, and she allowed herself a few precious seconds to slow down and get an eyeful.
Tall, check.
Built, check.
Handsome…depending on what she could see, oh, yeah.Check.
