“Well, I hope you’ll stick around for the annual cookout.”
Blue frowned. Since when had Lyntacky had an annual cookout?
“We’re in our third year. Surprised your folks haven’t told you about it. Their tofu burgers go down a treat. Anyway, mustdash. Try the fancy oatmeal soap. Does wonderful things for your skin.”
Blue shuffled sideways as LouJean walked by at her usual speed, and then she found herself in an aisle that had a sign that read“things to make bedroom activities fun.”
Only in Lyntacky, Blue thought, seeing a jar of lube and condoms. But at least she was in the right place.
I’m not pregnant. This is just to reassure myself of that.
Looking at the counter, Blue saw a girl she didn’t recognize working there, which was good. There were two other people in the store. One was Bradford, local lab tech, snow plough driver, and pretty much anything else he was needed for. He wasn’t a gossip. The other person she didn’t know.
Moving along the aisle, she found the feminine hygiene products, and then there they were—pregnancy tests. Grabbing the first one she came to, Blue also picked up a few other things she needed. She found the men’s deodorant where Bradford was standing.
“Hey, Blue.”
“Hi, Bradford.”
“How’s things with you?”
“Good. You?”
“Same.”
And that’s how they’d always conversed since first grade.
“The thing is, Blue, there used to be, like, one, maybe two selections of shampoo, and now look at this aisle. I ask you, why do I need green tea to have clean hair?”
“It tastes good, though, right?” Blue had the pregnancy test under the other things she’d picked up, and it felt like it was burning into her palm.
“Real good.”
“I’ll tell you what, Bradford. You pick out a deodorant for Finch, and I’ll pick your shampoo.”
“Deal,” he said without hesitation.
She found a brand her brothers used and handed that to him. He gave her the deodorant, and they were done.
“See you around, Bradford.”
“See you around, Blue.”
He was now checking out hair products, and she needed to get this done so she could breathe easier.
I am not pregnant.
The girl behind the counter didn’t acknowledge the pregnancy test, thankfully, and bagged it all up for Blue. Relieved, she walked out the door and straight into the hard wall of a chest. Hands gripped her shoulders, and she was eased back.
“Are you all right?”
She nodded, her tongue suddenly feeling twice its normal size as she looked up at Jay. Why had she run into him, of all people, here today?
“Of course. Sorry about that.” She took a large step back and away from him. The bag she held made a crackling sound as her grip tightened on it.
He can’t see inside the bag, Blue. Relax.
“Blue, is something wrong? Because it doesn’t need to be weird between us. I thought after boys’ night, we?—”
