Page 178 of Stanton Unconditional

“Where do I get this stuff?” I ask in a rush.

“Huh, what stuff?”

“Girl’s stuff, you idiot, what do you think I mean?” He laughs.

“The pharmacy, fuckwit.”

I nod. “Hmm, makes sense. Right.” I hang up and call Max. “Max, I have to go out for ten minutes. Can you come and sit in the living room and watch Tash for me?”

“Yeah, sure. I will be right up.”

Fifteen minutes later, I am in a pharmacy, walking up and down the aisles looking for the relevant section. My guards are waiting out the front on my instruction. I finally find what I am looking for and my eyes flick over the shelves, hmm. What size? I frown as I look at the large selection of tampons and I rub my chin: mini, regular, super…mini… she would be mini…she’s definitely not super. I grab a basket and ten packets of mini tampons. Now pads. My eyes flick over the packets, wings…wings…what the fuck is that? Night-time, what’s the difference between day and night? I frown and rub my head in frustration. Maternity, I thought women didn’t get their period when they are pregnant. Seriously, I should have listened in school at those sex education classes. I end up grabbing one of each packet and head to the cashier with my hands and basket full.

There are two young girls on the counter and their eyes

flick to each other as I unload my shopping basket. This is embarrassing.

The girl on the checkout smiles. “How many girlfriends do you have?”

I smile in embarrassment. “Just one.”

The both smile broadly at me and I squirm uncomfortably. “Overkill?” I smirk.

“Slightly,” says one of the girls. I smile in return and rub my forehead.

“That will be $192.00, thanks.” The checkout girl smiles. Shit, this stuff is expensive. I nod nervously, pay and head back to the car with my five bags of supplies. Even checkout chicks are now putting shit on me, what next?

I walk into the apartment to find Max sitting on the lounge and I walk past him and carry the bags into the bedroom, Tash is still asleep. I bend and kiss her forehead softly and return to the lounge room.

“Thank you,” I nod to Max. “Did she wake up at all?”

He shakes his head. “No.”

I walk into the kitchen and flick the jug on. I would kill for a decent coffee right now.

“Can I talk to you?” Max asks.

I raise my eyebrows at him. “What is it?”

“I just wanted to explain why I helped Natasha leave LA.” I stare at him deadpan and raise my eyebrows.

“I couldn’t let her be alone in LA, she had no money, and she was so vulnerable. I had watched her go through absolute hell since her father died.”

Fury erupts in my stomach. “And what do you think I had been through? I was in the hospital for a drug overdose.”

“You slept with Amelie and she was distraught,” he replies.

I narrow my eyes at him. “I know what fucking happened,” I yell. “You can go,” I snap. “I’m not explaining myself to you. You have no idea what is going on between Natasha and me, so cut the bullshit!”

He stands. “Are you going to fire me?”

“If it wasn’t for Natasha you would have been out on your ass long before this and you know that.”

“I don’t want animosity between us. I want to stay guarding Natasha and I want us to get along,” he replies.

I roll my eyes and put my hands on my hips as my angry eyes meet his. “At this moment the only thing I am worried about is Natasha waking up. I want her to be safe from that psycho Coby Allender and if you do your job and keep her safe, we will get along just fine. Other than that, I want nothing to do with you.”

He stands slowly.