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Present Day

Fifteen h No one ever came this far out of Sumit to visit a pharmacy Unless of course they were nineteen and in need of so they didn't want the town to know they had purchased Everything bought at the local pharhout the small town of Sumit, Alabama within the hour Especially if you were unnancy test

I put the pregnancy tests up on the counter and didn't uilt inI didn't want to share with a rando I hadn't even told Cain Since I forced Rush out of o I'd slowly fallen back into the routine of spending all my time with Cain It was easy He didn't press me to talk but when I did want to talk about it he listened

"Sixteen dollars and fifteen cents," the lady on the other side of the counter said I could hear the concern in her voice Not surprising This was the purchase of shairls feared I handed her a twenty dollar bill without liftingshe'd placed in front of noring the factlike this wasn't happening was easier But I had to know

"Three dollars and eighty-five cents is your change," she said as I reached out and took the money in her outstretched hand

"Thanks," I

"I hope it all turns out okay," the lady said in a gentle tone I lifted my eyes and er that I'd never see again but in thatsomeone else know I didn't feel so alone

"Me too," I replied before turning fro toward the door Back into the hot summer sun

I'd taken two steps out into the parking lot when ainst it with his array baseball cap he earing had a University of Alaba his eyes from me

I stopped and stared at hi about this He knew I hadn't come here to buy condoms There was only one other option Even without the ability to see the expression in his eyes I knew that he knew

I sed the luot inand headed out of town Noasn't just er behind the counter that knew My bestfriend knew too

I forced myself to put one foot in front of the other He'd ask questions and I would have to answer After the past feeeks he deserved an explanation He deserved the truth But how did I explain this?

I stopped just a few feet in front of hilad the hat shaded his face It would be easier to explain if I couldn't see the thoughts flashing in his eyes

We stood in silence I wanted him to speak first but after what felt like severalI kneantedfirst

"How did you knohere I was?" I finally asked

"You're staying at ely, she called me I orried about you," he replied