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He took a breath, studied the line of people for behind him, and then locked his stare with mine “I’m sorry I didn’t mean to yell”

“It’s okay,” I replied

“No It’s not I’m sorry Can I just, leave the shit here for a second? I have to call my mom”

“Yeah, sure I’ll just suspend the order for now, then we can ring up your iteet the issues worked out No worries”

He almost smiled, and I almost lost it I didn’t know he kne to almost do that Maybe it was just a twitch in his lips, but when they slightly curved, he looked so handso very often

As he stepped to the side and dialed his mom’s number, I tried my best not to eavesdrop on his call I took the next custo their way back to him

“Ma, I’ idiot I swiped the card and it keeps getting declined”

“I know the pin number I entered the pin number”

“Did you use the card yesterday?” he asked “For what? What did you get?”

He moved the phone from his face as histhe receiver back to his ear

“What do you ht thirty-two cases of Coca-Cola?!” he shouted “What the hell are we going to do with thirty-two cases of Coca-Cola?” Everyone in the grocery store turned toward hiaze met mine, and the embarrassly handsome Slowly he turned his back to me and returned to his call “How are we supposed to eat for the next month?”

“Yeah, I get paid toh to—no I don’t want to ask Kellan for ain—Ma, don’t cut me off Listen I have to pay rent There’s no way I’ll be able to—” Pause “Ma, shut the hell up, okay?! You spent our food money on Coca-Cola!”

Short pause Crazy arer

“No! No, I don’t care if it was Diet Coke or Coke Zero!” He sighed, running his fingers through his hair He sat the phone down on the ground for a few moments, shut his eyes, and took a few deep breaths He picked it back up “It’s fine I’ll figure it out Don’t worry about it, all right? I’ll figure it out I’ up No, I’ up Yeah, I know It’s okay I’m not mad, okay? I’m sorry I yelled I’m sorry I’m not mad” His voice beca “I’m sorry”

When he turned back tothe last custoed his left shoulder and stepped closer, rubbing the back of his neck “I don’t think I’s today Sorry I can put the stuff back on the shelves Sorry Sorry” He kept apologizing

My gut tightened “It’s okay Really I’ll handle it I’ off work noay I’ll put it all back”

He frowned again I wished he would stop doing that “Okay Sorry” I wished he’d stop apologizing, too

When he left, I glanced inside his grocery bags Studying the ite The stuff added up to a total of eleven dollars, and he couldn’t even afford that Ramen noodles, cereal, milk, peanut butter, and a loaf of bread—ite

You never kne good you had it until you sa bad someone else did

“Hey!” I shouted, chasing after hiot these!”