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I hate how little consideration I give my answer “Fine”

I turn and walk away

“When?” he calls

Pivoting, I walk a few steps backwards and say, “You’re good at stalking me I’m sur

e you can work out a ti all kinds of feelings straight to ive him my back once more

THE FITZGERALD FAME AND fortune could not have affected my life at the worst possible time

The clerk behind the cash register eyes my purchases and then eyes me She’s an older, shreo with her wrinkles and a curious gleahbor type, constantly peeking out herto spy on people Good thing she isn’t hbor I’d just open ive her a show she’d never forget And I bet she’d never, ever look through ain

“Aren’t you dating Ryan Fitzgerald?” she asks, picking up each box and scanning it Five of them total

It’s in my nature to be rude and tell the bat to mind her business But that little voice in that back of my head—the one I haven’t kicked to the curb yet—still demands I protect Ryan’s reputation Not for his benefit, but for et out of this situation alive, then it’d be stupid to poke the bear before I’ve set the trap

“Yep,” I say with forced cheer Hopefully she doesn’t see how fake my smile is Looks like it was about as effective as Botox would be on her crow’s feet

“I sure hope so if you’ve found yourself in the situation you think you have,” she co a few buttons on the touchscreen “6087”

Goddamn, these are expensive I insert my card into the slot harder than necessary She doesn’tislittle smile

My transaction finishes up as she bags my items And now the aard moment where she waits for the receipt to spew fro her in the eye with the pen clipped to her work vest When she hands the receipt over, I give her the sugariest se

“Thank you so much, ma’am”

We’re both rolling our eyes when I walk away