Page 29 of Voices

What the fuck is he doing?

He notices me giving him a weird look. “What? This is how you find a good one. If the bottom smells sweet, then the inside is sweet.” He grabs two more that he also sniffs and places in his cart.

He looks at my three prepackaged fruits and raises an eyebrow. “You know it’s cheaper to get the whole fruit and prep it yourself.” He lifts a watermelon and rolls it around in his hands.

I shrug. “Let me guess, if there’s water sloshing around, it’s no good,” I say, avoiding his comment about saving money.

“No, smart ass. I was looking at the field spot and seeing how much it weighs. This one is perfect.” He places it in his cart and strolls away.

“How did you get Lily’s number anyway?”

“She actually gotmynumber from someone and texted me this morning. I told her that I’d bring you home and to not worry about coming to get you. She then mentioned that you guys were going to go grocery shopping and asked if I could take you on our way to your place.”

I don’t remember making those arrangements with her.

I stand next to him as he looks at all the red meat. I cover my nose and mouth with the hoodie and count in my head until he’s got four packages in his cart. Thankfully, he continues past the rest of the meat and stops in the dairy section.

I grab a small tub of cream cheese spread and a carton of oat milk while Shane grabs a shit load of Greek yogurts and two gallons of milk.

Looking in my cart, all I need are some bagels, a new box of Froot Loops, and Sun Chips, and I’ll be done. Maybe some Double Stuf Oreo’s, too.

Shane has walked off when I look back up. I look down the aisles we are standing by, but I don’t see him. Blood starts whooshing in my ears as my hands start trembling.

I can do this. Just get what I need, pay, and meet him at his truck.

I look up at the aisle boards and find the one that has bread and cereal. I make my way to it while avoiding as many people as possible. By the time I’m standing in front of a wall of cereal, my heart is beating like it’s trying to escape my chest. I scan the wall for the familiar red box with the toucan on it, but they’re all blurring together.

Get your shit together!

You’re almost twenty-one fucking years old, you should be able to shop without a fucking panic attack.

You’re a damn disgrace to society!

A high-pitched ringing pierces through my panic, breaking the hold the voices had on me. I look around trying to find the source when the sound registers. It’s the generic ringtone that came with my phone.

I pull it out of my hoodie pocket.

“H-hello?”

“Charlie? Where’d you go? I said I would be right back.”

“Sh-Shane. P-please.”

“Where are you? I’m coming.”

“Cereal.”

“I’m right around the corner.”

Before I can hang up, he’s walking toward me.

“I’m here. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to leave you like that. I thought you heard me when I said I forgot to grab chicken and that I’d be right back.”

His hands are on my shoulders.

I can smell his body wash.

I can hear his voice.

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