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“Again, the mature thing to do.”
He smirked, his eyebrow lifting some. “Not what you expected, is it?”
“I’m not sure what I expected, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised. Go on with your story.”
Her salad was brought out, his sandwich with it.
“So we left the school weeks ago. That morning she wanted coffee the first time.”
“You told me that.”
He was betting Marly forgot little in her life.
“She really liked the coffee being iced. I thought it’s better than soda and what better way to get her what she needs at the store for her other issue.”
“Her period,” she said. “Can you say it without flushing?”
He squinted one eye at her. She was casually pushing her fork through a cucumber, bringing it to her lips that he wanted to get his mouth on again, then putting it in and chewing slowly. Almost seductively.
Though he knew damn well that wasn’t her intent.
She was just eyeing him for a reaction.
He was having one alright.
In his pants with his dick shifting for more space.
“Her period,” he said, his eyes locked on hers, his face not even feeling a little heat. “I wanted her to get what she needed for when she got her... period.”
“Aww, you look so cute right now.” She leaned closer. “It’s very sexy that you’re being so good about this.”
“I can’t be any other way,” he said simply. “But that day. Damn. We go to Target, I tell her she can have her own Keurig.”
“Bet she was thrilled.”
“You’re telling me. I spent over a hundred dollars for her to get her pads. See, didn’t even flinch.”
“But you were sweating in the aisle looking them over, weren’t you?”
“Fuck yeah,” he said, his voice lower. Not because he didn’t want to swear in front of her, but because he didn’t want to draw attention to her or anyone who might be watching.
“See, sweet again.”
“So there we are, in the aisle and Bella is picking up one package after another, reading the front and back, placing it back down, doing it again.” He shook his head. “I thought she was messing with me.”
He took another bite of his sandwich.
“I would have.”
“Might be a teenage girl thing,” he said around a mouthful. “But after she’d said she’d already been researching things for when it happened. Guess her friends are a little ahead of her.”
“I was twelve when I got mine the first time.” He wasn’t able to stop the wince. “TMI?”
“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”
“Just a smidge,” she said, her thumb and finger up in a pinch.
“So we get through that,” he said. “I’m happy, figured we are in a good spot. I picked her up at her friend’s yesterday and she said Regan told her she needs to do more. And that means talking to me about what she wants to do.”
