"Um … Lex, I don't think I have any condoms."
I frowned at the idea of having a barrier between us. "I'm on the pill. It's okay."
He leaned back and dropped his head on the headrest. "I can't, Lex."
I instantly felt sick. I turned and faced forward. "Why don't you want me, Will?"
He sat up and looked at me. "What?"
I quickly wiped the tear away and whispered, "Can you just take me home?"
Will grabbed my hand. "Lex, look at me."
I slowly turned and looked at him.
"Lex, I want you so damn much that I can hardly breathe. What I can't do is make love to you without a condom. I won't do that to you or me or our future. I promised your dad that I would never hurt you and that I would always keep your best interests first."
///
He closed his eyes and then opened them again. I let out a small sigh as his eyes pierced mine.
"Lex, I don't want anything between us either, but I won't be reckless about this."
I nodded my head and whispered, "Okay. I love you, Will. I just want to be with you." I leaned over and kissed him gently on the lips. Then, I went to turn and get out of the truck.
"Um, Lex?"
I stopped and looked back at him. "Yeah?"
"I think I left the condoms in Colt's truck."
My mouth dropped open, and I felt like I couldn't breathe. "You bought condoms when you were with my brother? Oh my God! Will, how could you?"
"We were in Austin, and we all bought them at the same time. Colt threw them in his toolbox, and I'm pretty sure they're all still there."
His face turned to terror, and he pulled out his cell phone. He sent off a quick text and then looked back at me.
"What? What's wrong?"
"Libby is with Luke."
"So?" I tried to figure out where his panic was coming from.
"Libby. Is. With. Luke. What if he tries … oh God."
He pushed his hand through his hair, and I instantly wished his hands were on my body.
His phone went off, and he read the text message. Then, he looked at me and smiled. "They're all heading to Luke's house to watch movies. Colt and Lauren are going there, too."
I smiled and raised my eyebrows. "See? Nothing to worry about. Luke is not going to try anything with Libby. Will, we're wasting time."
I turned and got out of his truck. I began walking around the front, only to see Will still sitting in the truck.
I laughed and opened his door. "Now what?"
He looked down at me. "We have to go buy condoms."
My smile vanished. Oh, holy hell.
Will parked in front of the Script Shoppe Pharmacy. He looked at me as I looked at him.
"Now what?" he asked as he glanced back at the pharmacy.
"Well, you just walk in and buy some."
Will snapped his head over at me. "Me? Why do I have to be the one who buys them?"
I glared at him. "You're a guy. Guys buy condoms."
"A guy who wants to see the next day's sunrise doesn't buy condoms in his small-ass town where his girlfriend's father has already threatened him in more than one way."
I laughed. "Will, what do you think is going to happen? They're gonna call my dad and tell him you bought condoms? They probably don't even know we are dating." I moved my head down to look into the store's window. "Look, Katy Polk is working. She isn't going to say anything."
"Then, you go buy them if you are so confident."
I shook my head. "Fine. I'm gonna do my thing then."
"What? What does that mean, Lex? You're gonna do your thing?"
I smiled as I opened the truck door and jumped out. "Piece of cake." I walked up to the entrance and pushed the door open.
Katy looked up and smiled. "Hey, Alex!"
I waved and said, "Hey, Katy!"
I started to make my way to where the condoms were displayed. I walked up and looked at them. "Holy crap," I whispered. "Why are there so many? What the heck?"
"Why, hello there, Alex. Do you need some help this evening?"
I closed my eyes and silently prayed to God that I was not hearing Mr. Bell's voice. I opened them and turned to see the pharmacist standing next to me.
"Um … Mr. Bell … well, I, um … " I turned to look back at the wall of condoms. I didn't mean to say it out loud, but I couldn't stop it once it came out of my mouth. "There are so many. What's the purpose of each?"
Then, Mr. Bell kicked into his pharmacist talk. It was like he was talking to me about cold medicine, for Christ's sake. I just stood there, frozen, unable to move as he pitched condoms to me.
Where is the closest rock?
"Now, most of these are about the same. It depends on what you and your partner are looking for." He picked up a box labeled Magnum Ribbed. "These, for instance, have a spiral effect for extra stimulation."
Dying. I'm slowly dying.
He set that box down and picked up the one next to it. "The Trojan Ecstasy is all about comfort. The shape gives you a more natural experience."
I quickly looked around and saw Katy laughing her ass off behind the counter at the front of the store. My mouth dropped open, and she laughed even harder.
"The Trojan Bareskin is forty percent thinner. Again, it's for a more natural experience." He set that box down and picked up another one. "The Magnum Fire and Ice is probably more popular among the younger folks."
///
What did I do in my life to deserve this? Really, what?
"The Fire and Ice has a dual action that provides a warm and tingling sensation to both partners."
Oh. My. God. He didn't just say that.
I quickly reached out and grabbed the Trojan Ecstasy condoms. "These are fine, Mr. Bell. They're for Grace anyway. She's a natural kind of girl." The moment it came out of my mouth, I knew I would be in deep shit with Grace.
Mr. Bell smiled and nodded his head. "How are your parents?"
Awkward. I swallowed hard. "They're doing great." I looked down and whispered, "My father though … if he knew what I was doing, he might have a heart attack."
When I glanced back up, Mr. Bell smiled and nodded his head. "Tell everyone I said hello. Be safe, Alex. That goes for, uh … Grace, too."
I tried my best to smile. "Yes, sir."
I watched as he walked through the door. The pharmacy was closed.
Why in the hell was he even here?
I closed my eyes and shook my head. I quickly turned and made my way up to Katy, who was still giggling. I put the condoms down, and when I looked out the window, Will was gone. His truck was there, but he was gone.
What in the hell?
I looked back at Katy, who shrugged her shoulders. She looked out the window and then quickly rang up the condoms. She then grabbed a few bags of chips, put them all in a bag, and threw in some flyers.
"Oh, Katy, I didn't want the chips, and-"
"Alex?"
No. No, no, no, no!
I gave Katy a look of horror as I heard my father's voice coming from behind me. I smiled and turned around. "Daddy! Oh, hey."
He smiled and tilted his head. "Where's Will?"
I looked back out the window, and Will was crawling over his seat and getting into the backseat.
"Um … "
"Didn't you say he was still at the party, Alex?" Katy said.
I looked back at my father. I'd never lied to him before. "Grace was craving potato chips, so-"
"She borrowed Will's truck. How are you, Mr. Mathews?"
My father glanced down at the bag in my hand. I was shocked my hand wasn't shaking as I stood there and tried to seem normal.
He looked up at Katy. "I'm doing good, Katy. How are your parents?"
"They're good. What can I help you with tonight?"
He looked back at me. "I've had a terrible headache the last two days. I need more Advil."
My heart hurt, knowing that my father wasn't one hundred percent happy about Will and me. I looked down and then back up at him. He smiled and winked at me.
"I'm sorry, Daddy."
He walked up to me and placed his hand on the side of my face. "Go have fun, Alex. Be safe, baby girl. Don't be out too late."
Oh God, the guilt. "Yes, sir. I'll see you tomorrow morning." I turned and looked at Katy.
She winked at me and motioned for me to go.
I walked out of the drugstore and almost went to the passenger side of Will's truck. Instead, I opened the driver's door and climbed up. I threw the bag into the backseat.
Will cried out, "Shit. Ouch! What in the hell is in the bag?"
"I don't want to talk to you right now, William Gregory Hayes. Not right now."
I started the truck and began backing out. I looked over and saw my father leaving and heading to his truck. I silently thanked God that Mr. Bell hadn't come out to talk to him.
"It's safe to come out now," I said as I shook my head.
Will crawled over the seat and started laughing. "When I saw your dad's truck, I just ducked down. Can you imagine if he had walked in while I was in there, buying condoms?"