Free Seven by Susan Renee

you know.”
    Rachel looks at me like I just smacked her in the face with extremely hurtful words. Fuck that. She doesn’t get to judge me. I know how to take care of a sick girl. I’m a goddamn pro really.
    “I know, Bryant,” she says. “I know you are. Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that.”
    “And if I’m not mistaken, I’ve come to your aid a few times with a hot cup of…” I stop talking when the idea hits me right in my face.
    That’s it!
    “Rachel, I’m doing this. I got this. Don’t worry. Just text me later and I’ll let you know how she is. Are you still on for tonight with Ivy? Cause this morning she was going on and on about manicures and pedicures and shit like that.”
    Rachel laughs and shakes her head. “Yes we are definitely doing girl’s night. Don’t worry, I’ve got it covered. Just don’t mess this up.”
    I release the breath I was holding before I nod and give Rachel my victory smile. “I won’t. And thank you for doin’ this, Rache.” I start to retreat from the back room of the salon so I can head to my next destination.
    “Yeah, yeah, I hope I don’t regret this.” I hear her mumble as I head towards the door.
    “Later, ladies.” I nod to Audrey and Heather and hear their farewells as I leave the salon and hop into my truck.
    *****
    Putting the truck in reverse and heading out onto the road, anxiety creeps up at what I’m about to do. I know I told Rachel that I can take care of a sick girl, and I can, but this is a make-or-break situation for me. Either I’ll win her over with my compassionate heart or I’ll creep her out and forever be known to her as Stalker Number One. What does a twenty-seven-year-old woman want when she’s sick? Does she just have a bad cold so she wants a warm blanket or is she in the constant state of puke and just needs a washcloth and a sturdy bucket? A guy needs to know these things and I hate to admit that I just don’t. If she could just make it easy on me and tell me she wants to me to hold her, let her snuggle up next to me and sleep, that could make this day a victorious one. I doubt I’ll get that lucky.
    I pull into the nearest drug store and walk slowly down each aisle, hoping that my eye will catch something great that Savannah might really appreciate. I figure some Advil and Tylenol are good choices, along with plenty of Gatorade, just in case she’s feeling dehydrated. Since I don’t know which one is her favorite, I pick several different flavors. I steer clear of the lemon-lime one though because who drinks that shit? It tastes like cleaning solution…or at least what I think cleaning solution would taste like if I ever had to try it. I also spot a box of crackers and some Jell-O. When I was a kid, my grandmother used to tell me that there’s always room for Jell-O. I believed her until she tricked me into eating spinach by putting it into her lime Jell-O. Never again Grandma, never again. I quickly add a few more things (and by a few I mean a lot more things) to my basket. I figure it’s better to be safe than sorry.
    “Whoa. Someone must be really sick. Are you sure you got everything?” The girl at the counter, the one with spiked purple hair and a nose ring hanging out of her nostril that I feel the urge to pull, pops her gum and smirks at me. I’m pretty sure she’s making fun of me for buying what looks like all of aisle six but fuck if I don’t give a rat’s ass what she thinks.
    “Well Princess, why don’t you tell me since you seem so concerned with what I’ve chosen. She may be a little sick or she may be a lot sick. I won’t know that until I see her so back up the sarcasm truck and help a guy out, huh?”
    And chew with your mouth closed. I’m sure your mother didn’t raise a cow.
    Spikey cashier girl narrows her eyes at me and pops her gum one more time. She releases a loud sigh when she sees that I’m not in the mood for her sarcastic bullshit and chews on the side of her mouth for a moment