Page 129 of Oathbreaker

Ella’s voice rings out close to me, an aisle over. “Do you want any candy, Winter?”

“No!” I practically shout. “Um, no, I’m good,” I say with more finesse. She gives me a perplexed look, so I spin on my heel to grab a water bottle. I close the fridge before thinking better of it and grab a second.

Clutching everything to my chest, I rush to the cashier. It’s the same guy who’s always there.

“Hey,” he drawls, and I bare my teeth at him, resisting a snarl.

Today is not the day. I am not the one.

He averts his eyes after a blink, and I hunch my shoulders when I feel Rio move to wait behind me. When I turn to track his gaze, apprehension nearly drowns me when I notice they’re focused on the pregnancy tests.

Shit.

I don’t know if I think the word or say it out loud, but he makes a motion in front of his mouth to indicate, My lips are sealed.

I mouth “Thank you” to him, unable to vocalize words.

With my heart beating out my chest, I jump when the cashier tells me my total. Grabbing my wallet, I stop again, letting out a choked laugh when I read the name on my credit card.

Winter V. Brigham

Jesus fucking Christ.

“Can we fight about it later?” I hear Hunter say in my brain.

We most certainly will.

Jamming the card in the reader, I don’t wait for a receipt before grabbing the bag and card once approved.

Taking a breath, I stuff everything in my oversized purse.

When the car door slams, it wakes Veronica, who snorts before becoming coherent.

“Where’s my water, home skillet?” I hand her the bottle I bought and with a deep breath, I start drinking mine.

Holy. Fucking. Shit.

Dichotomy is blessedly empty when we arrive. I consider Hunter’s vague threat and if he did, in fact, clear out the shop. But then I see a table with the newest releases and beeline to the display.

“This place is cool,” Ella says, her eyes ping-ponging around the store. Since its mid-morning, the food side operates as a café. “Okay, I’ll order. Blueberry scone for mama here.”

“And I want the spring salad with chicken,” Veronica adds. Ella nods.

“Got it. What do you want, Winter?”

The smell of roasting beans is strong here, but I find that it soothes my stomach rather than making me queasy.

“Just a black tea with milk for me and a grilled cheese and tomato soup,” I say.

Ella walks off and I turn to Veronica. She looks around the store as if she’s searching for something.

“What ya looking for?” I ask, sneaking behind her. She jumps almost a foot into the air.

“Jeez, girl, wear a bell or something!” she whisper-shouts.

I gape at her until Ella bounds back up to us. “Orders placed! Let’s grab a table.” She loops her arm in mine, and I steer us toward the patio.

“Indoors, please, Mrs.Brigham,” Rio says in a low voice when he reaches us at the door. I stare at him for one-two-three moments, my dread increasing with every tick of the second hand.

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