Page 59 of Storm

Reaching out, Willy tucks it under his arm and takes me over to a lane that’s closed down. “I’m gonna get someone up here to ring you up since you’ve got so much. You want help taking this all outside?”

Smiling widely at him, I nod enthusiastically. “You’ve been a lifesaver, Will. Top fucking notch, man.”

With a chuckle, he starts darts away to get someone to help us, then comes back to help me pile everything on the conveyor belt. “Oh damn, we forgot diapers,” he says once we empty the first cart.

Waving him off, I start working on the second cart as a new employee starts swiping the items over the scanner. “No worries. I’ll come back tomorrow and load up.”

“I’m back here on Thursday.”

“Thursday it is. Hey, you want to meet the kid once he’s here?” I ask, pausing and looking at him seriously. “You can’t touch him, though. But I’ll hold him up so you can look at him.”

Snickering, he nods quickly. “Sure man.” I slip him a hundred bucks, then take off to make my delivery.

It’s not long before I’m fully loaded and a few thousand dollars poorer, but I’ve never been happier as I drive over tomi pétalo y mi bebé’splace. It takes quite a few trips for me to haul everything upstairs after I get her door unlocked.

There’s an empty room her old roommate used to sleep in that will be perfect for our little guy, so I take everything in there and set it on the bed. Looking around the room, ignoring the few boxes that tumble to the floor, I realize she hasn’t bought a single piece of furniture or dresser to put all of this shit in.

I startle when I hear Tatum’s voice from the other room. I didn’t even hear the door open, totally lost in what I’m doing.

“Thanks for letting me help bring your things up. It’s crazy to run into you like that,” he says loudly, and my immediate response is to jump into the closet and quietly shut the door, wincing when the hinges squeak.

Mi pétalois clearly annoyed when she answers. “I’m sure it wasjusta coincidence. All of you guys keep showing up unexpectedly. It’s like you all know… Why is that door open?”

Oh, shit.

I slap my head, completely forgetting that the door to this room was shut when I came in here and I left it wide open. Holding my breath, I keep my eyes squeezed tight as her footsteps grow louder until there’s a loud gasp.

“What the fuck is all this?Dios mío. What?—”

Tatum’s voice cuts her off and grows louder as he moves in front of the closet I’m hiding within. “Damn, Miri. Looks like your friends got you all hooked up. Think it was that Susu girl and her guys that brought it here to surprise you?”

“No,” she hisses. “It was your fucking buddy hiding in the closet you’re conveniently standing in front of. Ezra! Get your ass out here,pendejo!”

My best friend sighs and opens the door, revealing my grin and open arms. “Petal! I wanted to surprise you! Now, I know?—”

Holding out her hand, she doesn’t let me finish. “Give me whatever you used to get into my place.And give me my vibrator back!”

I rush to the bed and pick up a box, then hold it out to her. “Just wait. Look at what I got you. Nipple pads!” I jab a finger toward her breasts and add, “They’re for when those start leaking everywhere.”

She drops her hand, then drops her chin to stare at her gorgeous tits. “Fuck me, I forgot that happens.” Then she shoots her head up with a glare that could light a man up in flames until he’s a pile of ash. “Why are you thinking about my leaking breasts?”

“Willy said it happens.” I blink at my friend who’s covering his mouth to stifle a laugh.

With a groan, she pinches the bridge of her nose. “Look, I know you’re just trying to help, but you can’t just come in here, and youcan’tgo out and spend all your money on things.”

Unsure of why she’s so upset, aside from the whole breaking and entering, I begin to worry I’ve really fucked up. Scratching the scar on my cheek, I turn my head slightly from her.

“I know it seems like a lot, Miri, but I…” I trail off, fighting for the words. “I know new moms need these sorts of things and I want to be the one who gives them to you. It’s the only thing I think I know how to do.”

I can tell my words are making her feel guilty for lashing out at me, so I quickly reassure her.

“Don’t feel bad. I didn’t say that so you’d feel any sort of way other than relieved that now you’ve got these things. Although, we’re going to have to get some furniture and storage things to put it all in. But I won’t get it until you say it’s alright.”

Fighting with herself, she nods once. “Will you let me pay you back for this?”

My head is already jerking side to side in a resoundingno.“Absolutely not. Please don’t give me a penny. Iwantedto get this. There’s this great kid down at the store who knows practically everything about baby shit.”

Dragging her eyes from me, she looks at Tatum. “You know it’s bullshit that you randomly ran into me two hours away from your hometown, right?”

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