Page 203 of The Girlfriend Clause
He picked up another. “This one? It’s on special.”
“Even better.”
At the end of the aisle, a man struggled with a stack of multipack water bottles, trying to balance them in his trolley. One slid off and thumped onto the floor.
“Here.” Liam crouched and lifted it back up. “They’re awkward.”
Did he realize I noticed things like that? That I was watching all the time, that it mattered to me how kind he was to other people, even when he thought nobody waslooking?
The man muttered a thanks and wheeled his trolley away, still looking annoyed at the world.
In the stationery aisle, Liam picked up a copy ofModern Paintersand waved it at me.
“Hey,” he said. “You ever been in this?”
“That’s a little out of my league.”Sweet of him to think it, though.
“You never know. When do you find out about your portrait?”
“Any day now.” I crossed my fingers and held them up. I felt more excited about the idea of it selling now. I still hadn’t heard from Sebastian since we’d got back three weeks ago, but if it had been significant, surely he’d have followed up, right?
“Now, just one more thing and we’re done,” I said, scanning the shelves for hand soap.
Ah, there it was.
Right next to the incontinence pads.
Mum’s face beamed up at me from thirty packs of Defenda, like she was beyond thrilled about her imaginary pelvic floor issues.
My eyes shot over to Liam. He was looking at them too.
“The UK’s premium brand,” he said, turning a pack over like we were discussing teabags. “Should we… ah—”
“No, we absolutely should not,” I said. A nearby head turned.
“Oh. I didn’t—” Liam straightened instantly.
“I know that,” I hissed. “But I don’t need them.”
“Sorry, Andy.” He paused. “It’s very common, you know. Nothing to be embarrassed about.”
“I’m not embarrassed.”
“Seriously, I don’t give a shit if you—”
“Liam! Idon’t.”
“Okay.”
“That’s my mum,” I said.
“Your mum uses them?”
“It’s her. On the packaging.”
“Oh.” He squinted at the pack. “Ohhh.”
Oh my God.
