I go to the bathroom to assess the damage, roll up some toilet paper as an emergency stopgap, then squeeze my eyes shut as I face the only possibility left: I have to ask David to go shopping for tampons.
Odds are about fifty-fifty that I’ll survive the embarrassment.
Inhaling deeply, I go knock on his door with a shaking hand. Then I spin away, praying David’s too deeply asleep to hear me. Then I pray that Aunt Flo magically falls and breaks a hip and can’t bother me until tomorrow.
But no such luck.
The door opens, and David sticks his head out. “You okay? Need something?”
I bite my lower lip. My face is flaming so hard that I can’t believe it’s not spontaneously combusting. “Um…”
“Yeah?” He stifles a yawn.
“You don’t…um…have…uh…women’s things, do you? Like in case your cousins visit?”
He blinks, but confusion remains in his eyes. “What women’s things?”
“You know. Like.” I hesitate. Then I tell myself he’s old enough to know that women have periods. And that when we do, we need things. “Tampons or pads?”
His face freezes in shock. “Uh… No. Should I…?” Then his gaze drops to my lower region. “Are you…?”
Oh God, please strike me with lightning now! “Yes. I thought I had some tampons in my purse, but I don’t, and I’m so sorry.” I say it all at warp speed, hoping it’ll be less embarrassing.
Nope. Still extremely embarrassing.
“Ah. Okay.” David nods slowly. “Sure. I’ll go get you some. No problem.”
I sigh with the tiniest bit of relief. He didn’t freak out. He’s probably done this before. I should’ve known that there’s nothing my boss can’t handle. “Thank you so much.”
Chapter Nineteen
David
I change into a T-shirt and shorts then start toward the Walmart that’s open twenty-four seven. It’ll probably have the biggest selection. Because I’m curious, I also circle the block around my home. No reporters. They probably gave up. Sleep is critically important if they want to write good clickbait.
Sneering, I shake my head. Lazy assholes.
Walmart is quiet, with hardly any shoppers. Which is good, because it’ll make the trip fast. Just grab some things, pay and go. How hard can it be?
I walk around the store until I find the stuff Erin needs, which is stocked next to the condoms and sex-lube options. Really terrible placement, if you ask me. Shouldn’t you stock things people are likely to buy together? Most people aren’t going to buy condoms and tampons at the same time, are they?
I start to reach for a box of tampons, then stop.
Hmm…
Gentle Glide.
Super Plus.
Organic.
Sport.
Fitness.
Security.
Pearl.