Fuck.
I drag Banner around the corner by a hand, and her eyes dart up to mine and then behind me.
“Who’s that?” she whispers.
“Emmy Harris’s mom.”
I can hear the woman’s trademark humming as it grows louder. We edge closer to the pharmacy area, where I see another familiar face.
Nicole is standing at the counter, and the pharmacy tech tells her, “I’m sorry, ma’am, but I can’t sell you any pseudoephedrine products right now.”
Banner catches my eye, and we both hurry toward the other side of the store and dart up the aisle. In our hurry, Banner reaches out and grabs a bag of Doritos and shoves it into my arms.
“Quick. Get in line. I’m getting ice cream, and I’ll meet you there.”
I’m not sure whenOperation: Buy Lubebecame top secret, but I’m having too much fun sneaking around the store with Banner to argue. And besides, I’ve got a powerful sweet tooth when it comes to ice cream.
“It better not be chocolate,” I tell her as I move toward the counter.
The cashier is the slowest in the history of the planet, but since Banner hasn’t joined me, I’m not gonna complain.
A small container of Rocky Road lands on the counter next to me.
“I figured Rocky Road was appropriate to pave the way tobrown town,” she says with a laugh.
The man in front of me takes his receipt, and the cashier, a younger woman, reaches for our purchases as soon as Banner starts laughing at her own joke. The cashier’s eyes go wide when she comprehends.
“Brown Town? Is that up in the foothills, Logan? I’m not sure I’ve heard of it,” a familiar voice says from behind me.
Oh, for Christ’s sake.
I turn around to face Mrs. Harris, her hands full with a box of tea and a bottle of melatonin, but when I open my mouth to respond, nothing comes out.
Banner smiles sweetly and says, “It’s just south of Pussy Ridge. At least, I’m pretty sure it is.”
I choke, and the cashier’s face turns red.
“Pussy Ridge. I haven’t heard of that either. I’ll have to ask Mr. Harris to get out the Rand McNally so we can take a drive there this weekend. I do love my weekend drives.”
I have no idea how Banner is keeping a straight face, but she replies, “I love a good long ride too. Especially when it gets a little rough.”
The older woman smiles. “Me too. Emmy has never been a fan, though. She’s always gotten carsick at the littlest bump.”
Banner finally grins. “That explains so much about her.”
The cashier’s eyes are tearing up as I shove money at her before I bag the ice cream, Doritos, and lube myself.
“See you later, Mrs. Harris. You’ll have to let us know how that drive goes.”
I wave, grabbing Banner by the hand and pulling her out of the store behind me. She dissolves into peals of laughter as I open her door and give her a boost into the passenger seat of the truck.
“You’re terrible.”
Tears are streaming down her face. “What? It was too easy. You have to admit you’d pay to see the look on Mr. Harris’s face when she asks him if they can go to Brown Town this weekend.”
I cover my face with my hand as my entire body begins to shake. “Jesus, woman. I’ll never be able to go into that CVS again without remembering this.”
She winks at me. “Good. Mission accomplished.”