While still possible, it was more now more likely they were sharing a bite for shits and giggles.“Didn’t realize how far I had gone.” Darren fel...t uncomfortable squeezed in next to the sheriff. He didn’t like knowing that a gun he didn’t trust was by his side. “Town is smaller than I expected.”“That’s the truth. I grew up around here.” She leaned back in her seat. “Will probably die here, too. My bones are too old to settle somewhere new.”Sheriff Walters rolled his eyes. “You’re too stubborn to. You know as well as I that she's been like that since she was an infant," Mary added with a wistful smile. "The thing is, I don't want my baby hurt. I know you don't either. I wanted to talk to you about how we might let her down gently so she doesn't get her heart..."Mary's voice trailed off into silence. Her eyes intensified. Then they slowly widened, surprise dawning. What was she seeing? My muscles quivering inside me? Was she seeing my fear? The blood rushing to my ears? Could she see. ”“I’ve always been honest with you.”“Okay. You see us in bed?”“Honest?”“Yes. I wanna know.”“Says the girl who’s been in my bed two nights in a row.”“You know what I mean.”“Okay. I’m male. Being this close to you, of course I think about going…”“Quick fuck?”She’d NEVER used that word before. It sounded alien coming from her lips.“Anything that you and I did together, for me it would be closer to ‘worship’ than ‘quick fuck.’”“Worship?”“Yes.”“You do know that I’m a virgin, don’t you?”“We never. “It doesn't change. Ever.” He looked at her. “It's going to be a couple of weeks before they can implant you. Give me a couple of days to put a plan together, okay?”She nodded trustfully, watching him get the cart ready to leave, and after she was alone, she took her first sip of water from the straw.The elevator closed and dropped him two floors. It opened onto a brand new floor for him; he'd never been here before. He usually went up three floors, to his own room level, the size of all two.