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Waylon left and I stood there a moment. It could be anyone. Jesse. Maybe Xavier was in town and was tired of me not answering his calls?

But it wasn’t. I think I knew that before I even came out.

When I turned the corner, Mike was standing there.

“Hey,” I said, coming to a stop behind the counter.

“Hey.”

I hadn’t seen him in more than four months.

He looked different. He was in his Toilet King work shirt. He’d lost weight, but he was just leaner. Still toned. He looked good. He looked healthy.

“I didn’t know you were coming in,” I said, not really knowing what else to say.

“Picking up a prescription.”

“Oh.” I started typing his information into the computer. Then I stopped when I realized that for the first time in twenty-five years, I didn’t know his address.

“I’m at 5623 Fern Glen Drive,” he said, reading my mind. “Apartment 109.”

“Thanks.” His medication loaded on the screen. “You’re back on the antidepressants,” I said, looking up at him.

“Higher dose. It’s working. You were right.” He gave me a weak smile.

“It’s not ready yet,” I said. “Fifteen minutes.”

“I can wait.”

I put the order through. Then we just stood there. Me on my side of the counter in a white lab coat. Him on his side in a navy-blue Toilet King T-shirt.

“Is this your closest pharmacy now?” I asked.

“No. You said you wanted to make sure I was taking my meds. Thought I’d start filling my prescriptions here. Now that I’m actually taking my meds.”

I gave him a look. “You weren’t?”

“Nah. I was filling them here. Wasn’t really following doctor’s orders though. They work better when you take them.”

I laughed a little.

“Hey, I was wondering if we could talk really quick,” he said. “When you get off.”

“Um… sure. I’m not off for another half hour though.”

“Okay. I’ll wait for you outside.”

He started for the front of the store.

“Mike?”

He turned around.

“What do you want to talk to me about?”

He paused like he wasn’t sure what to say.

“I think you know.”