"Just have to hit customer service first," he said to Grace, rounding the corner, and quickly scanning customer service to see who was working. Of course, he let out a slight groan when he saw the one person he didn't want to see.

Abby was behind the counter, helping an older man who was cas.h.i.+ng in lottery tickets. While she didn't notice Stephen right away, her eyes flickered up to his after a few moments. She gave a forced, awkward smile, before her eyes noticed Grace standing right next to him. A look of confusion reigned for only an instant, before she went back to helping the older man.

Great, this is going to be so awkward, thought Stephen.

"Okay, here's your Powerball ticket. And here's your $20 scratch off," announced Abby, giving two tickets to the older man.

"Wish me luck with these," he smiled, before shuffling away, and entering the main part of the store.

"Good luck!" Abby yelled, before turning her attention back to Stephen. Her forced smile dipped back onto her face.

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"Hey Stephen," She greeted, before taking generous looks over at Grace.

"She's trying to figure out what the relations.h.i.+p is between us. It's actually causing her to panic right now," thought Grace, with Stephen feeling the imprint of her words on his mind. For her part, Grace wondered over to a table near the entrance, taking the store circular and beginning to leaf through it, and leaving the two momentarily alone.

"Hey Abby," replied Stephen, sheepishly. "Just here to pick up my check."

"Oh, no problem!" Abby ducked under the counter, and began to rummage through the employee pay drawer. "Let's see here... Travers, Villalobos, Walker... here we go, Willow."

"I was hoping it was there. I have big plans for that check," Stephen chuckled, nervously.

"I know, right?" Abby replied, before finally looking at him.

"I could always use a bigger check, though. Than what we get here," replied Stephen.

"Tell me about it! We don't get paid nearly enough for what we put up with here! I should tell you about what happened to me this morning," said Abby, handing over his check.

"What was that?"

"You would have laughed so hard," began Abby, cracking a smile. "This old lady was yelling at me because we wouldn't accept an expired coupon for ranch dressing! It expired five years ago! She was getting so worked up, her dentures popped out! I can't make that up, it was so funny!"

"That does sound crazy. People can be so nutty," chuckled Stephen.

"Seriously, what's with people?" giggled Abby, before managing to crack a more genuine smile and looked to be on the verge of something major. "Listen, Stephen. Can we talk for a moment? I just..."

She never got a chance to finish her sentence, before Grace bounded over holding the circular. "Baby, they have ice cream on sale this week! Can we get some for tonight?"