After weighing their purchases, Owen and Roseanne continued their shopping spree, filling their cart with vegetables, meats, and eggs.
As they passed through the household goods section, Owen stopped and asked, "Need anything here?"
Roseanne remembered they were running low on shower gel and laundry detergent: "Yeah, actually."
While Roseanne was picking out shower gel, Owen too was busy adding items to the cart: towels, slippers, hooks...
Before long, their cart was overflowing, practically a small mountain of goods.
When it came time to pay, Owen insisted on covering the bill. Roseanne didn't argue but asked him to keep the receipt so they could settle up later.
Owen nodded and suggested she wait outside the crowded checkout area: "It's too packed here."
"Okay," Roseanne agreed, stepping out through the express lane without purchases.
Soon after, Owen emerged, his arms laden with three large bags.
Roseanne reached out to help, but he stepped back, "No need, I've got this."
"But it's so much..."
One bag was filled with groceries, while the other two contained their household purchases, neatly divided.
"Are you sure I can't carry anything?" Roseanne asked again.
"No, it's fine."
Indeed, Owen seemed to have no trouble climbing seven flights of stairs with the bags, not even out of breath.
Roseanne took her two bags and placed them by the door, then asked Owen for the shopping receipt.
"Cough—" Owen hesitated, "It wasn't that much, no need to pay me back."
"But how can that be? Is the receipt in one of the bags? I didn't see it in mine, can I check yours?"
He recoiled as if shocked, hastily moving back to keep her from seeing his shopping bag.
Roseanne was puzzled.
"…It's not in there. I'll calculate it later and send you the amount on Venmo. You can pay me back then."
"That works," Roseanne nodded.
But still...
What was he hiding?
Why did he seem so reluctant to let her see his shopping bag?
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