“I don’t care what you guys get, just make sure it’s warm. And casual. She doesn’t like that fancy shit,” I say, earning a quizzical look from Briar. Once Mollie is out of earshot, Briar approaches, and I already know what’s coming.
“You really like this girl.” It’s a statement, one I don’t bother denying because I’m starting to think she’s right. “Be careful, okay?”
I throw her a confused look. “Be careful about what?”
“Just…everything. I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
It still takes me by surprise when Briar says something that shows she genuinely cares. I mean, she cares about everyone—that’s just who she is—but it’s hard to get used to. She’s seen a couple of the girls that I’ve hooked up with, but she’s never expressed any feelings about them either way.
“Lo’s not like that. She’s different.”
“And that’s why I worry.” Briar gives me a one-armed hug. “But I’m really happy for you. I like her,” she says genuinely.
See? Never letting it go. Girls are so dramatic.
“Okay, so I found this Burton jacket that I’d die for.” Mollie appears, holding up a white coat with fur around the hood. “Plus, it’s reversible and super warm. And this, too, because puffer vests are so cute right now.”
“I’ll pick out some boots,” Briar says. “I’ll grab a seven and a half, but keep the receipts just in case.”
The girls raid the shop while I stand in the corner with my hands in my pockets, waiting. They come back, fifteen minutes later, arms full.
“I tried to find sales. I might have gotten a little carried away,” Briar says sheepishly, and I laugh. “You can pick through what you want, and I’ll put back the rest.”
“It’s cool. Let’s check out.” We’re at the counter when a thought occurs to me. I turn to Mollie. “Grab some stuff for her brother, too. Whatever Cam would get.” She nods, quickly gathering a beanie, a jacket, some wool socks, and a pair of boots. Briar is looking at me like I’ve grown three heads.
“What? You don’t want them ending up like the Donner Party, do you?”
“Definitely not. Cannibalism is so 1800s.” She rolls her eyes. “You have a good heart.”
“Yeah, yeah. Don’t tell anyone.”
“I’d never ruin your rep like that,” she says, knocking my arm with her shoulder. I hand her my credit card, opting to wait outside while they hit a couple more stores. I’m not rich, but I make a solid living, and I don’t have shit to spend it on.
When Mollie and Briar show up three bags heavier, I thank them both for their help before driving back to Bad Intentions. As I walk up, bags in hand, I see Lo through the window, smiling at an elderly couple as she pulls a pen out of her messy ponytail. I realize I didn’t think this thing through. I can’t just walk into Blackbear and hand her free shit. Knowing Lo, it would embarrass her. Her pride won’t let her accept it.
Saving me from indecision, Sutton walks through the door, a concerned expression on her face. She motions for me to follow her, stopping in front of the brick wall that connects our buildings.
“Do I need to worry about Lo?” she asks, and at first, I think she’s referring to me, but then I realize she’s talking about Eric showing up the other night.
“I don’t know,” I say honestly, dragging a hand down my face. “I think he got the message. Matty really drilled it into him.” And by ‘drilled it into him’, I mean beat the shit out of him.
“Good,” she says, unfazed by the implication. “She tries to act like he’s harmless, but I get bad vibes.”
“Yeah, she does that,” I say bitterly. “Speaking of Lo, you mind giving these to her?” I hold out the bags. Sutton lifts a dark eyebrow, peeking inside.
“What’s all this?”
“Figured she’d need some warmer stuff. She’s too stubborn to buy anything for herself.” I know she’s gotten paid from Blackbear, not to mention the fact that she gets tips daily. I also know things are tight. Most of her money goes to Jesse, between food, lunch money, wrestling equipment, and fees. In her mind, there will always be something more important to spend her money on. I get it. I’m the same way. Even though my circumstances have changed, some things are just too deeply ingrained to change at a certain point.
Sutton gives me the same look Briar did. The one that tells me she just saw me in a different light, and for some reason, it irritates me. People used to look at me like I was a rabid dog. I didn’t mind it because it meant they left me alone. But now, I’m being looked at like a baby golden retriever. “Just make sure she gets them, okay?” I snap.
“Fine,” Sutton relents, shrugging her shoulders.
“And, uh…” I scratch at the stubble on my cheek. “Don’t let her know they’re from me.”
She hesitates, then finally gives me a nod before heading back inside. I don’t wait around to see Lo’s reaction. When I open the door to my shop, Cam is sitting in his brother’s chair, getting a touch-up on his leg. Cordell lets out a low whistle when he sees me, while Cam smirks, clearly amused. Apparently, he told him about my phone call.
“You can both fuck off.” I walk straight back to the drawing room while I wait for my next client. Not five minutes goes by before I hear the door ding, and Lo’s voice echoes through the shop.