Chapter 4
HAILEY
Two Weeks Later
“You can’t be serious,” Lucy Simmons whines, stopping dead in her tracks. Some students following too close behind nearly smash right into her from the sudden stop.
We’re walking through campus on our way to the parking lot. Lucy to her car, and me off on another wonderful adventure.
“I am.”
She purses her lips and glares at me. “It’s one thing to blow me off for dinner, but cutting me out of a shopping trip is just rude.”
“I’m not cutting you out,” I chuckle.
But I have been blowing her off a lot lately.
“It sure sounds like you are when you’re going out to have fun on your own,” Lucy grumbles.
She isn’t really upset, at least I don’t think so. But I haven’t been the best of friends lately, and that says a lot when we’ve been thick as thieves since we met in our first year of college.
“Who says I’m going alone?” I wink to let her know that this isn’t a casual shopping trip. That I’ve got a little secret—
Well, little isn’t the right word under any circumstance when it comes to him.
“Ooooh,” Lucy drags the word out, as a smile grows wider by the second. “Why didn’t you say that, silly? Here I thought you were kicking me to the curb for someone cuter.”
“No one could ever be as cute you as, Honey-Bee.” I hook my arm around her elbow and start walking again.
She slams me with questions about my mysterious man while we walk. Who is he? What does he do? Where did you meet? Never easing off the gas to give me a chance to answer. I’m not surprised by her reaction. She’s spent a long time trying to find me a date, but I’ve always rejected her offers.
Because in the back of my mind, I always knew it was Rex. Even before our magical night together, where we came so close to toppling over the edge, no one would ever compare.
In some way, I guess I’m saving myself for him. I want Rex to be my first, and hopefully my last.
But only time will tell on that last part.
“I’ll tell you all about him after today, alright?” I say as we reach the parking lot. It’s a long stretch of open concrete, with cars lined up for what feels like miles.
Lucy was lucky today, having found a parking spot right in front of the main entrance. Works great for me, because just outside the gate, I can see Rex’s black American muscle car parked on the sidewalk.
“Fine. But you better not spare any details,” she flashes a naughty smile. “And I mean any.”
“What if I don’t want you to get jealous?” I tease.
But before Lucy has a chance to respond, a whistle from our left steals our attention.
“Where are you two beautiful ladies rushing off to in such a hurry?” Damien Murray, a kid from my psyche class, shouts from his car. Him and three of his buddies are standing around it, leering at us like we’re livestock at auction.
God, this guy gives me the creeps. From his greasy hair, to his sinister grin, everything about him is sleazy.
“Far away from you,” Lucy says. Her response makes me giggle, but I keep walking because I don’t want to deal with this lot today.
“Give us a little shake before you go, Babe. Make that ass jiggle,” Damien shouts from behind and his friends start snickering.
The comment sends a chill down my spine.
It isn’t even that bad, but coming from his mouth, it sickens me to the stomach.
Probably because of the horror stories that have circulated around campus.
Twisted tales of his affinity for dropping something in a girl’s drink at a party, or the way he expects favors after a date.
I walk Lucy to her car and make sure she’s driving before I leave. A protective instinct when those creeps are afoot, but I don’t mind facing them alone. After all, my monster is only a few steps away.
But they don’t make any more calls or moves while I head to Rex’s car, and they’re damn smart to keep their mouths shut.
By the time I reach Rex’s car, Damien’s nothing more than a distant echo in the back of my mind.
He’s the last person I want to think about, when the big, beastly Rex is standing next to the passenger seat holding the door wide open for me.
He greets me with a hug, and holds on a little longer than a casual hello calls for, and we get on the road.
The mall isn’t far from my college and we’re there in a flash. Rex groans as soon as his car comes to a stop in the parking lot. He looks at the giant building ahead of us with utter dismay.
I giggle at how intense he looks over something as small as going to the shops.
“Why do you look so glum?” I ask, resting my hand on his knee.
Though it’s a simple gesture, my hand distracts him. His gaze turns down to my hand, and he swallows hard before answering.
“Don’t like these places,” he says, flat and to the point. “Too many people.”
I wonder if his reaction is caused by a distrust of people, or if it has something to do with his time in the military. I won’t pry about it. If this was something he wanted to talk about, he’d have done so.
Slipping my hand a little higher up his thigh, I give Rex a reassuring peck on the cheek. “Then I won’t keep you here longer than I need to.”
“Better get to it then, Kitten.” He turns to look at me with a naughty grin tugging at his lips. “’cause if that hand moves any higher, we’re not gonna be leaving this car.”
“See, now you’re talking my language,” I tease, but release his thigh and open my door.
We start with the necessities, food, toiletries and other essentials, I’ve found myself neglecting to buy.
Once they’re out of the way, Rex and I stop for lunch.
Mall food court pizza for him and a sandwich for me, with coffee to drink.
We eat in silence, but I keep my eye on him. Watching how his eyes flick from one person to the next, sussing them out for potential threats. And I’ve gotta say, his intensity is super freaking hot.
“A few more stops and we can get out of here,” I say, trying to break the tension and bring him back down to earth.
“You said that a few shops ago,” he teases me. “But take all the time you need, Kitten. I’m all yours for the day.”
It’s this sort of selflessness that draws me closer to Rex. From the day my father passed, he’s put my wants and needs over his own. Even when it drives him crazy.
I grab his hand and yank him in the direction of our final stop. Originally, I wanted to draw this process out and make him come undone at the seams slowly. But something tells me we won’t reach the main event if I don’t make my move now.
Dragging him through the bustling crowd, we stop in front of a clothing store.
The mannequins in the mirror have sleek, designer apparel draped over them.
From soft sweaters to sporty suit jackets, this place has it all.
And I’d know, having spent hours online searching for the perfect place. The perfect outfit to drive Rex crazy.
“I’m not suited for clothes shopping,” he says, staring into the wide-open space with rows of shelves packed with clothes.
“Then how about I run in, and I’ll call you when it’s time for the try-on?”
“Now you’re talking my language,” he offers an open hand to take the bags I’ve collected so far.
“Don’t go too far,” I say, giving them over. “You’re really not gonna want to miss this.”
Rex falls into a fluffy red chair that seemingly overlooks the entire store. I start making my way through the store, picking up a bunch of different outfits. Floral summer dresses, jeans and t-shirts, pretty much anything I can get my hands on. But this is all for distraction.
My final destination is in the back of the store, tucked away in an alcove.
The lingerie section, hidden from open view because of the risqué nature, and good God, do they have plenty of choices on offer.
It takes me a while to find the set I know will drive Rex crazy.
And along with a few others, I head back to the main floor.
Finding Rex, still sitting in the same chair, I beckon him toward me with a single finger. He comes without question, trailing close behind me until we get to the fitting rooms.
“So, you ready for the show?” I ask, guiding his eyes to the mountain of clothes in my arms.
“It’s been burning a hole in my head since you said it,” he says.
“Oh good,” I say, stepping into the small cubicle. “And I know it won’t disappoint.”
I shut the door, preparing mentally for what I’m about to do to him.
But mostly, for what he’s about to do to me.