Chapter 30
Oakley
I knew that I shouldn’t be happy to be out of the house, since Sir had always been clear that my place was in the house, but I was. The smallest bit of joy settled in my gut, like this alone was a gift.
The cloudless sky seemed endless, and reminded me just how far away from other people Sabastian lived.
Sir had lived right in the middle of a town, where there was always some sort of noise, some sort of commotion going on. It was harder to hear some of it while I was in the basement.
As we neared town, the houses grew smaller, closer together, and trees dotted the outline of properties. Soon, the houses turned into buildings. And so much traffic.
Sabastian didn’t say a whole lot as he drove. I did feel his gaze on me off and on, the radio down low.
I told myself to be good, to behave, to not disappoint the man. Maybe if I proved myself, he’d take me out of the house more often.
Soon enough, he pulled into a parking lot next to a number of other cars. The building in front was connected by other ones, each one with big signs above the doors.
None of them made sense to me, but I followed Sabastian’s orders, staying in the car until he came around to open the door for me.
He gave me a tender smile, holding out a hand to help me out of the vehicle. It took me a moment to lay my own in his, unsure of doing so.
Was he going to jerk me out of the car? Drag me away to a different place to hold me hostage?
It didn’t matter to my mind that Sabastian had told me exactly what we were doing, kind of. Just not what kind of shopping he wanted to do. It wasn’t going to matter to my speeding heart that he hadn’t lied to me, as far as I knew, so far.
“You doing okay?”
I nodded, sucking in a breath. I wasn’t okay, far from it. But this was nothing. It was better than being hit until I couldn’t take another breath.
“Deep breath for me, Oakley.”
I did so, instantly feeling it catch in my chest. So, I had to take another. And a another. And another until my breathing was even once more.
“Good boy.”
I couldn’t help but look at him, wondering if I really was good. Good enough for him to want to keep me?
“What am I going to do with you?” He shook his head, shutting the car door after I moved out of the way. The question wasn’t meant for me to answer, so I didn’t.
But he could keep me. He could keep treating me the way he was without ever wanting more of me. I’d be more than fine with that idea.
“Come on.” He gently pulled to one of the stores.
The bell dinged as he entered the store, instantly seeing a bunch of colored bottles and containers.
Where the heck did Sabastian take me? What could I possibly need in this store? Walmart would have been more than enough.
“Welcome!” A lady popped out of nowhere, causing me to jerk and bump into Sabastian, who easily wrapped an arm around my back. “How can I help you today?
“Yes, my friend here needs a few things. I have no idea where to start.”
“Sure thing! What exactly are you looking for?”
“Everything?”
What?
I looked at Sabastian, who didn’t seem to bat an eye at the answer. “I have pictures of what they use at home.” He easily pulled his phone out, bringing up the pictures and showing the lady, who was all too happy to help find products that would ‘cater’ to my needs. Whatever that was.
Sabastian pushed me along, following the lady, as she picked up a basket and started listening off a bunch of products I have never used, let alone knew about.
“Smells. What do you tend to like, Miss.”
My mind blanked out, not sure what to answer. I wasn’t a girl… and had no way to answer.
“They have more flowery scents. I’m not sure if that’s by choice, or just what the parents bought.”
“Well, that’s not a problem either. We carry a variety of different scents. From more manly type of things to flowers, to even just plain clean. Sniff the samples, and figure that out while I track down some facial products.” With that, she turned, taking the basket with her.
“Shall we?” Sabastian held out a hand towards the rows of lotions and body scrubs. “Pick whatever smells you like, Oakley.”
“Sabastian?” This time, I didn’t jump at the voice, but I did scoot closer once more to the man. Not sure I could get much closer than I was, as I tried to look around at way too many options. “This is the last place I expected to run into you.”
“Hello, Molly,” Sabastian didn’t seem surprised by the person. “How are you?”
“I’d be better if your brother would clean up after himself.”
“Isn’t that why you’re there?” The words were spoken as a joke, I think. If going by the light laugh in response, the woman wasn’t upset.
“Partly. So I’ll go spend his money if he can’t put dirty laundry in the hamper.”
It was about then that she spotted me, and I ducked my head. Her dark hair fell around her shoulders, almost down to the middle of her torso. My eyes flickered, finding her dressed way nicer than I was.
And how the hell did she walk in those bright pink high heels?
“Who’s your friend?”
“This is Oakley. Oakley, this is Molly. My brother’s wife.”
I vaguely remembered him telling me about her.
I squeaked out a greeting.
Had I said I wasn’t a good people person?
“You’re cute.”
That didn’t help my blush one bit.
“They needed some things, so…I may be a bit out of my element here.” Well, so was I, but I wasn’t going to say anything.
“You’re a guy. Of course you would be.” Molly sounded like she rolled her eyes. “What do you need, Oakley?”
I lifted a shoulder, trying to scoot closer to Sabastian.
“A bit of everything,” he supplied for me. “The lady went to get the face stuff all sorted form what we have at home.”
“How can you shop without a basket?”
“She took it with her.” I think Sabastian pointed somewhere across the store. “And we really don’t need too much.”
“Pfff. Come on, I know what to get you.”
I didn’t have much time to process a single thing before the lady grabbed ahold of my other hand, pulling me away from Sabastian. He, thankfully, tagged along, keeping a hold on my other hand while I was dragged around like a puppy.
I didn’t catch much of what Molly said, other than her handing Sabastian enough things that he had to step away and find another basket. Which, in turn, left me alone with the woman.
“So, how do you know Bash?” She didn’t look my way, her tone changing from helpful, to a bit protective.
Was this a time or place to tell the truth? I highly doubted it.
“I’m staying with him.” My words were quiet. I dropped my gaze to a random shelf, seeing way too many pinks and reds.
“He never lets anyone stay with him.”
All I could offer was a shrug.
“Least of all, someone so young. You’re what…like fifteen?”
“Eighteen in a few days,” Sabastian answered, holding the basket out so she could put a few more things into it. “Nothing but a friend, so don’t go blabbing to Nathan. Although the two of you have a past in common.”
She tilted her head to the side, looking me up and down as if her brain was slow to put the pieces together. When it made sense, it seemed like a light bulb flashed on. “Oh.”
“So, be nice.”
“I’m always nice.”
Something told me that wasn’t the case.
“I guess, you really do need everything then.”
“Don’t overwhelm the boy, Molly,” Sabastian sighed, seeming to know it was a loss cause. It was since I was already on the verge of being overwhelmed by everything.
Molly lifted an eyebrow, her eyes going from me to Sabastian before settling back on me once more. I quickly dropped my gaze back to the basket, unsure on what to do.
“Sabastian, be a dear and go sit over there. I got this.”
“Molly…”
“Oh, don’t Molly me. I got this. Now shoo.” She made a shooing motion before taking the basket from him.
Please don’t leave me, I mentally asked, but didn’t dare look at him.
“If you get to yellow, come find me.”
What if I was already there? Instead, I nodded once.
“She will want to make sure you are okay with me. Feel free to answer anything truthfully.”
With that, he dipped his head and walked a bit away, finding one of the few chairs that was sitting out around the store.
“Men, I swear. Come on. Lotions, although your skin is so soft. What do you use?”
Since it was easier to point it out than to speak the words, that’s exactly what I did. There were already a couple of the sugar body scrubs in the basket. One smelt like roses, another more minty in a weird way.
“Makes sense.” She led me a bit further, but at least was mindful to keep us in sight of Sabastian. Looking over my shoulder, he gave me an encouraging smile before dropping his attention to his phone. “How long have you been with him?”
I lifted a shoulder. I wasn’t sure. That’d have to be something she asked the man rather than me.
“Well, have you had sex with him?”
What?
I shook my head quickly, my hair flinging around my face. What kind of question was that? Although, that’s what I was bought for, or I assumed, it hadn’t happened.
“Had to ask. He’s always been so adamant that he won’t sleep with a minor. I bet you got that room with the little bed and stuffed animals?”
No. Well, yes, but no.
“Well, he probably took out all the fun things, but you have that room, right? Right across his bedroom?”
Sure? We could let her pretend that’s where I spent my nights.
“How long are you staying with him?”
What were all these questions? I didn’t know the answers to them.
“You’ll have to…ask…him.”
“What’s the fun in that?” She didn’t give me time to figure out a reply, putting more items in the basket. Matching soaps and lotions, same color as the scrubs. “You are cute, though. No wonder he’s protective of ya.”
“I’m his. He bought me.” Why wouldn’t he be protective over what he owned.
“Oh, sweet dear child.” Molly turned, cupping both sides of my face in her warm hands. Her touch was warm. “You are not his. No one owns you anymore.”
“I’m his.” I was his boy. His good boy. Or girl, if he wanted me to be that. Or anything, really.