8. Grady
GRADY
“The nail polish!” someone shouts again. “I saw you take it!”
I glance over my shoulder but can’t see whoever the store manager is yelling at.
I was just in here restocking my first-aid supplies for my upcoming hiking trip when I noticed the guy storm past me, muttering under his breath.
Then he started shouting, and it’s oh so clear.
Shoplifting little punks.
I shake my head, irritated by stupid people who think they have a right to just take stuff they don’t deserve.
Nail polish?
That’s not a necessity.
I can get over someone shoplifting food or feminine products or something like that. It’s not right, but I get it.
Nail polish, though?
Give me a fucking break.
“You did take it! I saw you on camera!”
The woman’s voice rises a little to match his. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Yes, I was looking at the polishes, but that’s it.”
Wait.
I go still, my hand poised in the air above the box of Band-Aids.
I know that voice.
Swiveling left, I head down the aisle, my lips parting when I spot the back of Blake’s head.
And I should know what it looks like, because every time she’s passed me in the house and I’ve desperately tried to ignore her… yeah, I’ve turned back to drink her in, to let my gaze travel down those stunning blonde curls and across the curve of her perfect ass.
Shit, I’m a creeper.
But I can’t seem to stop myself.
I should be getting a fucking trophy for the fact that I’ve been avoiding contact all week. I’ll graduate to not checking her out next week… after I’ve stopped this asshole manager from yelling at her.
“Everything okay over here?” I step forward, keeping my voice low and calm. The manager looks at me, and I smile. “Hey, Kevin.”
He frowns. “Uh… hey?”
It’s clear he has no idea how I know his name, but I’m not about to admit that I just read it off his name tag.
The truth is, I recognize the guy. He’s been working here for a couple of years now, and I see his face around all the time.
I probably knew his name was Kevin in the back recesses of my brain. His name tag was just reminding me.
Looking at Blake, I try to catch her eye, but she’s staring at the floor, obviously embarrassed by what this guy’s accusing her of. But it can’t be true, right?
The way Wily always talks about her, the girl’s allergic to getting into trouble, which means she’d never do anything as reckless as shoplifting.
Stepping a little closer to her, I try to form a barrier between her and Kevin, angling my body so that she’s tucked just behind me.
His confused frown turns into a scowl. “You in on this too?”
“In on what?” I glance over my shoulder.
Blake’s eyes dart up to meet mine, and she gives me a look of flustered confusion.
I can read her SOS signal loud and clear.
Being falsely accused of anything sucks, and this guy’s got it wrong. Blake wouldn’t shoplift.
“Listen, man, I think there’s been some misunderstanding here. I can vouch for this woman. She’s my roommate’s little sister, and I’m telling you, she wouldn’t shoplift anything from your store.”
“You can check my pockets if you really want to,” Blake drawls behind me, obviously just as unimpressed by these accusations as I am.
“Okay.” Kevin squares his shoulders, grabbing her arm and pulling her out from behind me.
I step forward with a soft growl and quietly warn him, “Get your hands off her.”
Rolling his eyes, Kevin releases Blake’s arm and gives her a pointed look. “Come on, then. Empty your pockets.”
She frowns, clearly irritated that he’s taking her up on her offer.
For just a second, a wave of doubt rushes through me .
She didn’t actually take something, did she?
But my doubts quickly fade as she pulls out her phone, then pats her jean pockets. “I’ve got nothing else in here.”
“Turn around,” the man barks.
I glare at him as Blake does a slow spin and he eyes up the back pockets of her jeans. “She doesn’t have anything.”
“And your jacket pockets.” The man ignores me and points to Blake’s leather jacket.
She glances up at me again, her blue eyes so bright—they look just like Wily’s.
I gaze back at her, my lips curling into a closed-mouth smile as I try to reassure her.
With a soft sigh, she pulls out the insides of her jacket pockets, proving that they’re empty.
“What?” Kevin balks. “But I saw you.”
“You didn’t,” Blake gently argues. “I was looking at nail polish. I picked up a bottle, thought I might get it, then changed my mind. I wasn’t walking out of this place with it in my pocket.”
“But…” He huffs and looks at me like he’s wanting my help.
I frown back at him. “I told you she wouldn’t.”
“I saw her!” His face starts turning red as he storms down the aisle, heading for the makeup section. “She took it from here and put it in her pocket! I watched her do it!”
“I don’t have anything in my pockets, sir,” Blake calls back to him.
“We’re leaving now.” I back her up, tucking my arm around the curve of her elbow and urging her toward the exit.
“Don’t you need to get some stuff?” She points at the supplies in my hand.
Dumping it on the shelf by the door, I shake my head and walk out into the light drizzle. It’s been raining on and off all day, which isn’t too bad after the heavy downpour we had all night. Hunching my shoulders, I lift the collar of my jacket and watch Blake do the same.
I’ll come back and get my stuff later. Right now, I just need to get this woman away from false accusations.
Steering her toward the overhang of the building down the street, I make sure she’s under shelter before glancing back over my shoulder at the pharmacy.
I don’t relax or let her go until we’re five stores down.
Slipping my hands into my pockets, I softly check on her. “You okay?”
She glances up, her smile warm and unaffected. “Yeah. Thanks for backing me up in there. That guy had it in for me.”
“I can’t believe he was saying that shit to you.” Another soft growl reverberates in my throat. “You shouldn’t have had to turn out your pockets.”
Wiping a few raindrops off her face, she flicks her hand and gives me a smile.
“He needed the reassurance. I don’t know what he saw on his security camera, but he must have assumed I just took that nail polish and didn’t see me returning it or something.
I don’t know.” She shrugs, licking her bottom lip before gazing across the street with a sigh.
“You know, there’s another place on Fifth Street that sells great makeup. I know a lot of the girls go there. Can’t remember the name of it, but it’s got a great selection, and I think it’s cheaper than the pharmacy back there.”
“Oh yeah?” She glances back at me, a teasing smile growing on her face. “I didn’t know you were into drag.”
I snicker and shake my head. “My girlfriend is big on the beauty thing.”
“Girlfriend?”
Her question stops me in my tracks, and I squeeze my eyes shut, muttering, “Ex-girlfriend.”
“Right.”
“Loves her makeup and polish and pretty clothes and shit.”
Why are you still talking? Stop talking!
I clamp my lips together, my fingers curling into fists in my pockets as we silently walk side by side down the street.
“How long ago did you break up? Must be kinda recent.” Her soft questions feel like horn blasts, and I grind my teeth together.
She waits me out as she continues walking down the street, and when I don’t say anything, she ends up giving me an easy out.
“It’s obviously still kinda fresh. We don’t have to talk about it. ”
Her nose wrinkles when we get to the end of the shelter and have to walk into the rain again. It’s still light enough to not be drowning us, but her boots splash into a puddle that’s been forming over the past few days. It’s been a wet week, and I’m so over this rain.
I usually don’t mind it too much, but when I don’t have an umbrella to offer the woman beside me, it becomes an irritation.
Teah always hated getting her hair wet. Although…
Blake doesn’t seem to be as bothered. He r damp curls are starting to frizz, but she just tucks a clump behind her ear and keeps moving forward.
“You got a boyfriend in Chicago?” I don’t know what the fuck makes me ask.
She whips a look at me, her eyes rounding before she bursts out laughing.
“What?” I frown. “Why is that funny?”
“It’s not. I just…” She shakes her head, still laughing like I’m fucking hilarious. “I don’t have a boyfriend.”
“Okaaay.” I brush raindrops off my forehead. “What am I missing here?”
“Nothing.” Wiping a hand under her eyes, she lets out another soft laugh before pulling herself together. “I just…” Licking her lips, she keeps her eyes across the street and finally says, “I’m too busy for a boyfriend.”
“Right.” I nod, still finding her reaction weird.
Turning back to me, she puts on a bright smile and shrugs. “No one wants to date a study nerd like me.”
Yeah, right!
A study hottie like her. Guys are probably lining up around the block.
Fisting my hands in my pockets again, I resist the urge to reach out and touch her, pull her to a stop, cup those pretty cheeks and assure her that any guy would be lucky to have her.
Even just one date with this woman would make a guy’s year.
I mean, come on.
She’s one sexy siren.
Images of her naked body flash through me, and I force myself to move a step away from her .
She seems to notice, her eyebrows flickering with… aw, shit, is that a frown?
What’s she thinking right now?
“Well, thanks for the assist, Newman.” She gives my arm a soft slap. “I’ll catch you later.”
“Do you need a ride home?”
“Nope.” She’s already walking away from me, slipping her hands into her jacket pockets as she checks both sides of the street before darting across.
I watch her go, willing myself not to run after her, make sure she’s okay. Wily wouldn’t mind me getting her home safely. That’d be cool, right?
You have a PT session in twenty minutes. Do not run after that girl.
With an irritated frown, I spin back the way I came.
I probably have time to go and finish buying those first-aid supplies, but after the way Kevin treated Blake, I’m inclined to shop elsewhere.
They have the best supplies in town, but I’m pretty sure there’s another pharmacy near the hospital that’s well stocked.
I’ll drive out there tomorrow and get organized. Only one week to go until spring break.
All I need to do is get through my last assignment, two tests, some light football training… and then I’ll be a free man.
Free to get back to nature and get my head on straight.