11. Chapter 11 #2
“I swear on my life they won’t care. They’ll be happy if you’re happy. Also, Beck likes to fight, so I’d like to see someone say anything out of the way to you.”
He laughs, clearly a little startled. “Are you talking about when he beat that guy up?”
I laugh too. “I didn’t realize they told you about that already, but yeah. You don’t have to worry. He’ll definitely defend you against anyone.”
Eli’s eyes go a little wide before he drops them and looks away. “That’s kind of hard to believe… that he would fight for me.”
I nod, knowing exactly how he feels, before looping my arm through his and pulling him along with me into the mall. “You’ll learn in time. Come on. ”
I watch Eli carefully as we walk through the first store. He’s clearly a tactile person. Each row of clothes we walk past, he touches, letting his fingers skim over the fabrics.
When we come to a row of skirts, he skips them, which I find curious. More curious, even, is the way his eyes linger on them for a second before he quickly moves past them. “Hey, Eli.” He stops, turning to look back at me. “Do you want to try one on?”
He nibbles his bottom lip. “I couldn’t.”
I tilt my head to the side. “And why not?”
He opens his mouth, then promptly shuts it. “Well, I was going to say it was for girls, but I have a feeling you’re not going to let that slide.”
I can’t help but laugh. “And you’d be correct. Grab one. If you don’t like it, fine. But try it on at least.”
There’s a slight moment of hesitation before he gives a single nod and turns toward the rack. He runs his fingers over a black skirt. He hesitates again, glancing at me with pink cheeks and shy eyes. “I’m not sure I could pull something like this off.”
I scoff. “Says who? It’s clothing. Clothing is meant to be worn on bodies. You have a body, yes? Therefore, you can pull it off. ”
He darts his eyes back to the skirt, nodding his head slightly. “Okay, yeah.” He grabs the skirt, clutching it tightly to his chest with a sharp exhalation.
He keeps it held to his chest as he quickly walks away from the rack, and I have to stifle a smile.
I fully believe that this kid was given to Ro and Beck for a reason, and right now?
I feel like I’m part of that reason. I’m not overly fem by any stretch, but more so than any of the other men in my life.
It can be hard to be surrounded by super masc men when you’re not, especially when you’re young and still trying to figure yourself out.
Eli stops at a section with cropped sweaters, lingering on a knitted light blue one. His fingers trail down the fabric. “I like this,” he murmurs.
“Perfect. Grab it.”
He does, still a little hesitant, but quicker than last time. “This is a little weird.”
“What is?” I ask, tilting my head to the side.
He waves the clothes in his arms around like that should be answer enough. “This.”
I step up beside him, giving his shoulder a little nudge. “Is it weird, or is it exciting?”
There’s a beat, and then he’s blowing a breath. “Both.” I glance down at him to see the start of a small grin on his lips. “Let’s go see how they fit? ”
“Lead the way.” I gesture toward the changing rooms.
As he disappears into the changing room, his cheeks are bright red. It’s adorable. For a long while, there’s nothing, and then finally, “I, um, I think I like this.”
“Well, let’s see it.”
There’s a pause and for a second, I don’t think he’s going to come out, but finally, he does.
He steps out, gripping the bottom of the sweater tightly, curled in a little on himself. The skirt is really flattering on his slim figure, and he looks more at home in his own body than I’ve ever seen him. It’s the eyes that show it, not his body language. “You look amazing.”
His eyes dart to mine. “You think so?” he asks quietly, his cheeks flushing again.
“I really do. It’s adorable. Are you going to get it?”
His hands fall away from the sweater, and he turns to the mirror beside him, swaying back and forth a little, the skirt flaring around his thighs with the movement.
He smiles at himself. A brighter smile than I’ve ever seen on his face.
“I think I have to, right?” he asks, turning to me, almost bowling me over with how happy he looks.
“I think it would be a crime not to.” Especially with how confident he looks .
He nods once, then steps back into the dressing room, emerging a few minutes later wearing his old clothes again. “Back to it?” he asks.
“Back to it.”
The rest of the shopping trip goes off without a hitch.
By the time we’re walking out of the mall with both of our arms loaded down, he’s smiling and giggling, a bubbliness to him that I hope we get to see more of.
I’m not sure what his exact style is yet, and I don’t think he does either.
He got everything from skirts and crop tops to jeans and t-shirts.
It was a little all over the place, but I know he’ll be safe with us.
And in time, he’ll be able to fully embrace himself. No matter what that looks like.
When we toss everything into the trunk and head back to Ro and Beck’s house, he turns to me with a smile. “Thank you for today. I had a lot of fun.”
I can’t help but grin at him. “I had a lot of fun too. We definitely need to go again soon.”
“Next time, we’ll use Beck’s card?”
He poses it like a question, but I know damn well I’m not doing that.
“Let me tell you about Wren’s fourth birthday and how insanely overboard Beck went on gifts for her.
And then the following Christmas. And then Warren’s first birthday.
And basically every special occasion or random Tuesday just because.
The man has a problem. I have the opportunity to spoil his kid like he’s done mine.
You think I’m gonna pass up that opportunity?
” I ask, raising an eyebrow at him. “Not a chance in hell.”