Chapter Four
Sherese
“I only did that so if you burst into flames from the sun, there’s not a mess in Bryce’s car for me to clean up.”
Ava gasps at Hunter’s words. “That can’t really happen, right?”
“No, I’m not going to burst into flames, and he knows that. I would just get burned.”
Ava shakes her head. “You are not nice, Hunter.”
“Never said I was.”
Ava cranks up the music, obviously done trying to make conversation.
I stare out the window as we drive. It’s weird to be in a car.
Honestly, it’s weird to be doing anything remotely.
..human. When we get close to our destination, I take in the people just living their lives.
Moms and dads, high school students, grandparents, businessmen, and women.
All of them go about their business without a clue of the dangers all around them.
I watch them and remember that I used to be like that, a long time ago.
I was them. I lived a carefree life, unaware of the dangers.
Now, I am that danger. Unease slides through me as Ava parks.
She turns to me, excitement on her face. “Ready?”
“I think I might just wait here for you to—”
“Nope.” She interrupts me. “You’re coming with. Don’t even try to get out of it.”
“Come on, Vamp,” Hunter says as he opens his door. “Let’s go.”
I open my door and step out. I stride past Hunter to catch up with Ava. “Where’s the fire?”
She doesn’t answer, and I have to walk fast to keep up with her.
Only when we’re inside does she slow down.
“All right. Where to first?” She glances at me.
“Never mind. I’ve got some ideas.” I don’t answer; I’m too busy taking everything in.
It’s been over seven years since I’ve been in any public place.
I thought it would make me nervous or fearful, but knowing what I am now takes that fear away.
Instead, I just feel happy. It feels good to be here right now.
The only thing that would make this better would be to have a coffee in hand, but I’m just happy to be here right now.
Ava stops suddenly, and I almost plow into her. “What’s she doing here?”
I look over and see the tall woman from Bryce’s pack with the long dark hair and curves for days.
Alicia. She always walks like she’s on a red carpet.
“Ava,” she says, nodding at her. She looks right past me.
“Hunter.” Her voice is practically a purr, and it grates on my nerves.
I knew he was behind us, but he hasn’t said anything since we entered the mall.
“Where are we going first?” She asks the question of Hunter, like he’s the one choosing what stores we’re shopping in.
“Why are you here?” my blunt friend asks.
Alicia turns to look at her. Even if I didn’t know she was a wolf, I would know there was something about her. She just moves too gracefully for a human. “I’m here for added security.” Her eyes flit over me at her words.
“Did Bryce send you?” Ava demands.
“Yes.”
I can tell Ava’s not happy, but she continues on. I keep stride easily with her, and Alicia falls into step next to Hunter. They stay back a little way, but I can hear her annoying voice continue. We head into one of the department stores, and Ava grins up at me. “Ready to do some damage?”
“How do I already know I’m going to regret this?”
“Come on, Sherese. Find your adventurous side, and let’s get you something to wear besides those atrocious clothes.” We end up in the clothes section, and she starts looking through racks of clothes. I finger a few items here and there. “What are you thinking?” she asks after a little bit.
“It’s just weird being here,” I admit.
“I get it. If it’s any help, it took me a really long time to get out after everything that happened to me.” She meets my eyes. “An embarrassingly long time. All right. Let’s find you some clothes. What do you like to wear?”
She turns to me, and that uncomfortable feeling settles in my stomach. “Let’s just find you some clothes; I’m good.”
Ava rolls her eyes. “You are not good.” She turns away from me.
“Okay.” She mutters to herself for a little bit and then starts moving around the store like a woman on a mission.
Minutes later, she has a pile of clothes.
I reach out and take them from her. When she finally has everything she wants, she heads to the dressing room. “In you go.”
I eye the dressing room and then my friend. With a sigh, I step inside. She’s got her mind made up; there’s no changing it at this point. “I want to see every piece. Well, unless it’s terrible.”
I eye the stack of clothes. A pair of jeans stands out, and I finger them.
Something so simple—a pair of jeans. They’re the first thing I try on.
I pair them with a soft blue sweater and stare at myself in the mirror because this is something the old me would wear.
I quickly take off the sweater and search through the pile.
I find a white V-neck t-shirt and a black leather jacket.
I slip both of those on and stare at myself in the mirror. That’s more like me now.
“Anything yet?” Ava asks from outside my dressing room. I open the door so she can see. “Look at you in jeans. Look at those long legs. Man, I’m jealous! We’ll have to find some cute boots to go with those.”
“I’m not a cute boot kind of person.”
Ava rolls her eyes. “Okay, we’ll find some black ones with leather or metal chains on them.”
I almost laugh at both her words and her expression, but I manage not to. “Sounds perfect.”
“You would wear something like,” she mutters under her breath, but there’s a smile on her face. I try on a black shirt with the jeans and show her. “Okay. We already know you can wear black. Can we try something else? Never mind. Step aside. I’m coming in.”
She starts handing me things to try on. The first is a pair of black pants. “I thought we weren’t doing black.”
“Just do it,” she says, shaking the pants at me. I change into them, and she hands me a thick gray sweater to try on. “I like that. Add that to the keep pile.”
“Didn’t realize there was a keep pile.”
She ignores me and goes through the clothes.
“Oh, I’m super excited about this one. I could never pull this off, but you totally can.
” She hands me a black jumpsuit. “I know. It’s black.
Put it on anyway.” I manage to get it on.
It’s definitely dressy. The pants are wide-leg, and there’s a gold belt for show right above the stomach.
The sleeves are sheer, and it looks really classy. “I love that one.”
There’s a knock on the dressing room door, and we both freeze. I push her behind me and step close to the door. There’s another knock. “Sorry, this one’s being used,” Ava calls back.
“Ava?” I recognize Hunter’s voice and open the door. He looks down at me, and I watch as his eyes track down the length of my body before making it back to my face. “Not bad, Vampire,” he says softly, and the air leaves my lungs in a whoosh.
I meet his gaze unflinching. “Was there something you needed?” I ask in a cold voice. “That you came into the women’s dressing room for?”
“I just hadn’t seen either of you, and Ava wasn’t answering her phone. If you carried your phone, this wouldn’t be a problem.”
“Oh, sorry,” Ava calls out from behind me. “My bad; it’s on silent.”
I look back at Hunter, ignoring the phone comment. “Looks like we’re good.”
He stares down at me with that intensity that is all Hunter. I arch an eyebrow. “Did you need something, Wolf?”
He takes a step back and then turns and strides down the long dressing room hallway. “Are you checking him out?”
I whirl around at Ava’s question and snort. “Hunter? No. Do I have to try anything else on?”
She keeps me in the dressing room for an ungodly amount of time.
She leaves frequently to go and get different items. Just when I begin to think that my new punishment in life is to get stuck in a dressing room with Ava forever, she takes a step back and cocks her head to the side.
A huge smile crosses her face, and I know without asking that Bryce is communicating with her.
A moment later, she starts picking up everything. “Bryce is here.”
“I couldn’t tell,” I say dryly.
It takes us a few minutes to clean up the dressing room and put everything away.
It takes several more minutes of arguing with her about the ungodly amount of clothes she wants to buy me.
She finally shakes her head and leaves the dressing room.
I take the pile of clothes to the rack and hang them up.
“Don’t put those down!” she snaps at me.
I face her and watch as Bryce enters the dressing room.
I can feel the alpha power that comes with him.
I'm not sure if that’s a vampire thing or if that’s just a Bryce thing.
I shake my head. These wolves have no boundaries.
It’s a women’s dressing room, for goodness’ sake.
He drops his hands on her waist, and she lets out a little squeal before turning in his arms. I look away as he pulls her into a very passionate kiss.
When they finally come up for air, I hear her say, “Would you please help me? Sherese won’t listen to me.
” He glances over at me before looking back down at Ava.
They must switch to their bond because they stare at each other, but neither of them says a word.
I wait patiently since they’re blocking the path to the exit.
Thankfully, nobody else has been coming or going in here, or it might be a little awkward with Bryce being here.
Finally, he steps back, and Ava leaves the dressing room.
I sigh in relief and move to follow her. Bryce stands back while I pass him.
When we get out of the dressing room, I see Alicia and Hunter only a few feet away.
Hunter’s dark gaze locks on mine for a moment, and I stare back at him.
He’s not going to intimidate me that way.
I’ve seen him use that look on lots of different people; it doesn’t work with me.
“Okay. Are we ready?” Bryce asks, coming out of the dressing room.
“Yes,” Ava says, linking her arm through his.
He smiles, and I turn away from the nauseatingly in love couple.
We head back out into the mall, stopping at several stores on the way.
Before we leave, Bryce is carrying several bags, all with things he bought for Ava.
We walk past the food court, and Ava stops.
Bryce puts his hand on her lower back. “Can we eat here?” she asks, looking up at him.
“I haven’t eaten in a food court in forever. ” Bryce is already moving.
I watch them go, unsure what I’m supposed to do now.
Thankfully, the sight and smell of food don’t tempt me.
I know it won’t taste good, and it will only make me sick.
Alicia turns to Hunter. “Are you going to eat?” I hadn’t even realized he’d joined us again.
He’d disappeared after the department store.
“I’m good. You go ahead.”
She frowns at him, and I resist the urge to roll my eyes.
I debate again what to do now. Ava suddenly turns around, and her horrified gaze meets mine.
I know she’s going to apologize, and I don’t want her to.
I wave her on and start walking. I’m not really sure where I’m headed; I just don’t want her to feel bad, and I want her to be able to enjoy this experience without me bringing it down for her. I stop, out of sight of the food court.
“Want to head to the car?” I jump at the sound of Hunter’s voice so close.