Chapter 23 Retail Therapy
Retail Therapy
After lunch, the girls helped Jaxon clean up, their teasing far from over. Dishes clinked, silverware clattered, and glances were exchanged like secret jokes passed across the counter.
“We’re heading to Wilmington to shop,” Macie said, already halfway out the door. “Retail therapy waits for no one.”
Claire leaned against the counter. “Y’all go ahead. I think I’ll stay.”
All three girls turned in unison.
“Oh, come on,” Sara groaned. “Jaxon, how about you come with us? Since your girlfriend’s abandoning us.”
Jaxon raised a brow. “As much fun as walking around for hours and being your unpaid bag boy sounds,” he said with a grin, “I think I’ll pass.”
He glanced at Claire. “You sure you don’t want to go? I’ve got a few errands to run anyway.”
She hesitated, then sighed. “Fine. I’ll go.”
She crossed the kitchen and kissed him—a soft, lazy goodbye.
The second their lips touched, Sara piped up. “I’m next!”
Jaxon pulled back, shaking his head with a laugh. “Absolutely not.”
Claire rolled her eyes and followed the girls out to the SUV.
“I need to stop by the house and change first,” she said as she buckled in.
Macie groaned. “Seriously? We’re all ready!”
Claire smirked. “Sorry I didn’t get to finish my shower this morning.”
There was a beat of silence.
Then Taylor gasped. “That’s it. We’re getting every single detail now.”
Claire shrugged innocently. “Since when do y’all care?”
Sara leaned over from the passenger seat. “Since it became Jaxon you were doing. Lucky bitch.”
The SUV erupted in laughter as they pulled into the driveway. Claire jumped out, cheeks burning, and jogged into the house.
Twenty minutes later, she reappeared looking fresh and smug, sliding back into the SUV with a little swing in her step.
Within minutes, they had her talking.
“Okay, so... how good was it really?” Taylor asked, practically bouncing in her seat.
Claire smiled, slow and unbothered. “Let’s just say there was some wall involvement.”
Sara gaped. “Girl. If Jaxon Hayes ever picked me up and slammed me into a wall, I’d start praying in tongues.”
Claire laughed. “Don’t tempt him. I might just ask him to do it again tonight—for science.”
The car was a rolling riot of screams and laughter the whole ride to Wilmington. Forty-five minutes passed in a blink of jokes, dramatic reenactments, and coffee-fueled chaos.
After a few shops and more money spent than they were ready to admit, the girls collapsed into chairs in the market plaza, drinks in hand, shopping bags crowding their feet.
“I like this version of you,” Sara said, nudging Claire with her shoulder.
Claire sipped her latte. “What version?”
“The laughing, flirty, sex-joke-making version.”
“I’m still me.”
“Sure. But you’re lighter. Happier. You haven’t been like this in a while, and I love it.”
Claire looked down at her cup, smiled softly. “I’d argue, but... you’re not wrong.”
“This place has been good for you.”
“It has,” Claire nodded. “And yeah... Jaxon definitely has a lot to do with that. Around him, I don’t feel like I have to carry everything. I can just breathe.”
Sara grinned. “You made a joke about not finishing your shower in front of three people and a dog. You’re definitely breathing.”
Claire laughed, then sobered. “The next few days are going to feel different, though.”
“I know.” Sara paused. “But you’ve still got five days. Five more mornings, five more nights. You can do a lot with five days.”
Claire nodded, her voice soft. “Yeah... but the more I fall for him, the harder it’ll be to leave.”
Before Sara could answer, Macie and Taylor returned with drinks.
“Did we just interrupt a Hallmark moment?” Macie teased.
“You’re fine,” Claire said. “What’s next?”
“I need new sunglasses,” Taylor declared.
“I need lotion. The island wind is brutal,” Macie added.
“My legs feel like sandpaper,” Sara chimed in. “If I light a match, they’d go up in flames.”
Claire held up a hand. “Okay, okay—sexy talk officially canceled. Let’s go.”
They shopped a little longer before loading their haul into the back of the SUV. Bags piled high, they all paused.
“Did no one consider the fact that we’re flying back with all of this?” Taylor asked, eyes wide.
“We’ll make it fit,” Sara said confidently.
“Where, Sara? In your bra?” Macie deadpanned.
“Better question,” Claire interjected, “where are we eating dinner?”
“Starving,” Taylor muttered.
“Let’s call Jaxon,” Macie said. “See what the guys are doing.”
Claire raised a brow. “Didn’t see enough of him this morning?”
“Of him shirtless? Never.”
“If I get to see that again, I’ll buy dinner,” Sara offered.
Laughter shook the car again as Claire pulled out her phone and dialed.
“Hey,” she said when Jaxon picked up. “What are you up to?”
“Just got back. Guys are here.”
“How’d the errands go?”
“Uneventful. You?”
“Sara wants to hear your voice. You’re officially on speaker now.”
“Great,” he said dryly. “Hi, ladies.”
“How’s Wilmington?” he asked.
“It stole our dignity and our paychecks,” Sara replied.
Claire smiled. “We’re heading back. Trying to decide on dinner.”
“You have anything in mind?”
“I was thinking Tides Rising, but it’s Sunday. Flounder night. That place is probably a madhouse.”
“Yeah,” Jaxon agreed. “Why don’t we grab a few pizzas from Bennie’s and hang out here?”
Claire looked around—four nods.
“That works,” she said. “We’ll grab them on the way and head over around seven?”
“Sounds like a plan.”
“Okay. See you soon.”
She hung up and looked at the group. “Pizza night it is.”
“Perfect,” Macie said. “Now... let’s pray our luggage expands magically overnight.”