“I’m not materialistic if that’s what you’re implying. Compared to everything else I’ve been worried about, clothes are nothing, but I wouldn’t mind some new stuff.” I especially needed new underwear. The new ones Marni had provided were nice, but also a very different type from the ultra-comfortable cotton I’d always choose for myself.
“What else are you worried about?”
I narrowed my eyes. “Seriously? Are you really going to ask me that question?”
“Besides Gage. You’ve made your feelings known on that.” He returned his eyes to the road.
“I don’t want to talk about anything right now.” I looked out the window.
“That’s fine. We’re almost there.” He turned off at the next exit.
I wasn’t into malls. I wasn't much of a shopper. I generally settled on the first thing I could find so I could get away from the crowds and the "can I help you" questions of the salespeople, but after spending over a week in borrowed clothes that didn't quite fit, the site of the sprawling building was more welcome than usual.
Hunter pulled into a parking spot. Instead of pulling in next to us, the other vehicles parked all over the large lot.
Hunter got out and started toward my door. I opened the door myself.
Hunter held out a hand to me. I ignored it and jumped down myself.
Hunter grabbed my hand and started walking toward the front of the building. “Feel free to pick out anything you'd like.”
That’s when it hit me. I’d be dependent on Hunter’s money to buy anything. I didn’t have any of my own now. Shopping had lost even more of its appeal. “Uh, thanks.”
“I know you’re not materialistic, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have nice things.”
“Got it.” He needed to stop. I was getting more and more uncomfortable by the minute. I glanced over my shoulder. No one else was getting out. “Where is everyone else?"
“We’ll do this in shifts. We don’t all want to be seen together.”
“Why not?”
“It’s safer this way.” He released my hand and instead wrapped his arm around my waist.
“Oh.”
“‘Oh’ is your way of showing disappointment, isn’t it?”
“No.”
“Were you wishing someone else was joining us?" There was suspicion in his voice again. He somehow knew what I’d been dreaming about. That thought had my stomach tightening.
“Just Marni or Jocelyn. I’m not used to shopping with a guy.” That was true. I never even shopped with my dad. It was always something I did with my mom, especially once I hit my teenage years.
“You don't think I can help you pick out clothes?”
“Do you have experience with that?" I had trouble picturing Hunter as the dutiful boyfriend helping his girlfriend shop.
“Not really, but I'm a fast learner.”
“Any chance I can do this alone?”
“Mary Anne…” He held open the glass door to the building.
“Not calling me Firefly today?” That change worried me. If he was upset with me what would that mean for me, and more importantly, Gage? He seemed fine waiting on the sex, but evidently having sex dreams about another man didn’t go over well.
“Do you want me to?”
“I'm getting used to it.”
“Just tell me why you want to do this alone?” He paused inside the door. We’d entered right into a department store.
“Because it's embarrassing.”
“To buy clothes?” He arched an eyebrow.
“With you watching.”
“I’ve seen you with nothing on, hun. You can handle picking out clothes with me.” There was an iciness to his voice that frightened me more than anything else he’d done. Hunter wasn’t a man you wanted to make mad.
“Can you stop reminding me of that?”
“Why? You like knowing it.”
“I don’t.”
“Yes you do.” His face lacked any of the lightness it usually had when we talked. “Where do you want to start first?”
“I really can do this alone.”
“Hunter, let the girl shop with a woman.” Jocelyn linked arms with mine. "We'll meet you at the food court."
Hunter shook his head. “I'll go with you.”
"Let your mate have some girl time. She can surprise you later."
Hunter looked at me. “Is this what you want? You want me to give you some space to shop?”
“If you don’t mind.”
“Ok. I’ll see you both in one hour or less.”
“Absolutely.”
“Here. This should cover what you need.” He handed me a wad of bills.