I glance down. “The present. Balloons. Birthday sign. Order a cake. I thought it would be easier just to get plastic plates, forks, cups, etcetera. And alcohol. I’m going to make some mocktails for Faye, since she can’t drink. The food we can get on Friday, or even Saturday morning.”
“We could get one of the DJs from Rift to come,” I suggest, knowing how much Faye loves to dance. “I think she’ll like that.”
“Excellent idea!” I beam at him. “That sounds awesome, Vinnie. So we’ll all hide out in the back, get Sin to lead her in.” I pause. “And hopefully she actually will be surprised.”
“Don’t underestimate her,” Vinnie says in a dry tone. “She’s a fuckin’ ninja.”
“I believe it,” I say, smiling. “So first stop . . . how about a jewelry store? Tiffany’s? Or maybe we can get her a designer bag, what woman wouldn’t love one of those?”
Vinnie cringes but nods his head in agreement. “I can’t even wait in the car while you run in because of those fuckin’ assholes looking for you. I swear, I’m going to kill them just because of this.”
I roll my eyes at how dramatic he’s being and lean over to press a kiss into his rough cheek. “You’ll survive, Vinnie. I’ll be as quick as I can.”
TWENTY-FIVE
Vinnie
I WAIT outside the store, watching everyone who enters and leaves. There’s only one entrance/exit so there’s nowhere else she could leave from, just in case someone decided to try something. Chances are slim, of course, but better to be safe than sorry.
My mind wanders to Shay, who is happily making an effort to give a woman she only just met a birthday surprise. I don’t think I’ve met anyone like her before. She’s always present, always eager to help. Usually upbeat, even though if I’m being honest, her life is in shambles right now.
When I check the time and see that she’s been in there for twenty minutes, I decide to go and check on her, just in case. She said she’d just be in and out, but she is a woman after all. When I glance around the shop and can’t see her, my heart starts to race.
Where the hell could she be?
I dial her number, but she doesn’t pick up. Did someone take her? How? Unless there’s a staff back door that they were able to leave through. I’m about to call for backup when I see her standing in the corner, talking to a woman.
“Shay,” I growl, ready to take all my worry out on her. She sees me, eyes widening, and says something to the woman before meeting me halfway across the room. I grip her upper arm and all but drag her out of the store. “I thought I lost you.”
“I was right in there,” she says, brow furrowing. “Sorry I took so long.” She holds a little bag up in her hand. “There was a lot to choose from. I think I found her the perfect one though.”
“I almost had a heart attack,” I say, exhaling deeply, trying to slow down my heartbeat. My hand lets go of her arm and moves up to her nape.
“You thought someone got to me inside a store that only has one exit at which you were standing?” she asks, the look on her face telling me that I’m overreacting.
“Well, you were in the fuckin’ corner of the store, a blind spot where I couldn’t see you, so what else was I supposed to think?”
I let go of her nape, but she reaches up and touches my arm with her hand. “I’m sorry. Nothing happened, as you can see. Next time, I’ll be quicker.”
My anger all but disappears. “Next time I’m coming in with you.”
My fear of losing her is higher than my dislike for shopping, and I feel fuckin’ stupid for letting her go in alone in the first place. From now on, she doesn’t leave my sight.
“Okay,” she says, shrugging her shoulders. “We’ll be joined at the hip for all future shopping endeavors.”
See? Upbeat.
She’s one of those always-look-on-the-bright-side people, and it’s contagious.
I open the car door for her, and she flashes me a little smile in return. I wait until she gets in, close the door, and then make my way to the driver’s side.
I think Shay’s the only woman I’ve ever opened the car door for.
I don’t bother to question why that is, I just get into the car and drive us to the next place on the list.
TWENTY-SIX
Shayla
AFTER changing my mind and finding Faye the most perfect gold bracelet instead of a handbag, we buy the decorations and everything else on the list. It takes about two hours, and then we’re back at the clubhouse.