Silver(21)

Robbie had shown up bright and early that morning with Kelsey’s first paycheck (much higher than she’d ever expected) and insisted on going to pick up new clothes.

Kelsey wasn’t offended by it at all. She badly needed new clothes and really looked forward to Adrien’s face when he saw her without the old things she’d had to wear so far.

She blushed, thinking of his face last night, wondering why she cared what he thought of her.

She’d felt bad for misunderstanding him. Bad enough to come forward to apologize, but then, looking at him, so handsome, standing there rigid and offended, reminding her of the proud way he’d stood in the alley when coming to defend her, she’d wanted to kiss him.

More like, she had to admit, she’d been wanting to kiss him for some time now.

He was gorgeous, and despite what everyone said, he was kind to her. Maybe his words and demeanor were sharp, but his actions were different.

His obvious offense at her thinking he was taking advantage, his insistence that she was on his level as an employee, his stomping away and promising not to do anything ever again all had made her more than sure he’d never meant to attack her.

He wasn’t trying to use her.

Or at least, he wasn’t trying to say he’d take away her apartment or job if she said no to him.

Being able to say no made it so much easier to say yes.

“What are you thinking about over there?” Robbie asked, giving her an amused smile. “You’re going red as a tomato.”

“Am I?” Kelsey said, laughing nervously and moving to another rack.

“I noticed you didn’t end up vacuuming last night. Which is fine. I’d already told you there was no need. But am I right in guessing you maybe hung out with Adrien?”

Oh no, she was for sure going to be redder now.

“I knew it! What happened? Did you kiss him?”

Kelsey jerked her eyes up. “How did you know?”

“I didn’t,” Robbie said, her tone triumphant. “But I do now.” She laughed and dodged Kelsey, who swatted at her in mock annoyance. “Plus, I can kind of pick up on these things.”

“I can’t,” Kelsey said. “I totally misunderstood his intentions at first.”

“Oh?” Robbie asked.

“Yeah.” Kelsey pulled out a pair of dark-wash jeans and held them out, appraising them. “I thought he was coming to take what he felt he’d earned for helping me find a place to land.”

“No,” Robbie said, wrinkling her nose. “Besides, you earned your place. Watching you take out that bad customer was more than a little satisfying.”

“What happened with that, anyway?” Kelsey asked.

“Eh, after talking with Citrine and Dante, she seemed totally changed. Apologized for any issues, promised not to come back. It was weird.”

“Yeah,” Kelsey agreed.

Robbie shrugged. She was wearing a purple blouse with cutouts on the shoulders, and her rich brown skin looked amazing and smooth. She was curvy like Kelsey but really worked it, wearing clothes that emphasized every aspect of her tall, generous figure.

“Ooh,” Robbie said, holding up a blouse. “This would look amazing on you.”

“It would?” Kelsey said, looking at it curiously. “I’ll be honest. I don’t know how to dress myself. Cute like you do, I mean.” She’d always had to buy what was cheap or what fit or what would last longest.

There hadn’t ever been money for anything extra.

Her eyes wandered across the hall to rest longingly on a store that sold makeup, and she wondered briefly how she’d look made up cute like Robbie.

She’d never had money to spend on something like that. And hadn’t needed it for the temp gigs or restaurant jobs she’d had doing manual labor.

Robbie caught her wistful glance and smiled. “Come on, girl. Let’s get you in the dressing room with some fun jeans, and we’ll head over for makeup next.”

Kelsey grinned as Robbie ushered her to a curtained dressing room, shoving clothes in her arms and promising to return with more.

It was nice to have someone looking out for her. She felt so grateful she didn’t know what to do about it. She didn’t know how to pay back Robbie and the others for how good they were being to her.

She just hoped she’d get the chance somehow.



“You kissed her?” Dante’s grin was glowing as he leaned forward in his chair, his eyes triumphant.

“Don’t make such a big deal of it,” Adrien said, scowling. He’d taken off the bandage when he showered that morning, thinking it no longer necessary.

“You called me and said you’d found your mate,” Dante said, pouting. “I’d say that was quite a big deal.”