“Victoria’s Secret aqua kiss body cream,” I replied, closing the curtain of the changing room and slipping out of the dress.
“I see… No money for food, but money to entice men. I guess that is your business.”
I rolled my eyes and thought about ignoring him, but yet...“We trade favors.”
“I see... Sex for body lotion. You went lower than I’d thought.”
I bite my bottom lip as tears start stinging my eyes. I knew it would be pointless to justify myself to him. He was obviously a stubborn man and once his opinion was made, nothing could change it. I didn’t know why I kept justifying myself to him, why I tried to make him understand and yet, I couldn't seem to help myself.
“No, most of us don't have money, so we trade favors. My friend owns a small drugstore. I help her with marketing. I update her website, Facebook page, and other social media in exchange for free products and makeup that are close to their expiry date.”
He didn’t have the chance to reply as Sabrina came back with the dresses. I tried the first one, not even bothering to see how it looked in the mirror. All I knew was that it was red.
I was done. I’d taken enough punches for the day, I wanted to go back to the only person who would ever love me unconditionally, my Timmy.
Putting my clothes back on, I exited the changing room.
“Are you not going to try them?” Sabrina asked, carefully taking the dress.
“This one’s fine,” I let out emotionlessly. I was done playing nice for the day. Just an hour with him had exhausted me emotionally.
Dean looked up. “Done?” But the bastard was not looking at me; he was looking at Sabrina.
“Seems like it.” She smiled so brightly at him, I suspected that today’s commission would probably be worth a month’s pay to her, if not two. I had everything already packed and ready to go. “Two of our shop assistants are waiting by the checkout counter. They’ll take everything to your car.”
“Perfect.” Dean stood up, putting his phone back into his interior jacket pocket. “Let’s go.”
Standing behind him, I almost choked on my own saliva when the total was announced. Almost $10,000. Dean handed his credit card over as if he was paying for a five dollar purchase.
“Give her the coat now.” He turned to me. “Just give them your poor excuse of a jacket to burn.”
Did he know that everything he said came out as an order? I didn’t think I’ve heard him ask for anything.
I slipped into the coat and couldn't help releasing a little sigh of comfort when we stepped out of the store and the wind didn’t affect me.
As the shop assistants piled our bags into the car, my stomach growled loudly. Dean closed the trunk and turned toward me.
“Hungry?”
I looked at him silently. What could I say? I was ravenous, but he was not one to care about my needs.
He sighed. “Come on, let’s go. I know a little Italian restaurant we pass on the way back. We'll eat there,” he announced as he climbed in behind the wheel.
Was he high? He’d made me bleed enough for the day. No way was I going to spend more time with him than was strictly necessary.
“No,” I replied as I buckled my seatbelt.
He turned toward me, looking confused. I assumed ‘no’ was not a word he heard often.
My stomach used that moment to betray me again, its growl even more deafening inside the car.
His eyes trailed down to my stomach before returning to my face. His emerald eyes, cold and bright like a piece of broken glass ready to pierce my skin. “Don’t be a child. Or do you not like Italian? Do we need to go to Chuck E. Cheese?” he asked, starting the car.
No, it’s you I don’t like. “No, because I don’t want to. No, because I’ve spent enough time with you. No, because I want to go home to Timmy.” I shrugged. “Take the answer that fits your ego best. Either way, I'm not eating with you.”
He looked at me silently, his nostrils flaring, his lips pinching in a tight line. He was furious at me and I took a little pleasure in that.
“Very well,” he snapped. Revving the car like a madman, he drove out of the parking lot much faster than I would have liked.
He was silent for a few minutes, speeding down the road. I glanced his way, not missing the muscles of his jaw bulging as he ground his teeth.
“One more thing,” he announced so coldly I knew pain was coming. “You’re not going home. This is not your home, it’s my home, Timothy’s home. You’re just a broken piece that doesn’t fit anywhere and who’s here based on my goodwill only. Don't forget that.”
How could I? I’ve never fitted anywhere and I’ve been broken since I was born. “I won't,” I replied as calmly as I could despite the lump of tears building in my throat.
“Are you ready to go?” I asked the infuriating woman who was already waiting for me in the kitchen. The child was nearly dressed too.
She was not at all what I’d expected her to be. She was ready on time, helping around the place, and taking very good care of the child even when she thought nobody was watching.
She was an addict though. She knew how to fake, how to cheat her world. I was a smart man, a cunning man, and yet, Edward had managed to fool me more times than I cared to admit.
So far, she’d yet to fall for my traps. She had not stolen the diamond ring that was ‘lost’ on the floor. No, she'd sought Mrs. James and had given it to her for safekeeping.
She’d not taken the platinum money clip that had fallen out of my pocket. Instead, she’d knocked on my office door and given it back to me.
She’d take the bait eventually though. She was simply smarter, more prepared than I’d given her credit for, but with the right trigger, she would fall. I knew it.
She nodded. “Just let me put Timmy in his suit and we’ll be ready to go.”
I detailed her as she dressed the child, trying my hardest to contain my sigh.
I’d spent nearly $10k in clothes and accessories for her just a few days ago and she was still dressed down in a pair of dark blue jeans, a red henley I didn’t even remember buying for her and a pair of biker boots. With her hair held up in a high ponytail and her face make-up free, except for a little lip gloss, she looked so innocent, so pure. I was almost fooled, I would’ve been if I didn’t know better.
“Okay, I’m good to go,” she said after securing the child in the car seat.
I extended my hand toward it. “Allow me.” It was not so much a request, but an order.
I looked deep into the child’s eyes as I reached for him. His eyes were so similar to mine, to Edward’s, and my heart gave an unfamiliar squeeze. It was a feeling I was not willing to explore - now or ever.
I cleared my throat. “Time to move. We can’t be late.”
She grumbled something behind my back - I was sure it was all but complimentary - as she grabbed the changing bag. As we reached the entrance, she grabbed her coat.
The drive to the hospital was made in silence, but it didn’t seem to bother her. I scowled at the road. That also was something new - women always wanted to talk, just like Helle, who just couldn’t shut up.
“Wow. It looks just like the hospitals on TV,” she said as we parked by the entrance. It helped that we were meeting Jeremy before the hospital had even officially opened for the day; the car park was practically deserted.