“What face?” I knew what she meant, and normally I hid it better. When I was going to do something, and my mind wouldn’t be changed, I just stopped arguing.
“The face that says my lips are saying one thing and I’m going to do something else… like buy me clothing instead of letting me take care of myself.”
I walked to the boutique’s door and opened it. “Shall we?”
Her lips pinched together, and she huffed. “Fine,” she said. When she got to the door, she stopped in front of me. “I know where you’re sleeping the next few nights. Don’t forget that.”
“You’re really cute when you threaten people.”
She roared like a dragon and stomped into the store.
Thomas laughed.
“Just make sure no one questionable comes in.”
He gave a salute. “You got it boss. Have fun shopping.”
“Shut up.” I let the door swing shut.
Needless to say, we took opposite sides of the store. One, she needed to cool off, and two, that’s how they had the sections arranged. I hadn’t bought clothes in a while. Iris took care of that. If my life depended on knowing the price of a pair of socks, I’d be dead.
What size did I even wear?
I grabbed a few pairs of jeans and continued browsing. A button-down wasn’t going to work at a biker bar. A T-shirt? I didn’t think I’d worn a T-shirt since I was a preteen.
My father wouldn’t allow it. Men dressed for success. Success meant the respect of your associates and peers, and those who didn’t respect you, should fear you.
Those who wouldn’t respect or fear you didn’t live long.
He’d always been distant with a flair for the cruel. I didn’t realize how much my mom protected me until she was gone. After… after, I took the brunt because I couldn’t let that darkness touch Anna.
Then she fought with him over a gun, and he shot himself.
She’d been to therapy and said she was doing well. Ari, her husband, said the same. I hoped they were telling me the truth.
“Jason?”
“Uh, yeah?” Cora’s face came into focus. “Everything okay?”
Her eyes searched mine, a concerned look on her face. The way her head was tilted, she had been studying me long before I zoned back in. “I don’t know. Is it? You’ve been standing in the same spot, staring at the same rack of clothes for ten minutes.”
I smiled. “Sorry, I just don’t know what to pick. Iris usually buys my clothes, and I’ve worn button-ups since before I was a teenager. I don’t know what I should wear.”
Her eyes slightly narrowed for a second as if she didn’t quite believe me. “Oh. Well, would you like some help?”
“Please.”
She dug through the racks looking at the T-shirts. “These are all vintage.”
“Vintage?”
“Yeah, most of them are from the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s.” She chuckled and held one up. “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.”
“Four turtles with masks on?”
Her mouth dropped open. “Wait. You haven’t seen the masterpiece of cartoons that is the Ninja Turtles?”
I shook my head. “No.”
