I sigh and run my hand through my hair. “There’s nothing wrong with her, but you’re right; she should be demanding all those things, and I’m going to make sure she gets them. I promise that I’m going to do right by her, Kane.”
He doesn’t say anything for a second, and then finally, he gives me something. “I guess she could do worse.”
“What the fuck, man? Is that necessary?”
He starts laughing. “Just trying to bust your balls. Look, seriously, I trust you, Eli. That’s the only reason I’m not stopping this. I know you would never intentionally hurt her, but I hope you know what you’re doing.”
I look up at the full moon, and I’m filled with motivation. It’s a weird feeling, but it’s like I can imagine what my future can be, and I don’t want to stop until it’s mine. “I know exactly what I’m doing,” I tell Kane. “I’ll bring Sam home tomorrow, unless I can talk her into staying longer.”
“You can’t?—”
I cut him off. “Goodnight, Kane.”
He just grunts, and I disconnect the call. I have plans to make, and I’m going to start now.
CHAPTER 14
SAMANTHA
“What are we doing here?”
I look around the store and see the people staring at Elijah. I’m sure they’re all wondering what he’s doing in here with me.
“We’re shopping,” he says, as if this is something we do every day.
I whisper to him, “I know the concept, but I mean, what are we doing here, Eli? People are staring.”
With that, he raises his head and looks around the store. And sure enough, every woman in the boutique has their eyes on him.
He ignores them and looks at me. “I’m getting you some pregnancy clothes, and we should probably get some things for the baby.”
I stop dead in my tracks. “You are not buying me clothes. And I’m not buying anything for the baby, not yet.”
He just smiles at me. “You look pretty in blue. I mean, you look pretty in everything you wear, but I’m thinking something blue. What do you think?”
He pulls up a pair of maternity jeans. “What size do you need?”
I cross my arms over my chest. “Can we talk, please?”
With clothes in each hand, he nods. “Yes, talk.”
I lift my chin because I refuse to be embarrassed about this. There’s no shame in my situation. “I plan on buying some things when I get my first paycheck.”
“Why wait? I want to get them for you now.”
I fist my hands at my sides and shake my head. “Eli, I can’t do this. I can’t. I’ve already let you give me a job?—”
He cuts me off. “I need you.”
“And the company car,” I continue.
He shrugs. “It’s just a car, Sassy.”
I cross my arms over my chest, feeling vulnerable. “And now you want to buy me clothes?” I look down at myself. “What is it? Do I embarrass you?”
He tosses the clothes back on the rod, grabs my hand, and then walks with me out of the boutique. He pulls me around the side of the building and glares down at me. “Don’t say that to me, Sassy. You know me better than probably anyone, and you know that I’m not embarrassed by you or your clothes or anything else.”
I glare up at him. “Then what is it? Why are you insisting on getting me clothes?”
