Page 138 of Operation: Defiance

His expression shifts in that subtle way I’m learning is recognition, not pity.

“Raine,” he says gently, “you’re the one wearing them.”

Oh.

“Black. Or gray. Two pairs.”

He adds them, then pauses, waiting for me to tell him where to go next instead of assuming.

“Bras,” I say before I can second-guess it. “I need…something soft. No molded cups. No wires. Nothing that pulls at my shoulder.”

He nods once and scrolls—slowly, giving me time to veto anything that looks wrong. Some are too built, too shaped, too intentional. I shake my head and he moves past each one without comment.

“More like that,” I say when a simpler style appears. “Smooth fabric. No padding. Light support.”

He scrolls until he finds another in that same category.

“These work?” he asks, not selecting, just keeping the screen still so I can breathe through the decision.

I study them, listening for the internal flinch that’s become my compass.

“Yes. Those two.”

He adds them.

I steady myself. “Pants next.”

He scrolls again—cotton-blend joggers, soft waistbands, nothing with buttons or structure.

“That pair,” I say.

“And tops?” he asks, after I glance toward the screen.

“Short sleeves. And a tank. Maybe two. Soft fabric. No tags. Loose around the ribs.”

He scrolls slowly. A simple cotton tank catches my eye—clean lines, nothing scratchy.

“That one,” I say.

A few swipes later, we find a short-sleeve tee—muted, soft, something I could live inside for hours.

“And that one,” I add.

A dark gray hoodie. A light, waterproof jacket. He pauses, waits for my nod, then adds them too.

“What about socks?” he asks.

The question hits somewhere tender. Socks are ordinary. Normal. Proof I’m building a life again.

“Yes. Black. Mid-calf length. Two pairs.”

“Done. Anything else?”

I fiddle with a dry, tangled lock of hair, and wince. “Conditioner? Unscented or something citrusy. And a detangling brush.”

He enters every word exactly as I say it, waits for me to approve each item, and adds them to the cart.

I hesitate. “Do they have L’Occitane shea butter lotion?”