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“You would willingly go shopping with me?” She looks at me like I’ve grown three heads.

“Yeah, why not?”

“Men don’t normally jump at the prospect of shopping trips.”

“Most men don’t have a Chloe and a Bridget in their lives. Those two have dragged me around the city on more unsuspecting shopping trips than I can count.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. They love using me to carry all their bags. Plus, Bridge says I have a pretty good eye.”

“You three have a cute relationship,” she laughs.

“I consider them both my annoying younger sisters. Bridge gets a bad rap in the media, but she’s as loyal as they come.” An odd look passes over Verity’s face, my words having caused some unforeseen effect. “How about we shop in SoHo tomorrow? I have a showing at ten but could meet you at twelve.”

“Cullen, you really don’t have to. I’m not even sure what I’d do at a charity gala.”

“You’d have fun with me.”

“I don’t know…”

“Just say yes.”

If there’s one thing I’ve learned about Verity these last few months, it’s that she doesn’t like to take the initiative if she feelsit’ll be a burden on the other person. Which is why I always push her with my own agenda.

“Fine, I’ll go to the event. But you don’t need to take me shopping. I’ll sort something out myself.”

“No way. The shopping is just a selfish excuse on my behalf so I can spend more time with you.” I plant a quick kiss on her lips. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“But—”

“Your stop is here.” I stand up and hold out a hand, letting her use me as leverage to stand from her seat. I give her another quick kiss before tapping her on the ass and urging her out of the train car. I can tell she wants to protest, but the train doors threaten to close, so she scurries out.

She turns back and gives me a stern look, pointing a finger at me and shouting just before the doors shut.

“I’m not going!”

Verity’s lips are pursed, hands balled into fists, as she approaches me outside the café I’d asked her to meet me at. Despite all her protests yesterday, she’s shown up. It isn’t in Verity’s nature to leave someone hanging.

“I don’t want to be here.”

I haul open the café door, gesturing her inside with a smile. “I’m sure you don’t.”

“I’m serious, Cullen. We don’t need to go shopping.”

“This place has a mint chocolate coffee.”

“Wait, really?”

The carefully crafted annoyed expression she’s been holding onto melts instantly. She quickens her pace, scurrying to the cash register and scanning the menu board printed on the back wall.

She gasps, turning back to me with sparkling eyes. “They even make a blended version. It’s basically a coffee slushie.”

“You don’t say.”

I quickly figured out that, while Verity has a sweet tooth for desserts, nothing makes her more excited than trying new coffee flavors. Honestly, the coffees could be considered desserts in their own right, if you ask me. A benefit to living in the city is that there is always a new coffee shop opening up somewhere or some strange new seasonal flavor making the rounds, so I am never out of options on where to take her. I even started a list on my map app, with locations saved for us to try.

I order our coffees, but Verity insists on paying. I let her this once, only because I’ll use it as leverage later when I buy her a dress for the gala. She is in a stubborn mood, so I’ll need to play my cards right.