Page 128 of If You Claim Me

“I said I was going to the library, but I got the days mixed up and you weren’t working, and that guy I was seeing for a bit was there. It got awkward, so I left.” She sighs. “I wasn’t causing problems. And then I got my period and ruined my favorite jeans!”

“We can get you new jeans,” Connor says.

“I don’t have money to buy new clothes,” Everly replies.

“I have money. We’ll go to the mall.” Connor waits for me topass the cake that’s sitting on the dash to Everly and Victor before he starts driving.

I glance in the rearview mirror.

Victor and Everly are mouthing things to each other while holding their slices of cake.

“We can just go to Value Village. It’s closer than the mall,” Everly pipes up.

“What’s Value Village?” Connor asks.

“A clothing store,” I offer.

Five minutes later, we pull into the parking lot of a strip mall that contains a few big-box stores and a Value Village.

Everly and Victor hop out of the car.

Connor frowns, but exits the vehicle, and we follow them in.

I hand them both a shopping basket. “Go wild, kids.”

“I don’t need anything new,” Victor replies.

“You might find something you like, though. And you can pick a few things for the other kids at the home.”

His eyes light up. “Okay. I can do that.” He heads for the men’s section.

“This is a used clothing store,” Connor murmurs.

I slip my arm around his waist. “They can’t show up with designer clothes, Connor. The other kids at the group home will be jealous, and they could get rolled for their outfits. Or they’ll just sell them, because the money is more important than brand names.”

He gazes down at me, expression intense. “Do you know this from personal experience?”

I shrug. I’ve seen plenty of kids fight over shiny things. “Everly’s too feisty not to get into it with people, and I’d like to save her from the potential fallout.”

“You really care about these two,” he muses.

“I understand their life.”

We spend the next hour shopping for clothes. They pick something for each of the kids in the group home, and Everly comes out with two new pairs of jeans, a few shirts, and a sweater. Victorpicks a button-down and a pair of dress pants for job interviews. We stop for food on the way back, which they eat in the car.

I accompany Victor and Everly into the group home so I can explain the situation, leaving out any details that might add to their trouble. Connor stays in the car this time.

Fifteen minutes later, I slide back into the passenger seat with a sigh.

“Everything okay?” he asks.

“They’ll be fine.” As far as group homes go, it’s a good one.

We’re halfway home when Connor finally asks the question I’ve been avoiding. “What secret are you keeping from me, darling?”

“Maybe we should wait until we’re home,” I suggest. I’m tired and sad. Everly and Victor have a group home with amazing staff, but it’s not a replacement for a loving family and a stable environment. They have each other, but they deserve so much more.

“It’s that bad?” Connor’s voice sounds strained.