Page 139 of In Death, Love Survives

With my bag in hand, I head out of the store to find Wolfe still on the phone. I gesture for him to follow me down the busy shopping street.

He takes my hand in his as he continues to talk to Caleb.

I spot another clothing store that looks like the opposite of what I’d normally wear. In the window display are a crop top and a short denim skirt. I don’t think I’ve ever worn a crop top. Tying up Wolfe’s shirt last night was the closest I’ve come to it, and I felt like I was slipping into a new skin when I wore that.

It’s amazing the power that being comfortable in your own skin can have on you. With Wolfe, I feel confident in wearing more revealing items. I want to keep that up, even after I go back to my apartment and grab my real wardrobe.

“I’m going to pop in here,” I whisper in front of the store.

“Sorry, I’ll wrap it up,” he mouths.

I grin.

“You haven’t yet,” I tease.

A wide smile stretches across Wolfe’s face as he shakes his head.

“Love you,” I mouth.

“Love you, angel,” he mouths back.

“Yeah, I’m still listening,” he says into the phone.

I head into the store, and it’s the opposite vibe of the lingerie store.

“Hi there! I’m Daisy! Do you need help finding anything?”

I look up to find a petite young woman, maybe early twenties, with deep red hair, smiling in my direction.

“Hi! I’m Nova. No, I think I’m just browsing. Thank you though.” I smile back.

“Well, I’ll be around. If you need anything, just holler.”

“Thanks!”

I head right to the row of crop tops, spotting the white one from the window first. I find my size and start looking through the others. That’s when I spot a blue one with a matching short skirt. I pick both of those up too.

These are exactly what I was looking for.

I move around the store with ease, smiling at Daisy as I continue. Through the windows, I spot Wolfe getting off the phone and then calling someone else.

As much as I’m transitioning, I can’t believe what Wolfe is going through as he acclimates to being home.

“Everything you’re picking up is so cute,” Daisy says.

I look up from a rack, and she’s smiling over at me from behind the register.

“Thanks. It’s such a cute store.”

“I appreciate that!”

“Do you own it?”

“I do! I love it here.”

The front doorbell rings, and I look around to see Wolfe stalking toward me. He’s still on the phone and gives me an apologetic look.

“Take this,” he says while handing me his credit card.