Page 55 of Jase

Chapter 20

Kody

Did I say no? Did I put my foot down and make the situation complicated? I’d never been one to dress lavishly. Hell, I couldn’t even get myself to pay over thirty dollars for a pair of slacks if I knew I could find them somewhere cheaper. As I stared at the jeans and sweater I’d tried on, I couldn’t figure out how an outfit could cost more than my monthly rent? It made no sense. Was it stitched together by golden thread? What was I missing? Jeans: form fitting. Not too tight. No stylish holes. Just dark denim. And it was paired with an off-white sweater with an array of colors streaked across like a rainbow. It had a wide enough collar that it dropped to the side showing one shoulder. It was cute, but was it rent-cute?

“You don’t like it.”

My stare shot to Jase’s reflection.

“It’s not that.”

“Is it the bruises? You can’t even really see them with the makeup.”

I turned, closing the distance and lowering my voice.

“It’s not that either. Is there anywhere else we can go? Somewhere…cheaper?”

“Kody, this is cheaper. This is the third store we’ve been to. I was fine with the first. I liked the style of the first.”

“If you’re looking to spend that kind of cash, you could feed a poverty-stricken country. I’ll even help you find one. I need clothes.Regular ones.Not this fancy stuff.”

Jase let out a breath, trying not to smile as he sat in the nearby chair and shrugged.

“We can’t shop outside of this part of town. It’s too risky. This store will have to do. Pick at least three outfits. I’ll let you buy the rest online.”

“Three?”

“Three.You have to have clothes to wear as you wait for the others to be delivered. I won’t budge.”

“One.” I swallowed hard at Jase’s look. “I’ll take what I’m wearing, and one of the t-shirts in the front. I have the dress you bought me, and I can wash the outfit I came over in. That’ll be fine until the others come in.”

“Kody.” His finger bent, calling me closer. He didn’t start talking until my legs were nearly in-between his knees. “Three outfits or I buy everything in this store that’s your size. You have ten minutes.”

“That’s not fair.”

“Five minutes.”

“What?” Before I could keep going, he stood, making my hands shoot up. “Fine. Three.”

“Thank you. I’ll be looking at shoes. Undergarments are in the back. Grab some of those too. Unless you prefer me—”

“Undergarments I can do.”

Jase winked, sending heat covering my face. I wasn’t cut out for letting people take care of me. Tiff couldn’t even pay for my lunch without it driving me crazy. How was I going to pick three outfits knowing I’d have to go back to Jase’s and order more? He wouldn’t let me use my money. I’d already tried to convince him. He probably knew I didn’t have enough to pay, even if I wanted to.

Heading back to the dressing room, I hung up the clothes, putting back on my dress and cardigan. There was another loose-fitting dress I’d tried on before the jeans, along with a romper that had a good flow. I took the three outfits, pausing for the handle as my new phone rang from my purse. I opened the door, trying my best not to dive for it.

“Jase?”

My gaze went towards the shoes, narrowing at the empty section. I dug out my phone, taking in the name on the front:Tiff.

“Before you answer that...”

I jumped, spinning. “I need to talk to her. I need to see if she’s okay.”

“You can, hold on. You need a story.” He took the outfits I carried, pointing towards the panties and bras.

“What do you want me to tell her?”