Page 60 of Mr. Green
“I’ll get back to myself.” I stare out the window for a minute before continuing. “You’re right—I do like colorful outfits. It would take all day to find something, though and I know you don’t want to be shopping with me. You have other things planned.”
“Lana, you just told me youdolike colorful things. Please let me take you. I’m the one who offered. Iwantto take you. The place I’m taking you has a million shops and an ice rink. There’s more to do there than just look at clothes. It’s going to be cool. If you don’t find anything, you don’t find anything. No big deal.”
“Umm...” I tuck a non-existent strand of hair behind my ear. “Okay. But if I don’t find anything,” I point my finger at him, “we’re leaving.”
“Agreed.”
“And I’m buying.”
“Nope.”
I look over to him, astonished.
“Your money is no good around me.” Then he winks and drives like no serious conversation happened at all. He’s talking about different flavors of ice cream for some reason. I nod my head, staring at my hands. The heat from his hand comforting me while the air conditioner blows out ice.
It’s been forever since I’ve been shopping. I don’t even know what size I am. I know it must’ve changed since I’ve been losing inches.
He pulls into a spot in a parking garage. Then he takes my hand and leads me into the building. The landscaping outside greets us with those green bushes everyone trims into shapes. Then two big glass doors open and three floors appear. He wasn’t kidding—this place must have a million places to shop at. Great.
He keeps hold of my hand and keeps looking over to me every time we pass a store. Maybe to see if I’m interested in what’s in the windows? Idon’t know.
We come to a place with workout clothes in the window, but I don’t recognize the name. Something about a lemon? Maybe everything smells like lemons in here. I’m not sure how that’s a draw, but I let Grant lead me in. Then I see it: the cutest purple and gray tie-dyed sports bra and legging matching set. It’s what I’d love to wear working out—everyone has one of these cute looking outfits on these days.
Grant must see my face. “What size are you?”
“Oh, I could never wear that.”
“Why not?”
“Isn’t it too revealing?” I scrunch my nose thinking about what Ryan told me a long time ago.
“For this phenomenal body of yours? I don’t think so. Why don’t you try it on?”
Before I can protest, he pulls out two sizes and tells me to go to the fitting room. I don’t argue. Ilovethis outfit. It’s exactly what I’ve been wanting to wear. I have support I would look good in it too, unlike with my ex.
“I can take those for you,” a blonde store employee greets us. “Follow me to dressing room three.”
I give the clerk a shy smile and follow her to the room, looking behind me to Grant giving me an encouraging nod.
“The drive here, okay?” she asks. “Sometimes there’s so much traffic.”
I nod. I don’t know what to say since we didn’t run into any traffic.
“Glad you made it in okay. Be careful on the way home. Drivers around here are nuts. Take your time trying these on. Let me know if you need a different size.” She walks off like she’s a pony searching for a flower.
Everyone is overly friendly in Texas. What the fuck is that about?
I try on the bigger size on first and find it fits me like a glove. My goal was to be healthy again. The mirror is showing the muscle tone I’ve gained and my lips turning up at the corners as I switch from side to side to see every angle. I love it.
I place it back on the hangers and get dressed in my other outfit, making my way out to the store.
“How’d it fit?” Grant asks, eyebrows raised.
“Good.” My smile is still in place. “I’ll just go check out.”
“I told you, I was taking care of everything today. I got it, Sunshine.” He takes the outfit from my hands.
“Grant, you really don’t—” but he goes to the cash register without another thought. I hang back in the store, looking at some other things, and Grant joins me a couple minutes later.