Page 60 of Places We've Never Been

“Great,” I said, walking toward the register. That’s when I remembered I’d given my purse, with my money and cell phone, to Paisley to hold while I tried on clothes. I closed my eyes and exhaled in frustration. What would be worse? Mall jail or asking Skyler for help? It was a tough choice.

I turned toward him. “Paisley has my purse.”

“What’s that?” Skyler asked, hovering by the front doors.

“Paisley. She’s holding my purse.”

“So are you saying, Norah, that youdoneed a hero?”

The store worker had the audacity to laugh.

“I’ll pay you back,” I said.

He walked to my side and retrieved his wallet out of hispocket.

“Can I at least get the right size?” I asked the worker.

He leveled me with a stare.

Skyler handed over some cash. “It looks like the right size to me.”

“You did not just say that,” I said.

He smiled. I elbowed him in the ribs and this time he laughed. The guy behind the counter came at me with the sensor-removing device.

“Don’t even think about it,” I said, holding out my hand. He placed it in my palm and I removed the security sensor and handed it back. “I’m going to get my actual shirt.” As I walked back to the dressing room, I saw that half a dozen people were milling about the store, all staring at me. I waved, swiped up my shirt, and left.

Skyler was waiting outside, a stupid teasing smile in his eyes.

“I’ll pay you back,” I said again.

“You’re welcome,” he returned.

I saw Ezra up ahead, exiting a candy shop. “There’s Ezra, let’s go,” I said, instead of “thank you.” Those words seemed too hard to say to him right now.