Rooster flexes his arm. “Not a problem. That’s what she has me for.”
I lean into him. “Stop. You’re not my butler.”
“You think that’s enough to fit everything?” he asks me.
“Gosh, I hope so.”
The woman ends up talking him into packing cubes and helps him pick out a case for himself. At least this isn’t all about me. When she rings up everything, I squirm.
“Rooster,” I whisper. “I can’t—”
The stern expression he turns my way snaps my mouth shut.
There’s no elegant way to carry giant ol’ suitcases out of a store like this. At least Walmart would’ve had a shopping cart. The clerk helps us tuck our purchases inside the two large suitcases and sends us on our merry way.
Well, Rooster seems merry as he clutches both handles in one hand and rolls the cases out of the store. I’m still gagging over the price.
“Logan.” I hurry to keep up with him and he captures my hand with his free one.
“Figure we’ll put everything in the truck and drive around to meet the others at the food court. That okay?”
“You…I…I don’t know what to say.” I rush ahead to open one of the doors, which earns me a scowl, but for God’s sake, he’s already wheeling around my luggage. I can at least open the dang door for him.
He loads the two suitcases into the back seat. They take up almost the entire space.
Inside the truck, he hands me his phone, open to a map of the mall. “Are there any shops you want to visit while we’re here?” He fires up the truck and guides it around the massive, sprawling building to the far side, and slides into another spot.
“Are you volunteering to do more shopping with me?”
“Yes. You’ve been on the road for a while. Is there anything you need or you’re running out of? Something you want?”
I glance at the map again. “I’d actually like to look for a new pair of yoga pants.”
A positively feral grin lights up his whole face. “Can I watch you try them on?”
Laughing, I hand the phone back to him. “There’s a store near the food court.” I pin him with a stern look. “I’m buying them, though.”
“Agreed. You’re buying your own pair of yoga pants.”
I squint at him. “Why do I feel like we’re agreeing to two different things?”
“We’re not. You’re buying a pair of pants. I heard you.”
“Okay.” Still keeping an eye on him, I unbuckle my seatbelt. “You got a hat or something in here? Now that you told me the story’s been all over the place, I’m nervous. That saleslady looked at me funny and I was scared she recognized me.”
“Ah, shit. I’m sorry I didn’t think of that.” He curses under his breath as he twists in the seat, searching the back of the truck. “Not my vehicle, or I’d have something,” he mutters.
“It’s fine. I have my sunglasses.” I search through my purse for a ponytail holder. “I’ll stick my hair up. I usually get photographed with it down.”
“You’ll be with three bikers and two ol’ ladies. Anyone who bothers you is going to wish they hadn’t.”
I laugh, remembering how fierce Heidi can be. “Shoot, you think Heidi’s packing her ballpeen hammer?”
“Probably. Trinity’s pretty lethal too.”
“I’m not exactly a melting snowflake, you know.”
He leans over and kisses my cheek. “You’re right. You’re not a snowflake. You’re a motherfuckin’ blizzard.”
“I like that.” I search my purse again, pulling out a small notebook. “I want to stick that in a song or something.”
“Will I get credit?”
I scoot closer and brush my hand against his cheek. “Absolutely.”
“You snookered me.”
Rooster’s eyes widen with phony indignation. “I what?”
I point to the bag in his hand. “I said I was buying my stuff. You’ve done enough for me already.”
“We agreed you were buying a pair of pants.” He nods to the bag in my hand. With the one pair of pants I purchased. “And you did.”
Next to me, Trinity covers her mouth and laughs. “He’s got you, Shelby.”
“If it makes you feel better, I don’t think that stuff is even for you, Shelby,” Murphy adds. “Rooster likes the way yoga pants feel on his balls.” Murphy shapes his hands into a V in front of his crotch. “He thinks they present his package in an appealing way.”
“Did you just say balls to my girlfriend?” Rooster shoves Murphy. By the way the two of them keep trying to wipe the smiles off their lips, they’re both close to bursting with laughter.
“I was talking about your balls, so I figured that was okay.” He pokes at Rooster’s bag.
“Is there something you need to share?” Wrath squints at Murphy. “Why are you so concerned with a brother’s balls all of a sudden?”
“Good grief.” Heidi takes my bag and hands it to Rooster. “You guys have fun discussing your balls. We’re going on ahead.”