Briar
“Iknow a good store here, my sisters shop here when they are in town.” Kingston remarks. I hear Thorn groan. He hates shopping.
Anything to embarrass my little brother.
“If you insist,” I gesture to the mall as he parks.
“Can we eat at Panera Bread?” Thorn asks. I can hear his stomach rumble. I’m guessing they missed lunch because of the Lane incident.
“Everyone okay with that?” Kingston asks.
I nod. I don’t add that Panera Bread is a favorite of Thorn’s. And any chance I had extra money, I would let him grab a meal from there for us.
I love the food as well and I don’t mind the company.
After we eat, we walk laps around the mall, window shopping.
Kingston buys Thorn a soft pretzel. He might be eighteen but he acts five sometimes. He just ate and I’m surprised he’s still hungry. Where does he put it?
The way Kingston interacts with Thorn is heartwarming. I watch the lights twinkle, Christmas lights. It’s close to Christmas, so the mall is decorated with lights and fake snow. Growing up, before everything went to shit, this used to be my favorite time of year. I struggle every year trying to make sure Thorn has a good Christmas. I hated that in the beginning he would go to school and get bullied for not getting anything new. So, I worked to make sure he had a good Christmas. I know he didn’t care as long as we were together, but kids can be cruel.
We walk by the mall Santa in the middle of the mall, and I get an idea.
I start to grin.
“Guys?”
If they care about me, at least Thorn, they will do this. Everything is still up in the air about Kingston. They stop and turn around to see that I am wickedly smiling at me.
“I don’t like that look,” Thorn mutters and Kingston nods.
“Can we get a picture with Santa?” I bat my eyes as I ask.
“You want to do what?” they both say in unison.
“I want us to get a picture with Santa,” I state.
What? Are we five?” Kingston snorts.
“Both of you act like it sometimes,” I counter, “at least Thorn does.”
“Hey!” Thorn protests as Kingston holds his hands up, “Whoa, sweetheart, we just met.”
“All men act like they’re five as some point,” I point out with a smile.
“Got a point,” Kingston snickers as I grab their hands and we walk up to the mall Santa who laughs.
“What do you want for Christmas?” he snorts as we pose for the picture.
“Oh Santa. I can’t tell you that,” I giggle as the guys squirm and the man in the Santa suit laughs at their discomfort.
That’s all I wanted to see- them squirm. Mission accomplished.
I’m handed the picture and I stick it in my purse. They humored me in getting the picture, and I will cherish it.
“Now it’s time to get serious,” Kingston says as he takes my hand, intertwining our fingers. His hand, although huge, fits perfectly with mine. He leads me to a dress shop and asks the saleswoman if she can find me a nice one.
“Let’s see what we can do,” the woman says. She starts browsing the racks and pulls some dresses.