“Agendas can change.”
His smile is slow. Almost wolfish. I can imagine him taking a bite out of me, and enjoying every minute of it. “I don’t mind staying in with you.”
“Maybe we could pick up a pizza,” I suggest, peeking inside the white bag and contemplating if I want to eat my ornament-shaped cookie or not. I think I’ll save it for later.
“Or we could order room service,” he says.
“Whatever works.” I glance across the street, noticing the lingerie shop. The beautiful displays in the windows of scantily clad mannequins. Inspiration strikes and I send him a look. “There’s a store I want to check out real fast. Mind if I go?”
“Sure.” He glances in the direction I was just studying, a gleam forming in his eyes.
Leaving my coffee behind, I’m about to cross the street when he calls out to me.
“Find something sexy, okay?”
Oh my God.
He’s got me all figured out. Though I was also terribly obvious about it.
The moment I enter the store, I’m overwhelmed with all the many color options. Red and black lace. White and pink. Lots of green too, for the holidays, even a few plaid options. I don’t know where to look first and I wander around aimlessly, picking up a hanger here and there, shocked to find a pair of panties split right down the crotch.
Guess those offer easy access.
“Can I help you find anything?”
Startled, I immediately put the hanger back on the rack and turn to find a seemingly elegant woman dressed all in black smiling at me politely. “Oh I was just—looking.”
“Have something in particular in mind?” The woman’s brows rise.
Old Wren would’ve told her no and run out of the store. But I really want to find something to wear for Crew. Tonight.
“I’m looking for something…sweet,” I say. “And sexy.”
Her smile is faint. “What color?”
“Red. Or pink.” My favorites.
She shows me a few options, never passing judgment that I’m an almost eighteen-year- old girl shopping for something to wear for her first time having sex, which is a little…
Awkward.
“We have lots of pretty panty sets right now in the colors you like,” she says as she shows the rack to me.
I thumb through them, pausing on one set in particular. It’s constructed of sheer pink fabric trimmed with red lace, and it hides nothing. Which is sort of my intent.
I don’t want to hide with Crew. Not anymore.
Setting the hanger back, I continue browsing, but nothing else appeals. I grab the pink and red set, pleased to see my size is available and I pluck the hanger from the rack, showing the saleswoman.
“I think I’ll take this.”
She looks pleased. “A perfect choice.”
I follow her to pay for my items, glancing out the window to see Crew waiting for me where I left him across the street, scrolling on his phone. The wind ruffles his hair and he brushes it out of his eyes and I can’t help it.
My heart swells with emotion.
I like this boy.