“Sure,” I whispered.
“For the next few days, just enjoy this, okay? I promise you, we aren’t going anywhere. In fact, I think you’ll find we are going to grow a bit overbearing.”
“Impossible,” I mumbled as his smile softened.
Marco slipped an arm around my waist. “Come on. I have to prove to you the overbearing aspect of my personality.”
I grinned. “Doubtful, but willing to give it a chance.”
∞∞∞
Overbearingmay not be the right word.
The three of them were insane. I mean actually insane. I was buried in a pile of things I had no idea what to do with, and every time I insisted they didn’t need to buy it, they did. The worst part? It was my own curiosity’s fault. I liked touching and looking at things. I didn’t realize it at first, but whenever I showed an interest in an item, it ended up being brought to the dressing room. Now I was standing with the clothing lady, feeling absolutely overwhelmed.
“I don’t understand why they are doing this,” I muttered.
“Be happy,” she chuckled. “Some man spending this much money on me? I wouldn’t refuse.”
I frowned though. Wasn’t that the point? They didn’t need to do this. In fact, I preferred they didn’t. I looked around knowing they were waiting and planned to tell them what I thought. I picked up a light pink jacket.
“That jacket is one of my favorites,” she commented and helped me into it, closing it around my waist and then running the belt through it. “See? It has a bow in the back.”
I turned my head and it did in fact, have a bow in the back. It was actually really pretty.
With a nod I stood out to the boys and all of them looked up with big smiles. I flushed and paused, “what?”
“Freakin’ adorable,” Sai muttered.
Marco tilted his head and grinned, “does that have a bow on the back of it?”
I nodded and turned as Atlas chuckled making a comment about something regarding a present. I remembered my mission then.
“Listen,” I turned towards them, “I really like the stuff, but I can’t accept all this. I won’t use your money.”
“We are buying it either way, so you either pick what you want or go with whatever we pick,” Marco explained softly.
Sai offered me a smirk, “to be honest, I like the sound of that.”
“I’m only buying what I need,” I stated softly while crossing my arms. I wasn’t budging on this. Atlas whistled.
“Damn Marco,” he chuckled, “she’s actually serious.”
Marco stood up and walked forward slowly, but with every step, my heart beat faster and faster until I realized I was backing up and the large man had me caged against the wall. He tilted his head and narrowed his eyes.
“Why?” He demanded softly.
“Because I don’t want to spend your money. Friendships are supposed to be equal, and this isn’t equal,” I stated softly, but confidently.
Those darkening eyes searched mine as he made a low frustrated noise before muttering something about ‘why the fuck do I have this money then?’
I raised a brow as he backed off and Sai offered me a cheeky smile. “Impressive, Maya.”
“Oh!” I remembered, “I meant to ask, yesterday when I was leaving you said ‘mate’...”
The store attendant walked out as all the men’s eyes widened in warning, I turned and offered her a smile. I hoped they could answer my question later. She led me into the massive dressing room and for the next hour, had me try on an assortment of outfits. Some winter and some summer. All of them very pretty. Labels that said ‘Vineyard Vines’ and ‘Hilfiger’ passed me and when she asked what I wanted to wear out of here, I stopped confused. I looked at my uniform and she laughed.
“I heard they are taking you out to an early dinner,” she whispered conspiratorially. “Want me to pick?”