Chapter 48

Shirley

There’s a smile on my face as I wake up the next morning and I know it can be blamed on the lovely scent that drifts up into my nose. As I roll in bed, I happily stretch across the soft bedding, finding that the smell is all around me, warmly greeting me for the morning.

Even Cicy seems delighted as she wiggles around inside of me, wearing her own grin as she brushes her fur into the scent. She even nudges me, causing me to lightly sweep my cheek against the pillow under my head as I take another long inhale.

However, as I register the quality of the material against my skin, I immediately feel myself tighten. The next second, my eyes fly open and then I find myself swiftly sitting up, blinking wildly as I take in the room before me that is now glowing in the morning light.

Keith’s. I’m at Keith’s.

I’d somehow completely forgotten and been blissfully unaware once I’d drifted out of sleep. Only, my realization that I’m the Alpha’s home soon leads to another - the memory of the Tudor up in flames abruptly filling my imagination.

Suddenly, my good mood is squashed as my stomach grows sour. Everything comes crashing down on me quickly as I know I’m only here because of the horrifying events that occurred. And now I’m staying in the same house as the Lock Heart Alpha.

Thinking of Keith, I slowly pull the comforter off of myself, readjusting my robe as I practically tiptoe to the door. Once I reach it, I pull it open just a crack as I listen for any sounds coming from the rest of the house, but find it silent.

Closing the door again, I sigh once it’s secure and then turn back to the rest of the room. It hits me then that I’m not sure what to do…I’ve found myself in quite a strange situation and trying to figure out how to proceed is admittedly difficult.

For some reason, this makes me think of Keith again, questioning what he’s currently doing. Of course, he’s likely more at ease than I am seeing as he still gets to stay in the comfort of his own home, although now he has a sudden guest. And yet…it doesn’t seem like that changed his routine. He’s going about his day as usual.

And so I decide I should do the same.

Doing just that, I head back into the bathroom and get started on my usual routine. I do my best to get ready without all my belongings and just use whatever products are left in the bathroom - including an old eyeliner stick that I can use to draw on my mole with.

I’ll have to be more careful about that now that I’m staying here. I can’t afford to be negligent after I bathe or wake up and forget to draw it on. While I’m at Keith’s, I’ll have to make sure the mole is in place at all times just to be safe. I can’t afford him finding out.

Leaving the bathroom, a sudden knock on the door greets me, making me head toward it. And once I pull it open, I find the same man waiting for me as I stare out.

“Keith,” I pop out. “Good morning.”

“Morning,” he replies, and the word makes my skin feel warm. I’d never imagined Keith and I would be greeting each other early in the day like this.

“I brought you some things,” he tells me and then he’s holding something out to me again. However, this time it’s a shopping bag. “Just some clothes for the time being.”

“Oh,” I say, taking it from him. “Thank you…”

And really, I am grateful. It hadn't occurred to me until just now that I had nothing to wear. It wouldn’t exactly be a good look for me to be strutting around the Alpha’s home in only a bathrobe.

“Get dressed,” Keith tells me then, making me look back up at him. “We’ll head out once you’re ready.”

“What?” I blurt, struck by his words. “Out where?”

“The mall,” he states simply. “As I mentioned, we need to replace your things.”

“Yeah, but…” I begin, shaking my head. “I can do that on my own. I don’t need-“

But I find that Keith doesn’t care for my attempts, nor does he wait for them. Instead, he’s already taking steps away from the door, throwing a few last words over his shoulder as he walks away.

“You have five minutes,” he tells me.

And before I can even try to say anything else, he’s gone.

~

The clothes Keith provided fit me perfectly and I almost want to question how he guessed my sizes so accurately. However, I’m too distracted by the fact that I’m currently walking beside him through the mall, especially because people are staring. Keith doesn’t seem bothered by it though, he seems completely unaffected.

I do my best to take it in stride as well as he does, but I do notice how people seem to steer clear of us. Admittedly, it makes walking through the busy crowds a little easier, and the same can be said for the way people part whenever we go into stores.

When we do finally find a store that interests me, I find most of what I need, allowing me to head up to the counter once I’m satisfied with my selections. However, after the checkout woman rings me up and informs me of my total, my attention is drawn downward as I notice a hand reaching forward with a credit card placed between its fingers.

“What are you doing?” the question flies out of me before my head jerks to the side to look up at Keith. I hadn’t even noticed him before.

“Paying,” he states simply, preparing himself to swipe the card through the machine. However, I’m already swatting him away.

“No,” I tell him. “I can pay for my own things.”

“Shirley,” he begins.

“No,” I say again. “Really. I have no problem paying for all of this.”

To that, Keith stares at me for a moment and I stare right back. As stubborn as he is, I can prove that I’m the same.

“Again,” he begins, and without me realizing he’d been moving, his credit card suddenly slides into the machine. I scowl as I notice his trickery, which he easily shrugs off.

“I know you have no problem paying,” he tells me as I continue giving him a burning look. “But it’s my responsibility after what happened.”

I’m still not pleased as I hear the machine beep, letting him know that his card is approved and the lady sheepishly hands over my bag. Annoyed, I take it before I swiftly leave the store.

I can’t believe he paid for my things. Sure, the bill wasn’t absurd, but it definitely wasn’t cheap either. And I know he said he felt like it was his “responsibility,” but it still strikes me odd that he’d be so willing to help me.

Trying not to huff and puff, I keep up my quick pace as I keep moving. However, Keith is smoothly back at my side, annoying me further.

“If I had known you were going to pay then I wouldn’t have picked out so many things,” I state coldly. “Or at least gone somewhere cheaper.”

“You could just say ‘thank you’ and accept it,” he says then, and the slight humor in his tone makes me look at him.

In fact, he’s practically smirking at me. Apparently, he’s quite pleased with himself and even more amused over my reaction. I could trip him because of it.

“Glad you find this so funny,” I tell him, looking forward.

“I’ve just never seen someone so upset over another person buying them something,” Keith says then.

“It was expensive,” I state.

“It was nothing,” he replies. “Really, Shirley,” he continues, his voice more serious. “I don’t mind. I’m glad to do it. Think of it as a special bonus from the company.”

With that, I press my lips together, finally relenting a little before I give a nod.

“Fine,” I say, but then I pause before adding more. “And thank you.”

He nods, almost giving a smile. “You’re welcome.”

“So,” I breathe. “Can we go now?”

“Not quite,” he says. “I need to make one more stop.”

Letting him take the lead, we head toward another section of the mall until we enter a store that is catered specifically for men. I give him some space as he shops, deciding to look around on my own.

And soon, I’m glad I chose to wander off as I discover a display that catches my attention. Immediately, a coy smile falls onto my lips and I head toward the selection, deciding to get a little “payback.”

~

When Keith is finally done, we leave the store with the new watch he purchased perfectly placed across his wrist.

“That’s nice,” I tell him, studying the Rolex as he walks beside me.

Keith shrugs at my words. “Needed a new one. My old one got melted yesterday.”

“Oh,” I begin, staring at him. “Sorry-“

“No apologies,” he says quickly, cutting me off. He then looks down at me, shooting another serious look. “I mean it - it’s fine.”

Right. I give him a nod back, but then I think of the small bag hanging in my hand, causing me to smile before I turn back to him.

“Well, then how about a gift to call us even?” I ask. I can tell my question takes him by surprise as he quirks a brow, his lips already parting as he’s likely going to deny my offer. However, I shock him once again as I swiftly hold out the bag.

“What the…” he starts, looking at it.

“Open it,” I cut him off this time, gently shaking the bag before he takes it. Then I’m silent, biting back a smile as I eagerly watch him open it and pull out the brown leather wallet, his gaze already studying it within his hand.

“I noticed your old one was falling apart a little,” I mention, picturing the worn wallet I’d seen him pull out while paying for my things again. “I know it’s not much -“

“It’s great,” he tells me, still staring at it. “I would have picked out the same one for myself.” His eyes then glance over at me and I’m not sure why, but I suddenly feel very warm.

And that warmth stays with me even as Keith and I make our way out of the mall together and I slowly realize that… this afternoon with Keith was actually quite…

Pleasant.