Chapter 638 Chapter 638
Asher nodded when she held up a shirt. Journee smiled and added it to the cart. He was so far out of his comfort zone right now. He knew nothing about women’s clothing, the styles, the fit—nothing. She wandered toward the next section, touching items as she went. He looked around, his cat was tense. He was tense. This was not an ideal situation. Pulling out his phone, he unlocked it and then stared at it. He didn’t know who to call. Was he even allowed to make calls? He had no idea. He checked where she had gone, grabbed the cart, and followed her.
He stared at his phone while she looked at every shoe on the shelves. Opening the last message from Illias, he typed quickly, I need help. Shopping. Who do I call? If he knew Illias, he was probably laughing right now.
Not me. Was the reply. Asher scowled at the phone and then another message came. One of the women, pick one, I’ll give you the number.
He watched Journee pick up a pair of boots. They weren’t practical ones at all, unless they were going clubbing, and he was pretty sure that wasn’t going to be a thing. He looked at the phone again. He talked to Amari a lot, but shopping wasn’t her thing—as far as he knew. Hovering his finger over the phone, he typed Deva. A phone number came back. He was about to hit dial when another message came up. Probably should just call her and then give the phone to Journee. Asher blinked; he hadn’t even thought of that. Thanks. He pushed the cart to the next aisle when Journee went down it. 20 minutes or less for call, please, I can only cover you for so long. He’d forgotten about time restrictions. Got it.
He went back to the phone number and hit call.
“Hello?”
“Deva. It’s Asher.” He felt some of the tension in his shoulders ease. Some. Not much.
“Ash. When was the last time we talked?”
He could tell by the way she sounded that she was driving. “It’s been a minute.”
“I know. One day of crazy after the other—but I hear good things are happening soon.” She sounded so happy.
Asher nodded. “Yeah.” He knew not to give too many details.
“I also heard you have a new traveling companion.”
He nodded, even though she couldn’t see him. “That’s kind of why I’m calling. She owns one pair of raggedy jeans and a sweatshirt—we’re at a store now, shopping, and I have no idea what to get her.”
“One pair. Wow. I know her story, and I think she deserves whatever she wants, but I get it.” The background noise vanished; she probably turned the radio off. “Basics like socks, underwear, bras, a few changes for overall day-to-day, shoes, boots…”
He turned around and looked at the women’s underwear section. He knew absolutely nothing about bra shopping. He rubbed his hand over his forehead. “Can I just give her the phone, and you can talk her through sizing and all that stuff?”
“Sure. I’m happy to help. I’ve got a long drive, and I’m meeting a new person at the other end.”
“Yeah?”
“Mmm, Taggart or something like that. Do you know him?”
“Heard him on some calls. He seems like a stand-up guy. English is a little rocky, but he’s come through for our kind.”
“Okay, great. Give the phone to J—your traveling companion.”
“Yeah, hang on.” He walked down the aisle and smiled when Journee saw him and looked so happy. He raised the phone against his chest. “One of my teammates, Deva, is going to give you a hand with sizing and selection.”
Her eyes went wide. “Oh, thank goodness,” she motioned to the dress shoes, “I have no idea what I’m doing.”
He put the phone back to his ear. “Illias said no more than twenty minutes for the call.”
“Got it. We’ll just grab some basics.”
Asher held the phone out to Journee. She took it carefully and looked at it.
“I just put it to my ear?” She looked at it again, “phones didn’t look like this before.”
He straightened, having forgotten again. “Yeah, just put it to your ear and talk.”
She did and spoke quietly, “Hello.” She smiled, “Thank you.” Turning around, she looked at the end of the aisle, “in the shoe section.” She nodded.
Asher watched her go to the end and turn to go to the next aisle. He breathed a sigh of relief. This way was so much better. He turned the cart and followed her. She was already sitting on a little bench with boots in her hand. He didn’t know how Deva had gotten her to select something so fast, but he was feeling better about how this shopping trip was going to go now.
~
Twenty minutes later, he stood outside the dressing room with the cart and clothes hanging off it. He hadn’t even thought of her having to try things on. The door opened, and she held up three lacy bras.
“I don’t like these. They’re scratchy, and they pinch my skin. I’m not getting any.”
He opened his mouth and then closed it again and took the bras. She grabbed a few more things from the cart and then went back in and closed the door. Asher looked at the bras and then turned slowly, trying to figure out what he was doing with them. Spotting a counter, he went over and set them on it and then moved quickly back to the cart. Glancing around, he crossed his arms over his chest and stared at the changeroom door. He was about done with shopping. Even when it was for himself, he was in and out as fast as his feet could carry him. Stores meant people, and he didn’t do people situations.
He was trying not to picture the whole bra-less thing when the door opened again. She looked at him with indecision in her eyes. “Is this okay?” She looked down at the jeans and then back at him. “I don’t know what looks good on me and what doesn’t.”
He almost blurted out that she looked good no matter what, but instead, he cleared his throat and looked at the jeans. They were snug but not too tight. He realized how slight she was and wondered if it was her build or if she was underfed for too long. “They look fine.” He shrugged, “are you comfortable in them?”
She looked down at them again. “I am. I think.” She motioned in the tiny cubicle. “I like the track pants a lot.”
He nodded. “They’re good for traveling.” He knew Deva wore them for long drives. He was going to add for when you knew you would be shifting a lot, but things like that shouldn’t be mentioned in public places.
“Okay. I’m going to get these, is that all right?”
Asher shrugged again. “You can get whatever you need.” He was rewarded with a smile that made him grin back. He probably looked like a dog that had been praised. Sobering, he pointed, “I’m just going to go and grab you a bag to carry your stuff in, okay?”
She nodded. “I have two more things to try on.” She bit her lip. “I don’t have to try on all the underwear, do I?”
Asher clamped his mouth shut and shook his head. “No, I don’t think so.”
“Okay. I’m not used to wearing it.” She smiled again and went back in.
That was another image he didn’t need in his head. In fact, all of this was something he didn’t need to be thinking about. Asher spun on his heel and headed to the sporting section to grab a duffle bag for her. With each step, he was trying not to think about her trying on underwear—or worse, deciding no bras was the way to go. They needed to pay for this, grab something to eat and then get back on the road.