Page 33 of Catch My Fall

Taking a trash bag from the kitchen, I begin clearing out my wardrobe, ripping my clothes off their hangers and stuffing them inside the bag without a care.

Everything has to go.

Call it a cleansing of sorts. A spring clean—only it’s not spring and my room is anything but clean.

My prom dress. My favourite pair of denim shorts. A dozen dresses for various occasions and double that number in shirts and tops. I just shove them all in until the bag is overflowing and weights a ton.

The dress I wore for my birthday party is the last thing to go in. This one hurts to let go of, and I hesitate before stuffing it into the bag. Alec kissed me for the first time whilst wearing this dress. I felt sexy wearing it, with his eyes raking over every inch of me. The feelings that swirl in my belly when I remember feels good, but now I can’t stomach the thought of ever wearing it again, not with all my scars on full display.

Satisfied I’ve got everything, I tug the heavy bag across the landing and drag it down the stairs with a loud thump on every step. I drop it onto the floor in the living area where Della, Reese and Gage are sat. Della’s holding Theo, gently bouncing him on her knee.

Their heads turn to me as I walk in.

Della smiles. “Hey, stranger.”

“What’s all this?” Gage asks, motioning to the bag at my feet.

“Clothes,” I reply before turning to the girls, “You wanna go shopping? I don’t like these anymore so they can go to charity or in the trash, I don’t really care. I need a whole new wardrobe.”

“I’m down for a little retail therapy,” Reese says. “Del?”

“Um…” Della starts, peering down at Theo.

“I can take him, angel,” Gage offers.

“Are you sure?”

“I think I can survive taking care of my son for a few hours. Besides, you could do with a girly day out without the baby. Go, have fun.”

Della squeals, rushing over to Gage and placing Theo in his arms. “Gah! I love you so much!”

“On the basis Alec comes with you,” Gage says, his eyes falling on me.

My shoulders drop. “You’re joking.”

“I’m deadly serious.”

“I don’t need a babysitter, Gage. I’m pretty sure Alec has better things to do than to follow us around a million different clothes stores.”

As if on cue, Alec appears in the doorway. Perfect.

“Alec’s job is to keep you safe. Either he accompanies you, or you don’t go at all. That’s the deal.”

“I can take care of myself,” I argue.

“That remains to be seen,” he grumbles.

I gawk at him, my mouth hanging open. Did he really just say that?

“Fuck you, Gage,” I spit. “Come on, let’s go.” I spin on my heel, not bothering to look at Alec as I storm through the house.

I know it’s not his fault. He’s just doing the job he’s paid to do, but I hate that I need a chaperone, and judging by my brother, I’m going to have to get used to it.

∞∞∞

For the next couple of hours, Reese, Della and I trawl through the shopping mall with Alec a few steps behind looking totally inconspicuous dressed in a full black suit that bulges at the side where his gun is strapped firmly into the holster.

He doesn’t blend in at all and the way he scans every person within a fifty metre radius has him turning heads as they walk by. But then again, why wouldn’t he?

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