Page 53 of Offside Devil

Aiden’s lower lip juts out in disagreement, but I toss a giant stuffed sea turtle into the cart and it buys me another twenty minutes.

Twenty minutes to choose a twin-sized bed frame, a mattress, new sheets, and a comforter.

I spin the cart toward the check out and throw my arms into the air. “They said it couldn’t be done, Aiden, but look at us! You are going to have a new bedroom and it took less than an hour.”

“Because you didn’t buy anything.”

My body recognizes his voice before my brain does.

A shiver works down my spine as I spin around to find Zane storming down the main aisle towards us. His mouth is pressed into a grim line and his eyes are dark. It’s the most intimidating I’ve ever seen someone look while carrying a rainbow lamp in one arm and a Spiderman poster in the other.

“What are you doing here?” I breathe.

He drops the items in the cart and playfully tugs on Aiden’s ear. “What I asked you to do: getting Aiden whatever he likes.”

Of course, the first time we talk in days and it’s so Zane can tell me I’m not doing a good job. Color me surprised.

I fling an arm at the cart. “What do you call all this?”

Zane grabs the navy blue pack of sheets and holds them in front of Aiden. “Are these sheets exciting for you, Aiden?”

Aiden wrinkles his nose. I’m dangerously close to calling a four-year-old a traitor.

“All of this stuff is boring,” Zane continues. “I sent you here to get him what he wants.”

“He’s a kid. He could want the entire store if I let him.”

“Then buy him the entire store.”

I dip my chin. “You’re not serious.”

Zane takes a step towards me and I’m suddenly on board with a texting-only work relationship. There’s no danger of his wintergreen scent turning my brain to mush via SMS.

“When I tell you to go shopping, your job is to go shopping. Money is no object for me, Mira.”

As if trying to prove his point, Zane finds an employee and has him scan things on the shelves as we make our way out of the store. He points to a big disc chair, shelves shaped like clouds, and a piggy bank big enough to hold the contents of my bank account twelve times over.

For the first time during the entire outing, Aiden is smiling. He’s squeezing the stuffed turtle I gave up and staring up at his dad with awe.

I’m a little in awe, too.

I knew Zane was rich, but this feels like a whole new world.

“Three days is the earliest standard delivery,” the young cashier explains. “If you want expedited delivery, we could have it to you by tomorrow.”

“Charge me whatever it costs to have everything at my house and set up by tonight.”

The cashier frowns and looks to me as if to say, Is this guy serious?

I’m asking myself the same question.

“My assistant should have given you my address already,” Zane says. “You can schedule the details with her.”

Without any further confirmation, Zane scoops Aiden out of the overflowing shopping cart and carries him out of the store.

“Do you want me to stay?” I ask, chasing after him. “I can make sure everything gets delivered if you’re worried about?—”

Zane stops in the middle of the sidewalk and turns to me. I have to scramble to avoid slamming into his chest.

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