Page 50 of The Pact

She giggles, shaking the bear as if showing it to us. “Oh, that’s very pretty, Skye.” I compliment her but as I try to take the bear from her to put it back, she snatches it remarkably quickly, hugging the bear to her chest.

I look at the shelf where she got it from and that’s a name brand that comes with a thirty buck price tag. I’d really love to buy it for her but I really don’t have the money if we want to keep the lights on this month. I’m not even sure I’ll be able to get that Brazilian wax. Maybe if I can do another shift or two at the Stowaway, I could do it and come back for the teddy bear. “Come on sweetie.” I smile, trying to coax the bear out of her arms but she sees through my intentions and tightens her hold on it. “Skye, your birthday isn’t for another three months. I promise that by then—”

“Oooooo!” She cries, displeased with my attempt to take the bear and I feel a wave of embarrassment rise to my cheeks.

“Skye, we can’t—” I feel stupid arguing with a baby, it isn’t like she understands the concept of money yet.

I’m at a loss about what to do, trying to calculate in my head what can we save on in order to buy the bear, when Bode intervenes.

“Can I buy her that?”

The heat on my cheeks intensifies. “I can buy that, Bode.” I lie. “You don’t have to.”

He takes my hand, pulling me closer to him. “Ausra, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that money is tight for you and your sister. Trying to take care of a baby on your own. I can buy the bear. Look, she loves it and she’s been such a good girl so far that I think she deserves it.”

“But I—”

He lifts my chin to make me look into his dark blue eyes with a gentle finger, a gesture that he’s done a couple of times with me. His tone is serious but there’s an undercurrent of sweetness to his voice that makes me listen. “I want you to understand something, pretty girl. The guys and I aren’t hurting for money. Aside from Kelley, we all have families who still support us financially. But we don’t even need that because we all have a few sponsors and full scholarships at Bridgeport. So things like a teddy bear for Skye or a Brazilian wax for you, shouldn’t be a problem.”

My embarrassment skyrockets. Shep must’ve told him what I said yesterday in the bathroom and also what happened between us. Which I guess I should’ve known because of the game.

“I don’t—” I begin but he takes a step closer toward me and his coconut scent and the heat radiating from his body reduce me to silence.

“Look, I can’t even imagine how it is to have to stand on your own two feet and also try to save for college. So if the guys and I want to do little things for you, please let us. Especially if those little things benefit us all, like the waxing.”

“I—how do you know that I’m trying to save money for college?”

He rubs the pad of his thumb over my bottom lip. “While Ashton was trying to get kissed yesterday, I came over to see why he was taking forever and as I couldn’t find you, I asked a lovely older lady if she had seen you. It turns out she was the head librarian and she’s very fond of you.”

I can’t help but smile. “You talked to Bobbie?”

He takes one step closer; his chest is now touching mine and his warmth seeps into me and it’s hard to think when he’s so close. “Yeah. Your boss really likes you, Ausra. And I can’t blame her, it’s really hard not to like you. So, will you let me buy the bear for Skye? And pay for your Brazilian wax?”

His low tone is so soothing and persuasive but I’m still unsure. “I don’t know, Bode. The only person who’s ever paid for me was my father. And it came with so many strings attached, you can’t even imagine. You guys keep saying that between us there’s no strings attached and because of our ‘game,’ letting you pay for things feels like—”

“Like what? The waxing is something we’re asking you to do, so it’s only fair. But forget about the game for one second. We said we’re friends, didn’t we?”

I nod.

“If you knew I needed money or anything else and you could help me, would you?”

“Yeah, but—”

“Then it’s settled.” His tone broaches no objection. “I’m buying the bear. And if any of us decides to give you anything, you’ll take it and won’t dwell on implications that don’t exist. When we said no strings attached, we meant it. Whatever we give you and you give us, is done in complete freedom and on an even ground. Are we clear?”

This is a new side to Bode. He’s calm and firm, confident. His zen, relaxed attitude obviously hides a strong character. But I shouldn’t be surprised, after all. Being the best at a difficult, technical sport like windsurfing at a young age must take a lot of discipline and determination.

“Ok, thank you,” I relent softly.

His gaze softens as it leaves my eyes to skim down over my face and settle on my lips. I’ve all but forgotten that we’re in the middle of a store and I tip my face up, offering him my lips to kiss.

“Ausra?”

A masculine voice interrupts the moment between me and Bode and we both turn to look at a tall, broad guy who’s standing close to Skye’s stroller.

I recognize Johnny, my sister’s ex. He’s always been a big, muscled guy as the school’s starting quarterback but the army life has obvious helped bulk up his muscles. The very short high and tight haircut also contributes to making him look more mature. Somehow different than the popular high school senior my sister snuck out to meet up at night during my junior year in school. Johnny is definitely a man.

I haven’t seen him for just over a year, before Skye was born. Since he walked out on my pregnant sister, after my parents found out.

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