Page 105 of Overcast

My brows knit. “What do you mean?”

“Will I be able to...walk around and try things on?”

“Sure.”

“Without you handcuffing me or—”

“Stormi,” I ground out. “As long as we have an understanding that you’re not going to act like a lunatic, screaming and shit, you can skip around the store for all I care.”

The corner of her lips lift a tad, and it pricks at my skin in warning.

Watch your fucking self, Romeo.

Shifting to move and not make a move on her, I work the rest of the tape off her skin and pull back the bandage. Her skin is healing and scabbing the way it should with no sign of infection.

“It looks good,” I quip. “It’s bothering you, though?”

She knocks her head around. “Not anymore.”

I steal a glance, and she's still gawking at me. "You sure?"

She nods. “I’m sure.”

I begin preparing the new bandage in silence while she finally looks away from me.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous about taking her out and causing a possible scene. Also, not going to say that putting a dog collar to zap her ass if she screams has filtered through my fucked up mind. People might think it's kinky, I'm just trying to get the woman fucking clothes and the essentials.

“Do you have any of those beers left?” she voices eventually.

“You want one?”

“Yes, please.”

“I’ll grab you one when I’m done here.” I tear off a piece of tape with my teeth and gently place down the gauze.

“Can we go outside?”

“If you want.”

“And can you tell me why you have two names?”

I snap my eyes to her blues. “Why?”

“You don’t have to.”

But I want to. I don't mind telling her anything, but it won't make me feel good when she finally has to go. When she takes off with things about me, and I barely know a thing about her.

It’s better this way.

It really is.

But it still fucking sucks.

It’s also gonna suck for Hollis when he’s staring at his dick on the ground after I cut it off.

---