Page 49 of Dark Love

His eyes sweep the area trying to figure out where I want to go.

It should be obvious. This area is filled with smoke shops, tattoo parlors, dive bars that are thankfully still closed, and bodegas. There’s literally only one store I could possibly need to visit… the lingerie shop. Though it’s generous to use such a nice term for it. The store name has made me blush since I was sixteen and started ordering from their catalogs. Now I do everything I need to online, and my purchases are delivered in a nondescript box. I definitely don’t need to shout to the world that I have to buy my bras from a special store that caters to women who believe bigger is better when it comes to boob jobs and smaller is better when it comes to clothing.

Can I please crawl up into a hole and die right this minute? It would be easier. If only I could buy a sports bra from another store and be done with it, but those are useless.

Vex isn’t backing down, nor is he moving an inch.

I’m going to have to say it out loud. Can this day get any worse? “Ineedtogointothelingerieshop.”

“No.” He takes my hand in his.

Excuse me. “Yes.” I yank my hand away. “I need to go inside. I’ll just be five minutes.” Get what I need, pay, and put it on. Thankfully, I’ve been buying the same design for years, so I don’t need to try anything I like I do in other stores.

“You’re not shopping in a store like that.” He glares at the window display.

Like I have a choice? But he doesn’t understand that. No one does. I dress well to hide my biggest flaws. “I am.”

“We’ll go to a nicer store and get you what you need there.”

Wouldn’t I love to shop anywhere else and be able to buy simple sexy bras. “No. I need to go there.”

“Absolutely not. A woman like you doesn’t shop at a place like that.”

The problem is women like me have no choice where they shop. “I’m going inside. I’ll meet you back in the car in ten minutes.” And if he doesn’t like it, he can leave. I stalk over to the store.

A mature woman would have simply explained the problem. I’m obviously not that mature.

“How can I help you?” a salesperson walks up right as I enter.

“I need to buy some bras.”

“Here?” Her eyes go to the coat I’m wearing. “That is worth more than everything in this store.”

Don’t think about that. “And you’re the only store I’ve found that makes bras that fit me.”

“Oh.” Her eyes move to my chest that’s completely hidden by said coat. “What size are you?”

“34G.” It’s embarrassing even saying those words.

“Ahh. I’m assuming you know what you want.”

“Yes. Two nude Soft as Air bras and I’d like matching panties in a high cut.”

The woman’s eyes move from mine to the door. She freezes for a brief moment, then whispers, “If things go sideways, there’s a door to the alleyway.”

“What?” Why would she even say something like that?

“A scary-looking man just walked in without a woman on his arm. Bad things are about to happen.” She inches back.

What is with my life? I should run first and ask questions later, but my head turns of its own accord.

HE CAME IN! Even after I asked him to meet me in the car. “That’s just Vex. Everything is fine.” Except maybe the fact that my head is exploding. Can I roll up in a ball and die of embarrassment? Though he won’t know anything about what I’m buying.

“Vex? You?” Her head bobs between us. “Well, that explains the coat. You should have him pay to get you custom-made stuff.”

“It isn’t like that.”

“The way he’s staring at you is exactly like that.”

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