Page 54 of Dark Love

“Huh?” I turn back to Vex.

“We’re up.”

“Oh.” I spin around.

“What would you like?” a teenage girl asks with more enthusiasm than anyone should have this early in the morning.

Vex orders, giving me time to glance up at the menu one more time. “I’ll have a hot chocolate with extra whipped cream.”

“Anything else?” she asks.

“No, that’s it. Thank you.”

We step to the side after Vex pays.

“You didn’t order any food.”

Hot chocolate is food… kind of. “I never eat breakfast.”

Vex shakes his head.

At least he didn’t tell me that it’s the most important meal of the day like my mother does all the time.

They hand us our drinks in no time at all.

Vex looks like the type to sit and eat with a knife and fork or kill his meal and roast it on a spit over a fire that he built with a few twigs and his death stare depending on his mood. “Do you want to sit or walk and eat?”

He eyes the ever-moving sea of people around us with a raised eyebrow.

“Walking it is.” I don’t have to say that twice. We’re outside, walking arm in arm almost before I can blink.

Does Vex have a plan? Or are we winging it? Shopping is always the most fun when I follow my heart… and my eyes into a store, but Vex doesn’t seem like the type to shop for fun. He’s more of a get-in and get-out kinda guy.

Who am I kidding, with the money he probably has, he’s probably more like a personal shopper or designer comes to him kinda guy.

Mother would approve of his style and his money, even if Vex would terrify her.

Would he, though? Mom isn’t afraid of much.

I should probably take the lead since we’re shopping for clothing for me.

If I only have one store, which one should I pick?

Most of the boutiques around this area are frightfully expensive. They’re splurges. Not buy a quick outfit because your clothing had to be cut off of you by a doctor after you were drugged and passed out in a club bathroom.

A club bathroom.

I passed out in a club bathroom.

Dahlia Prudence Fleur passed out on the floor of a club.

“You’re shaking.” Vex stops in the middle of the sidewalk. “You should have gotten something to eat. Here, take a bite.” He holds out his half-eaten sandwich.

“I’m not hungry. This is good enough.” I lift up my cocoa and take a sip.

“Sugar isn’t going to help. You need protein. Take a bite.”

“No.”

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