Page 37 of Riding Jamie

How did I ever think I could want a life without this man by my side?

Chapter Seventeen

OAKLEY

Letthe record show that I amnotone for Black Friday shopping.

Shopping in general? Totally fine, even fun for the most part. But wading through crowds of people ready to fistfight over the latest smart toaster? Not really my scene.

Actually, I don’t really think that my mom or Maggie are all that excited about it, either, but it’s better than being at home right now. Dad is…less than pleased with my choice to get back together with Jamie. Thanksgiving was a chillier affair than usual because of that, not to mention that Maggie is still in trouble for sneaking out the night of the party.

So, no matter how much we didn’t care about stalking the sales, when Mom suggested we head over to the next town over to go shopping, both Maggie and I jumped at the opportunity.

At the very least, we can get lunch at that little Mediterranean place Mom loves so much.

“Maggie, don’t you think this would be nice for school?” she asks.

She’s holding up a striped sweater that both Maggie and I can agree is atrocious, which says a lot, because I think her fashion sense is insane. She makes a disgusted face and turns away without even answering Mom. I swat her on the side of the head lightly for the attitude, but I can’t help laughing.

“Maybe let’s go for something that a history professor wouldn’t wear?” I suggest, taking the sweater from my mom and putting it back on the rack.

“Maybe let’s go for a store that doesn’t smell like old lady perfume?” Maggie tosses over her shoulder archly.

My mom sighs, but there’s a twinkle of affection in her eyes. I hope I was a little less of a brat to her when I was Maggie’s age, but I doubt it.

“Alright, kiddo, lead the way.”

Maggie almost immediately takes off toward the door, leading us straight out of the store we’re in and down the street toward somewhere that’s pumping loud music and reeks of bad cologne. My mom and I both wrinkle our noses, making a silent decision to stay outside and find something else to look through while Maggie winds through the crowds in there.

“What about you, honey?” my mom asks as we idly browse through a rack of gaudy dresses outside a boutique a bit down the road.

I hum inquisitively, burying my attention in the rack so I don’t have to look her in the eyes.

“Do you want any new clothes for school? I know Kathy said she took you shopping a few times, but I want to make sure you have everything you want,” she says. “I’m sure the fashion out there is a bit different from here.”

I snort at that, shaking my head in amusement.

“Trust me, I have no interest in dressing like most New Yorkers my age do.”

She grins at me, a relieved light in her eyes. I’m perfectly happy with being comfortable at home and presentable at work. I like clothes that look good on me and are a reasonable price, not clothes thatmake a statement, or whatever the fashion nerds in New York say.

“That’s good to hear,” she says with a teasing grin. “When are you going back?”

I swallow hard, pulling a dress out to look over it consideringly just to give myself a moment to figure out what to say.

“Uh, not until after Christmas,” I say brightly. “You’ll have me for the whole holiday season.”

My eyes are a little too wide and my voice is a bit tight, my smile wobbly. Thankfully, my mom is busy looking at a rather nice leather jacket that’s discounted heavily.

“That’s good to hear,” she says. “Spring semester doesn’t start until after New Years, right? You should stay for that, too.”

“Yeah, I can do that.” I put the dress back, debating whether I should tell her now or wait until we’re back home and I can break the news to everyone. The impulsive part of me wants to blurt it out, but that’s probably not the best idea. “I’m actually still waiting to figure out my spring semester schedule, so I’m not really sure on dates yet.”

That’s as close to the truth as I can bear to get right now.

My mom raises her head, a confused light in her eyes. She’s opening her mouth to say something when my eyes slide past her and land on a face I don’t expect to see.

“Shane?”

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