Page 7 of The Bookworm

“That's good,” I reply, smiling at her as I pull away. I brush a strand of wavy blond hair out of her face and tuck it behind her ear. She bites her lip and bashfully looks away, her cheeks blushing. “Since you no longer have any worldly possessions, we do need to go get you some stuff, though.”

“I don't have any money.” Merrit shakes her head nervously. “I mean, I can get a job. My dad didn't let me get one bef?—”

“It's under control. Trust me, I'll take care of it,” I say, silencing her before she mentions anything else about him. I know it’ll be hard, but if I can get her to go for a few hours without thinking about him, then maybe she might be happier.

Merrit opens her mouth to refuse, clearly too prideful to accept my help, but I shake my head and hold a finger up to stop her. Before either of us can say anything else, I grab my car keys and head to the door. I only wait a moment before looking over my shoulder to see her following me with an appreciative smile.

She climbs into the passenger seat of my car, and I roll the windows down as we drive to the Pembroke Mall. She smiles and sticks her hand out the window as she feels the wind against her skin. I admire how the wind rips through her hair and blows it across her face. She's been trapped under the thumb of her father for so long, and she's finally going to be free. My heart swells from happiness for her.

She's visibly self-conscious when we get to the mall because all the other girls walking around are in trendy clothes, their hair neatly done with makeup plastered all over their faces. She tugs on the hem of her shirt to hide herself. It’s like she wants to make herself smaller so she can disappear.

It's a habit I've noticed she's done in the past. Maybe it's because I was the only person noticing her before, but I've always thought it was cute. Knowing more about where she comes from, it feels sad more than anything. I wrap an arm around her shoulders as we walk, swearing to myself to do anything I can to make that feeling disappear. I want her to feel confident and tall with me.

The two of us walk through several stores, gathering various items she might need: a new laptop, pants, skirts, tops, and shoes. Wherever we go, she can't help but eye the price tags, and when something is perceived as too expensive, she puts it down and pretends she isn't interested in the item anymore. Every time, I just pick up whatever she was looking at and put it in the basket.

As we're going, I even see her eyeing a couple of paperback books at the Barnes & Noble display. I make a quick excuse to go in and grab copies of a few I think she might like to surprise her.

“You really don't have to do all this for me,” Merrit says, tucking hair behind her ear as she looks over the covers of the books I got for her in the food court.

“Please, I want to,” I say, shaking my head at her. “You're under my protection now, meaning I need to provide for you.”

She's already learned that there's no use arguing with me about it, and she turns her attention to the grain bowl she ordered.

By the time we finish gathering everything she needs, the back seat of my car is filled with shopping bags, and an excited air surrounds us. I can't help but wonder if she's ever done anything like this before. It's so normal for parents to take their kids shopping at the beginning of every year to restock their wardrobes for school. I've never given it any thought before, but by the way she wore the same clothes year after year, I’d imagine her dad didn’t care to do this for her.

Sawyer still isn't back from practice when we get home, and I'm thankful for that. I'm glad I can spend more time alone with Merrit, especially after I caught her looking at him this morning. By no means am I jealous, but I would like to have her undivided attention right now.

“Now, why don't you go try on some of the clothes I just bought you?” I suggest, taking a seat on the couch. “Let me see how everything looks on you.”

She blushes, and a smile grows on her lips as she grabs some of the bags and carries them toward the hallway bathroom to change. It only takes her a few minutes to change out of my oversized shirt and sweatpants and slip into something more form-fitting.

“What do you think?” Merrit asks as she strolls into the room in black jeans and a multicolored sweater hanging just above her navel. The sweater is baggy, and the jeans are high enough that she does not show off any skin. That's fine, but at the same time, I want to see her be free from her father’s control.

“You look adorable, but it might be a little too much for the September heat,” I say. I dig in a bag and pull out a tank top and a pair of shorts. “This might be a little more appropriate for the summer.”

She nervously grabs the clothes and nods before returning to the bathroom. She comes back out a few moments later, showing off much more of her skin, enough that I feel the blood rushing from my head. The shorts are cute and come to the top of her thighs with little flowers embroidered in the green denim. The tank top is loose-fitting enough that it hangs off her breasts, but it's short enough to show off more of her body.

“Now, that looks good,” I say, watching as she tries to cover more of herself, insecure about this new style.

“I don't know,” Merrit nervously says, looking at herself in a mirror. “Maybe it's a little too much?”

“I mean it, Merrit. You look amazing,” I say, soaking in every inch of pale skin I can. After a few moments, her demeanor shifts, and an air of confidence surrounds her. She looks at herself and admires her looks. She's gorgeous, and she has the kind of looks anyone would kill for. She's just never known that. For God only knows how long, she’s been called names and forced to hide her beauty because of her dad.

That won’t be happening anymore.

When she goes back to the bathroom to change and comes out a few moments later in a red sundress covered in small yellow flowers, my jaw nearly hangs open. Not only does she look stunning, but the smile on her face radiates around her.

I've seen her smile before. During lectures in school when a teacher tells a joke, she'd laugh and then turn back to her books, and she's even smiled shyly and nervously at Sawyer and me since being here. But this smile is something different altogether. It's free and happy, and she's realizing that for the first time in a long time.

“That is gorgeous,” I say as she turns and looks at me for approval. She twirls in the dress, and the skirt rises just enough for me to see her lace underwear.

Merrit joins me on the couch and takes a seat beside me, leaning her head back on the cushion with her wide smile. “I can't even remember the last time I wore a dress.”

We sit in silence for a few moments as she digs through some of the other bags to look at the clothes. I'm glad she's happy, and I want nothing more than to make her feel this way for the rest of her life. But now that she's in this dress, I can't take my eyes off her.

“I couldn't help but notice you were staring at Sawyer in the kitchen earlier,” I say after a few moments, leaning back and watching as she stares at me with embarrassment coloring her cheeks. I laugh to myself and shake my head. “It's okay to look. Really.”

I see the questions forming behind her eyes, but she doesn't voice any of them. Merrit is embarrassed and shy about it, but I can't blame her. Both Sawyer and I tend to walk around the house shirtless, and I'm sure she's not used to that. But aside from the embarrassment, I see curiosity and intrigue on her face.

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