Page 42 of Skid
“Antonia and Jenna asked me to go Christmas shopping.” I grimaced as I added, “That is, if you don’t mind keeping an eye on Baylor for me.”
“Sure thing. I’d be glad to.” He looked at me for a second, then asked bluntly, “You got money?”
I gave him a look, the one that said he was about to cross a line, and he knew it. Before I could say a word, he raised his hand and shook his head. “Don’t give me that look. This is our first Christmas together, and I want it to be special.”
He pulled a wad of bills from his pocket and stuffed them into my purse. “Thatch, I don’t need…”
“This isn’t up for discussion.” He leaned in and kissed me on the forehead. “Buy whatever you want, and if you need more, just say the word.”
I stood there for a moment, trying to decide if I was irritated or touched beyond measure. I let out a breath as I told him, “Fine, but I’m picking out your gift with my money.”
“Baby, the only gift I need is standing right in front of me.” He let his eyes skirt over me. “I could unwrap you all day long.”
“You’re a mess.”
I rolled my eyes, but as I walked out of that house, I felt like I was the luckiest girl in the world. I drove over to the outlet mall to meet the girls, and the place was a full-blown warzone. People were everywhere. Music was blaring, kids were crying, and everyone seemed to be in the rush of their lives.
Jenna, Antonia, and I were doing our best to weave through the chaos, but it was rough. It didn’t help matters that our hands were full of bags, and we were adding more by the second. My arms were burning, my feet hurt, and Jenna had just hip-checked a lady who tried to snatch the last vintage Piglet from her hands.
“This is insane,” I grumbled, trying not to trip over the kid who’d just barreled through us. “I’ve never seen anything like this.”
“This is nothing.” Jenna shook her head and scoffed. “You should’ve seen it on Black Friday. It was a madhouse.”
“That’s putting it lightly,” Antonia snorted. “I ended the day with a raging migraine and a sprained wrist, but I got my candles from Bath and Body Works and that knife Weston has been hinting around about for weeks.”
“And I’m sure those hints aren’t really hints,” Jenna giggled.
“Oh, no. He’s sent me links and everything.”
“I wish Lawson would send me links to something. I have no clue what to get him.”
“I don’t know what to get Thatch either.” I rolled my eyes as I added, “He said I was the only gift he needed.”
“They think they’re being sweet when they say stuff like that, and it is. But it’s also frustrating.”
“So, this is a Fury thing?”
“Yeah, but they’re all different.” Antonia plopped down on one of the benches as she said, “Now that you’re getting to know everyone, we should warn you that the guys are wonderful, but they’re also a little unhinged.”
“Accurate,” Jenna laughed.
“Okay, give it to me.” I sat down next to Antonia. “Teach me the ways of the Fury men.”
Jenna’s eyes danced with mischief as she settled in next to us and said, “Let’s start with his father.”
“Okay. Spill.”
“He’s the club’s enforcer, so he’s all growly and intense ninety percent of the time.” She furrowed her brows and crossed her arms as she said, “You know, his death glare, his arms crossed, and his veins popping out for no reason.”
“Yes, I know exactly what you’re talking about,” Antonia’s eyes skirted to the ground. “He can be pretty intimidating.”
“Well, he’s not like that with Luna.” She beamed. “With her, he’s a complete mushball. He sings to her and lets her play with his hair and paint his nails. It’s the sweetest thing ever.”
“Now, I know where Thatch gets his sweet side.”
“Exactly.” Jenna’s smirk returned. “I wonder if Skid has a compulsion with his razor like his father does.”
“What do you mean?”
