Page 107 of She Wolf

“Honestly. I’m excited. How do you not buy out the whole toy store?” he says with a grin.

“Oh, that’s easy. My credit card limit and the size of my house. Not to mention I don’t want to turn him into a spoiled brat.”

He nods and kisses me again. “His life is surreal at the best of times. I get what you’re saying.”

“I want him spoiled by love and the time people give him. Not material things.”

“But we can spoil him a little bit, right?”

“A little bit on his birthday, yes.” A smile splits his face, and he leans down. Before I know it we’re lost in each other again, rolling around my bed, my melancholy mood evaporating with every touch of his pillowy lips.

***

“You’re gonna get mobbed today,” I sing as Gunner grabs a baseball cap off the back seat and pulls it on, low over his brow.

“Nah. Well, maybe. It’ll be worth it though.” Another dazzling smile and another piece of my heart belongs to him. The way he loves Jack and is willing to get harassed for selfies and autographs while birthday shopping, is incredible.

We get out of the truck and as we head to the entrance, he hooks his arm around my waist and drags me close.

“Are you being cute or using me as a shield?” I ask through a smile.

“Maybe a little bit of both.” He laughs as the automatic doors open for us and I hear him take a deep breath as we enter the sprawling shopping complex.

It’s still early, the mall only having opened twenty minutes ago so it lacks the usual bustle, and I hope it stays that way for a little while longer.

“Wow, I forgot it had a movie theatre,” Gunner remarks as we scan the map.

“We can go if you like. Why don’t we see what’s on and make a plan for the day?”

“Okay cool,” he says, a little too excited if you ask me.

We trek up to the top floor and check out the titles and show times. This summer’s blockbuster takes up a few screens and has the most showings, making it easier to do what we need to and come back.

“That’s pretty perfect for us,” I say pointing to the electronic board. “There are so many time slots we’ll make one of them.”

“Yep, it’s perfect. Let’s go get little dude some stuff.” I side-eye him in warning and he nods his understanding.

“Right just a few gifts,” he says this, but his eyes glimmer with a little mischief as we head back down the escalator. “Where to first?”

“Footlocker.” His gaze sweeps across the third level and then looks at me, making me laugh. “It’s this way,” I say as I lead him along the glossy floor.

No one bothers us as we chat and make our way through the store and over to the kids section. “So he needs the next size up in his sneakers and I was thinking of buying him his first pair of Chucks.”

“Okay, let’s look.” We walk around the displays and I pick him up a pair of Nikes I think he’ll like.

“Wow,” Gunner says from behind me. I spin to see what he’s talking about and am nearly taken out by a rogue Converse.

“Oh shit, sorry Coralie. I didn’t think you were that close behind me.” He runs his hand down the side of my face as I straightened back out. “Check these out though.”

Taking a step back he presents me with a teal-colored Chuck.

“They’re great, I hope they have his size.” He eagerly goes off to find an assistant who confirms they do and we make our way to the cash desk.

“They’re cool, right? He’ll like them?”

“Yes, very much so and you know Jack, anything he can associate with his favorite hockey team, he’ll love.”

“Holy cow, I knew it was you!” the store assistant gushes. “I’m a big Wolves fan. This is incredible.”

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