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“If he missed me, he’d at least appreciate the time we do spend together.”
“That’s what you’d do, but men are an entirely different species sometimes. They don’t think before they do and they say or do things opposite of what they really mean.”
“That’s so stupid.”
“That’s men. Even your father does it. You just have to see through the stupid mistakes they make sometimes and know that behind it is a man who cares.”
As I said it, I couldn’t help but blush. Brenton had made some very dumb mistakes, but behind them all was care for either me or his children. I felt my stomach churn a bit at the thought, butterflies dancing up through my chest.
“Enough about men. I’m dying to hit Nordstrom Rack. Do you want to shop for a bit?”
I watched Candace wrestle with her thoughts, wanting to put a stubborn foot.
“I have half a gift card with your name on it.” I held it up.
“Deal.” She grabbed it from my hand and started in the direction of the store.
I laughed and followed. We spent the next few hours picking out new summer outfits. I told her I needed a better swim suit for her dad’s pool and she wanted the same. We tried some on for each other, and she made some expected snide comments, but she helped me pick out a high waisted bikini set that complimented my curves perfectly.
I helped her find a suit in a color that complimented the blue eyes she had clearly inherited from her father. We hit a few more stores before our legs couldn’t take it anymore. We both fell back onto a couch next to the fitting rooms in Urban Outfitters, needing to set down our heavy bags for a moment.
I was laying back with my eyes shut for just a moment when I heard Candace gasp beside me. I opened them to find her crouching behind the couch’s back, staring at a female shopper a few racks away from us.
“What is it? Who’s that?”
“We need to go.”
Candace was now slouched on the ground, digging through her bags.
“What are you looking for?”
She didn’t answer. Instead she pulled out a baseball hat she had bought a few stores ago and the sunglasses I picked out for her at Nordstrom.
“Candace, what are you doi—”
“Shhh. Don’t say my name so loud!”
“Then tell me what’s going on!” I whispered back.
“It’s my mom.”
When she said it, all color drained from her face. I didn’t understand how running into her mother could be so bad. She had told some concerning stories, but I had always thought she was embellishing a bit. Now, looking at her, I felt terrible for ever doubting her. She was still crouched and her limbs were shaking a bit.
“Okay, okay. It’s okay. Calm down. Let’s just wait here until we see her leave.”
I looked back at the woman Candace had been eyeing. She was shorter than me with brown hair and tan skin. She had so much makeup on that I could barely see the whites of her eyes. Her shirt hugged her form, revealing boobs that she had to have paid for. I rolled my eyes and directed my attention back to Candace.
“What’s the worst that could happen if she sees you? We’ll just exchange a few words and then leave right away.”
“I haven’t spoken to her since I left for dad’s without saying anything. She’s probably pissed at me.” Candace looked over the couch again. “Oh no! She’s coming over here!”
“Can I get a fitting room?” I heard a squeaky high voice ask behind me.
I put my finger to my lips, urging Candace to stay quiet and act natural. Amber followed the worker past our couch, not looking up from her phone for a second. The worker let her into a room and she shut the door. Both Candace and I released a sigh of relief.
“Okay, let’s go,” I told her.
We gathered our bags and were just about to leave when a phone rang inside of Amber’s fitting room.
