AllFreeNovel
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We pass a lingerie shop I never noticed before. Normally I would walk right by, but today, something in the window catches my eye. In between all of the inhumanly skinny mannequins modelling bras and panties, there’s one, right in the middle, dressed in a peach-coloured silk slip embroidered with tiny white daisies.
I can’t help but imagine it on her. The pale fabric would just melt over her soft skin. It would cling to the curves of her tits and hips, and the hem would probably just graze the bottom of her perky little asscheeks.
I realise I’ve been staring at it too long when she nudges me in the ribs. “Do you wanna try it on?” She drawls.
“As pretty as I would look in it—” I glance back at the window. “Do you like it? The middle one?”
“It’s gorgeous.”
I grab her hand and tug her inside. The bell jingles as we step into the small shop. I lead her right to the rack. “Pick your size.”
She laughs. “Eli, I’m trying to save to fix my car, I’m not spending money onlingerie.”
“It’s a gift, baby.”
She frowns. “I don’t want anything from you. You’re already giving me a free place to live, for God’s sake. I’ll never be able to pay you back, as is.”
“Trust me.” I slide a hand up the back of her coat. Her skin is burning hot under all the insulating layers. “I will definitely be benefiting from this gift. If anything, it’s a present to me.”
“And Riven?”
“Maybe. If I feel like sharing you tonight.”
She pops up and presses a kiss to my Adam’s Apple. “Thank you, then. Let’s do it.”
I pay for the slip, insisting they put it in their fanciest gift wrap, then we step back outside into the snow. As the door swings shut, I spot Cole and Riven crunching towards us. Cole looks pointedly at the shopfront.
“Eli’s experimenting with his look,” Daisy explains. “I was just helping him find his bra size.”
I kiss her ear. She’s wearing tiny, sparkly little earrings shaped like stars. Maybe I should buy her some earrings, too. I wonder if I could get away without her noticing.
“Are you shopping?” Riven asks, eyeing the bag. “Do you need more clothes?”
“We’re going to have some fun tonight,” Daisy says sweetly. “Eli wants to finish what he started.”
His eyes darken. He clears his throat. “Well, then. Ah. Are you hungry?”
“Starving.”
“We can get some food before we head back home. What do you feel like?”
“I vote pizza,” I chime in.
“You always vote pizza,” Riv mumbles.
Daisy glances across at Cole. “What about you, Cole? What do you want?”
Cole doesn’t say anything. Which isn’t particularly unusual; he’s not exactly the chattiest man. “Cole,” I prompt. “Daisy asked where you wanna eat.”
He still doesn’t answer. I turn to look at him. He’s staring grimly at something across the street. I follow his gaze, and my stomach bottoms out.
No. No way. It’s not possible.
Our ex-girlfriend, Johanna, is standing just a few metres away, studying the window display of a sports shop. I guess I must have killed a bunch of kittens or something in a past life, because just as I’m staring at her, she glances up at me, her pale blue eyes meeting mine. Recognition sparks in her face. She starts making her way over. I have to fight the urge to just grab Daisy and run.
“Johanna,” Riven says calmly, as she steps up to us. Her blonde hair is a bit longer, and there are few more lines on her face, but for the most part, she looks exactly the same as the last time I saw her, in the courtroom.
“Riven. Cole.” She doesn’t even bother acknowledging me.
