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Milly turns to me, raising her eyebrow.
“I did. He left them in my room, so I claimed them.”
She giggles, shaking her head. Just when she’s about to speak, her house phone rings. I’m a little startled as I’ve not heard a house phone in so long. I’d begun to think they were myths.
“If you’ll excuse me a moment.”
She gets up and walks over to the cordless phone hanging on the wall, before answering it. As she steps out, CJ walks back over, taking a seat next to me after shoving something into his mouth.
He’s eating—again?
“Your mum is amazing.”
His eyes warm at my compliment and he leans forward. “I told you she was. I can tell she loves you already. She’s going to invite you to go shopping, by the way. I know you hate surprises like this and I didn’t want you to feel put on the spot. She’s always trying to get me to go, and as much as I love my mum, I don’t do shopping. If you don’t want to, say now, and I’ll offer to go instead.”
I laugh at his horrified expression. “I don’t mind going shopping with her. I never did any of that with my mum, so it’ll be nice, and I can get to know her more. Maybe she’ll let slip about your real name.”
He chuckles. “Cupcake, I told you: she won’t reveal my secret. Not even Cole would. And he only knows it because when my great-grandparents were alive, they called me by my given name.”
“Chris, wasn’t it?”
He shakes his head. “No, it’s—” His eyes widen. “You nearly had me then.”
I giggle. “I’ll find out eventually, you know. I’m like a little Nancy Drew.”
His lips twitch as he leans forward, pressing them against mine.
A throat clears and we break apart. I blush at being caught, but turn to greet his mum, smiling.
“Sorry, that was work.”
“Everything okay?” CJ asks.
“Yes. They want me to go in shortly to look around some new woman shelters.” She gives him an apologetic smile.
“We need to get going soon, anyway, Mum. I’ve got to start my paper that’s due in a few weeks.”
“You’re such a good boy,” she tells him, giving him a soft smile. Then her eyes widen as she turns to me. “CJ told me it’s your birthday in a few weeks. Would you like to go shopping with me? I can treat you. It would be nice to have some girl time. I understand if you’d rather not. You probably have loads of girlfriends you can go with.” Her rambling is endearing.
CJ playfully nudges my knee under the table, as if to remind me he told me so. I nod at Milly, thrilled with the idea. “Yes, I’d love to. But I have to warn you, I’m more into buying books than shoes. My friend Willow, however, has a million pairs of the things, some of which I’m sure she’s never even tried on.”
Milly laughs. “If you want your friend to tag along, the more the merrier. With CJ, it was a case of running to the shops, grabbing what he needed and getting out of there. Any longer and he’d have a meltdown.”
“It’s for girls,” CJ mutters dryly.
She arches her brow at me as if to say,you see. “Let CJ know what days and times you’re working or have class, and I can work around it. We could go for lunch while we’re there.”
“Sounds really good. I’m looking forward to it.”
And I am.
Before, whenever Willow would even mention shopping, I’d have a cardiac arrest. The thought of spending countless hours in a shop, trying on clothes, would be enough for me to fake a deadly illness. I hated it. But because she was my friend, I’d go.
We would compromise, and she’d come to a book shop with me. The idea of going with Milly and Willow is actually something I’m excited for. It may not be the same as my mum taking me, but it’s close. I’m also thrilled she asked me. I feel honoured.
Maybe when we go, I can get her to spill CJ’s real name.
With that in mind, we hug Milly goodbye and leave. And for the first time since I can remember, I’m truly excited about something.
