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“Sssssshit.” I accept the call and put it up to my ear. “Yeah?”
“Where are you? I’m going to up there soon.” Loud noises drown his voice out, and I know I’m seriously fucking late.
“Shit. I just… lost track of time. Is Cara and Rose there?”
“Yeah, where are you?” He asks again. I look around.No fucking way I’m telling him I’m shopping for baby shit.
“I’m on my way to the office. I’ll be a little late, but I’ll be right there.”
“Hurry… Cara looks pissed.”
I groan as I hang up. Glancing up, I see the tiny saleswoman still staring at me in fear, and I raise my arm to tell her to come over here. She flinches all the way across the store.
Seriously, sheflinches.
I lift my eyebrows, waving her over again.
That gets her going. She snaps out of her haze of fear, walking around the register and speeding my way. “Yes?” Her shaky voice almost makes me crack a smile.Almost.
“Here.” I dump the pile of clothes into her arms. “I’ll be back for these in a few hours.”
“Um, okay…” She struggles to hold onto everything in her tiny arms.
“Can you also get a crib, car seat, and whatever else a baby needs? I need to go, but I’ll be back to pick everything up soon.” I start walking towards the door without another word.
“Wait!” I turn around. “I don’t know what you want. What kind of crib? What kind of car seat?”
I sigh. I didn’t think of that. I bet there’s at least a hundred brands to choose from. “The safest one you got.”
Her eyes soften a bit at that, and I take that as my cue and head out.
* * *
Arriving at the warehouse,I park right in the front and head straight for Rich’s office. Knocking on the door, I hear Hugo’s voice grumble moments before the door opens. “How’d it go?” He says, opening the door for me to come in.
Rich sits behind his desk, and he looks me over when I walk in. “You’re late.”
“I’m sorry. I was sidetracked. Everything went well, though.” I reach into my pocket for the napkin covered fingers.
Shit, if only the saleswoman would have known I had severed fingers in my pocket. I bet she would have loved that.
I set them on Rich’s desk, and he reaches over, peeling back the napkin and seeing the bloodied fingers.
“Very good.” Rich says. “He’s still alive?”
“Was when I left him.”
Rich picks up the napkin and hands it to Hugo.
“I’m glad you pulled through tonight, Jackson. I see your determination to succeed in this business. I’m proud of you.”
I freeze. My breathing picks up as I stare at Rich. I’ve never in my entire life been told someone is proud of me. It’s a weird feeling. A warmness spreads through my chest and reddens my cheeks.I open my mouth to respond, but nothing comes out. It makes me uncomfortable, being appraised and accepted for being me and doing what I enjoy.
“I’ve got to go.” I finally get out after a few awkward moments of silence.
“Jackson.” Rich barks my name as I’m halfway out the door.
I turn around with my eyebrows raised.
