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It’s the least I can do.
Sabian’s bright hazel eyes mist over, as they always do when I offer any little thing for them. More than anything, it makes me feel worse for who I am, even though I know that’s not her intention. She’s grateful, and I hate that she was ever put in the situation to raise her son alone.
“Thank you,” she whispers, lowering her head as though she’s ashamed. It’s like a punch to my gut, seeing what this poor woman now has to go through, knowing it will one day be because of me.
I pat the hand she rests over her cart, taking extra caution to be as gentle as I can. If she starts crying, I’ll probably shut down.
The flea bags can occupy what’s mine a little longer. This, it’s more important. I’ve been here for this family since their tragedy struck, and I’m not going to turn away from them now. It’s the one fleck of good I can do for this world.
“Load up that cart. We aren’t leaving here until you do.” Thanks to my dad, I have more than enough of an inheritance to help them with whatever they need. It’s been my plan to leave the remaining money to them after my…reckoning.
Even thinking about it has me tensing.
Tyrus grabs a bag of candy, lifting it high. “Can we get anything?”
I give him a smile, feeling a fraction better. “Anything your mom approves of.”
She laughs softly, wiping the palms of her hands under her eyes. “One piece of candy, baby. Not an entire bag.”
Without argument, he puts the sugary sweets back and finds only one to place in the basket. I notice him eyeing a fluffy toy shark hanging from a rack on the side shelf, then breathes out quietly, helping his mom finish up their shopping.
If memory serves, Tyrus has a collection of stuffed animals. Something I’m fairly certain were gifts from his dad. Gifts he can no longer give.
I won’t be like him. I won’t.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
SUMNER
Liya’s hands clasp over her mouth and Vera looks me up and down. “Yes. Absolutely yes! That dress was made for you!”
“Really?” I run my hands over my waist. “It feels a bit extreme.”
“Extreme?” Liya puffs out a breath. “It’s a ball, which means extravagant or nothing.”
“Have you even seen yourself?” Vera asks.
I stopped looking at myself four changes ago. This whole “shop ’til you drop” thing is exhausting. I’m just gauging my appearance on their reactions.
Liya grabs my arm, pulling me to the wall with the body length mirror. “You’re like an angry princess,” she tells me, eyes glowing.
I’m not angry, just bored. Still, I humor her, centering myself with the glass frame.
There’s a pause when I finally let my focus fall over myself, seeing someone unfamiliar. She has my face. It’s my hair, my eyes. I’d never considered myself a glamorous person. I wouldn’t even go as far as saying I’m anything more than semi-cute on a good day. This dress though, it’s gorgeous.
I turn to the side, seeing the way the smooth silk hugs against my body, cascading all the way down to the floor. The light catches the delicate threads. It shimmers softly, giving shape to my otherwise average frame.
“You girls almost ready?” Josten calls from behind us. A flush works its way across my cheeks when I catch his eyes in the reflection. It spreads farther down my neck when the rest of the men from his pack show up, all of them looking in my direction.
“Well, damn.” One of them steps beside me, throwing an arm around mine and Liya’s shoulders. “We gonna have to spend the whole night fighting off guys for you ladies?”
Liya shoves him away. “You better not scare away all the good ones,” she chirps, flicking her fingers through the bottom of her hair so it bounces. “I did not spend all week perfecting my flirty eyes just for you to ruin it.”
Josten chuckles, taking her and Vera’s bags. “What’re the perfect flirty eyes?”
She props her weight to one leg, crossing her arms. “Nothing you’ll ever see.”
“Shame. You all get everything you need? I am beyond ready to go home.”
