Hanging On (Jessica Brodie Diaries #2)(12)

He shook his head with a quirked smile. He tried to regain his business-like brow furrow, but with my antics, finding it difficult.

“Don’t worry about price,” he went on, trying to look away to get back to business, but unable. “Use whatever you have to. But just the one bag, though, if you don’t mind. We will get you some Channel sunglasses after.”

“William Davies, shut your mouth!” I pushed him away from me. “Seriously? Are you serious? You’re not messing with me are you?” I gave him a stern face.

“Wha…? Is this you aggressively happy?”

“Yes! I should say no. I really should. But…oh my God! Wait ‘til I tell the girls! So excited! I feel like a chic princess!” I did a happy dance right there on the sidewalk. A couple older ladies laughed as they walked by.

His lopsided smile and confused but delighted eyes told me he was enjoying my excitement over something he thought trivial. Take a rich girl to the shop and buy her Prada, she would probably wonder why you waited so long and mutter a thank you, or plant a kiss. She would already have a million bags—what’s one more? Take a poor college student on the same errand and she would think the sun shone out of your ass. I was already thinking of the lavish attention I would be spending on him as a thank you.

“Okay, well off you go. Pick something good. I have another errand to run so I’ll meet you at the bar in the middle of the complex. Take your time.”

Today was so good. More than making up for the past three months of hell. Kinda.

I tucked the gift cards into my wallet and entered through the wide double doors. I slowed my happy dance. I cooled my expression. I couldn’t wipe off the smile. Some things were permanent.

I gave some scarves a glance, just to peruse. Just to make it an experience instead of an errand. I touched some shoes—even picked one up. Then on to the goal line. Handbags!

Critical thinking time.

If I was given money to spend from friends, I wouldn’t go for the everyday, romp around town type of bag—I’m too hard on them. I’d ruin it in a week. No, I would get something to wear when I dressed to impress. But if I went too formal, like a clutch, I would only get to use it every once in a while. That’s a waste.

I then had to think about size. I generally didn’t carry that much in my purse. But if I got too small I was confined. It was looking like I was going for the middle of the road type of bag.

I hadn’t even gotten to color and style when the saleswoman approached. I bounced ideas off her, telling her that all my friends from L.A. pooled together to send me off in style. It was a white lie, but it would be good in case Mrs. Davies ever inquired about me. I loved the bags, but didn’t buy them all the time obviously.

Being that I was crazy excited, and the saleswoman probably made about what I did, she got to be a girl instead of a salesperson. We laughed and played, and finally narrowed it down to two. Then did a fashion show with shoes.

Alas, I found my first designer handbag!

I handed over the gift card with a blasé attitude, kind of scared I wouldn’t have enough. These bags were extremely expensive, and if William didn’t know anything about them, he probably wouldn’t realize someone would spend $1500 on a purse.

It was why I didn’t have designer thus far.

“Sign here, please,” The lady said, returning the gift card.

“Oh…” I signed my name on the recipe, then held up the card. “Is this…Is there more on this?”

The lady looked around the counter, as if the answer was placed next to her cash register, then shrugged, “There must be, but I can’t see how much.”

“Got it, thanks,” I said, watching the card disappear in my wallet, wondering how much William put on it. I had another one, too. He went way big instead of too small.

In hindsight, yes, I should have known that was his style, but still. Must be nice.

I wandered around the high-end complex and looked in a few more stores, then hit the bar. Not seeing William, I got myself a beer and checked email.

The seat next to me moved. “Hey babe,” said my man’s familiar baritone.

“Hi!” I beamed, angling my head for a kiss. His eyes were deep pools with a shimmering surface. It was one of those situations where the water isn’t calm enough to see down into the depths, but that depth was hinted at.

A deep part in my center stirred for the briefest of seconds, leaving me confused and slightly scared. It was a chunk attached with deep roots. If that part broke, I would be devastated.

Best just to think of his looks and my new handbag. Safer.

I barely waited for him to sit before I pounced. “Hi, thank you so much! Here’s your cards back—I only needed one. It was so fun! Seriously, I don’t know how to thank you enough, William, but later tonight I will try…” I gave him a sultry look. His beer sloshed over the rim of his glass, onto his wrist. “DoyouwannaseewhatIgot? Do ya? It is sooo cute! You’ll love it!”

He shook his head to clear it. “What? Repeat more slowly please.”

I took a big breath. “Do you want to see what I got? It is totally cute!”

“Let’s wait for the car.” A cockeyed smile was twisting his mouth. He was still trying to be business about the whole thing. Fool!

“Okay.” I pouted, peering up at him from under my lashes.