Page 100 of Shattered Dreams

I crinkled my nose. “Too cutesy.”

The store was moderately crowded, and I laughed when I saw Libby struggling to stop a table display of panties from being pulled down by Emma.

Along the back wall, a rainbow of colors caught my eye, and I made a beeline for the emerald green babydolls.

Sheer, trimmed in something soft and fuzzy, under wires to hold the girls up.

“Hey, Libs!” I held one up and her eyes grew wide as she gave me a thumbs up.

Giggling like a schoolgirl, I found my size and made my way to the checkout. From behind me, a voice startled me.

“He’ll choke when he sees you in that.”

“Jeremy!” I snickered and linked my arm into his. “What has you in here?”

He gave me a shy shrug. “There’s these silky boxers that I love.”

“Maybe I should get Richard some?” I leaned into him. “Stocking stuffer?”

He nodded. “I would love to see his face on Christmas morning pulling out lingerie in front of everyone.”

“Hold my place.” I dashed over to the men’s section and Jeremy pointed me to the ones he liked and I found a pair in dark green. “Perfect.”

Weaving my way through the crowd, I rejoined him in line, and we chatted easily until we paid and made our way to the next store.

The three of us took turns pushing the stroller and helped each other shop. When he went into a shop alone, I looked at Olivia and she narrowed her eyes at me.

“What?”

I took a deep breath and let it out.

“Seriously. What?”

“Is he …” I cringed.

Libby nodded. “I think we all know, but he doesn’t yet or isn’t ready to tell us.”

“He fits with us girls so well. But he’s still … manly.”

She threw her head back with laughter. “He talks about girlfriends, but we’ve never seen any.”

“His dad …”

“Oh. That son of a bitch? Fuck him.” Libby growled.

“Duck ‘em!” Briar yelled from the stroller, and both of us had our eyes wide open.

Libby covered her open mouth with her hand. “I’m so sorry.”

Jeremy came back, looking between the two of us. “What’d I miss?”

“Duck ‘em!” Briar yelled out again.

“Did she just …”

Libby shrugged. “Oops?”

“And you give Cooper shit.” He laughed.

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