Page 25 of His Lost Lycan Luna

"What are you doing?" he asks curiously. Heat floods my cheeks as I show him the list. He takes it, looks at it briefly, then peers down at me. My cheeks burn with humiliation, knowing I have to admit I can't read it. I avert my gaze to the back of the store.

"I… I can't read," I whisper to him.

"Pardon?" he questions as he leans closer. My entire body heats with embarrassment.

"I don't know how to read," I repeat, and Gannon seems taken aback as he stands.

"Why didn't you say so? I would have helped you," he whispers, taking my basket and grabbing my hand.

Gannon looks at the list before glancing around and dragging me to a different aisle. He reads each thing out, grabbing it from the shelf and placing it in the basket. He finds everything in a matter of minutes, and we are briskly walking back to the counter. The woman scans and bags everything and tells me the total.

I go to hand the woman the card when Gannon takes it from me and taps some small box on the counter. The woman behind the counter smiles, and Gannon hands me the card before using his own to buy smokes while I stand there awkwardly, not knowing what to do next.

"We just have to go to one more store, then I will take you back to the castle," Gannon tells me, and I nod, gathering up the bags, but he swiftly takes them from my hands. I wave to the woman, and she smiles softly, saying goodbye as we walk out to the car.

Gannon loads everything into the trunk and then grabs my hand, and drags me across the road to some candy store.

"Liam likes licorice, so I might as well grab it while I am here," he tells me, and I nod, following him inside the store. A man stands behind the counter with a huge smile on his face. It is clear he knows Gannon, and Gannon knows the store.

Gannon leaves me near the counter and walks off toward the back of the store after the man tells him what he’s looking for is in the back.

"Are you one of the new servants at the castle?" the man asks. I nod, chewing my lips as I look at the color display of candies when he holds a jar out to me. "Try these. I made these last night," he says, but I shake my head.

Mrs. Daley would get so angry if she found out I accepted candy,I think to myself before remembering she isn’t here. Still, I can't bring myself to accept the offer. Thankfully, Gannon returns. The man frowns when I refuse him.

"Kyle has won awards for his candies. Try one," Gannon tells me, and I chew my lip before taking one of the sponging red clouds from the jar. It's covered in sugar and smells delicious. After popping it into my mouth, my mouth salivates from the explosion of flavor.

"Is it good?" the man asks. He seems genuinely interested if I like his candy or not. I nod, licking my lips, and Gannon chuckles.

"Here," he offers me another one, but I shake my head.

"No, thank you, I shouldn't," I tell him. The man named Kyle seems disappointed when Gannon sets the licorice on the counter.

"And the clouds," Gannon tells him. The man nods, bagging them in little paper bags while I wait. We leave the store and return to the car. I climb in while Gannon puts Liam's candy in the trunk. Only when he gets in the car, he drops the paper bag of candy clouds on my lap.

Before I have a chance to look at him, he speaks. "They’re for you," he states, starting the car.

"No, you didn't have to," I tell him, trying to give them back, but he pushes the bag back toward me.

"I know I don't have to, Abbie. I wanted to. I can tell you liked them." His words confuse me. Did he expect something in return for them?

"No, I shouldn't," I tell him, and he looks at me confused.

"And why is that?" he asks, reversing out of his parking space. I don't answer. How can he ask that? His question is stupid. He knows why. Everyone knows why.

"You didn't answer," he says, navigating around the streets.

"Because I am a rogue!" I tell him.

"What has being a rogue got to do with candy?" he asks, his brows furrowing.

"Rogues don't deserve sweets. We should be grateful we're allowed to live," I find myself reciting Mrs. Daley's words before I can stop myself. Gannon growls, making me jump.

"Which twit told you that?" he demands. His anger startles me. I lift my hand when Gannon grabs it before I can chew on my thumbnail, not realizing I am about to do it.

"Eat the candy, Abbie," he says, then lets go of my hand. I offer him one.

"Will you try one?" I ask him, feeling odd eating them in front of him as he pulls into the castle grounds.

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