Page 20 of Unbidden

After a few moments, I pull back, wiping tears from my eyes. “Thanks, Keat. I needed that.”

He leans in and goes to kiss my cheek, pausing once he spots the mark. “What happened to your face?”

I roll my eyes, pulling back from him. “Nothing. What’s up with you, Yates?”

“What about us?” a new, deeper voice says from behind me.

This one sends shivers running down my back involuntarily.

I look up to Keaton and find a knowing look in his eye. I narrow my eyes on him, letting him know he’s reading something from nothing, then turn around and face Reed. As I go to speak, Keaton beats me to it.

“Look at her cheek.”

Reed’s eyes take in my entire face, coming to land on my cheek.

“So what? Tinsley, it’s time for you to eat. Come on.”

“Stop being a dick, Reed.”

I whirl, shocked that Keaton stood up for me.

“Just because you want to get your dick wet by some two-bit whore doesn’t mean I need to acknowledge her. Have your fun if you want, but I highly suggest you wrap up.” He gives me a once-over. “Hell, do it twice, then get tested. Come on, Tinsley.” His voice brooks no argument.

Keaton comes to rest his arm over my shoulder as Tinsley gives me an apologetic smile. As they leave, Keaton whispers in my ear, “Don’t let him get to you. He’s a dick to everyone, especially those he’s threatened by. Keep your wits about you, little fox, and you’ll be fine.”

This time he does press a kiss on my cheek before leaving.

I collapse back in my seat and turn to Victoria.

“What in the fuck just happened?”

She smiles widely at me. “Two Yateses down, one to go. Looks like Keaton’s taken a liking to you.”

I just roll my eyes.

∞∞∞

“I love this mall,” V gushes when we arrive. “It has something for everyone’s price range. If I want to buy designer, I can. If I want to buy something from Forever 21, I can do that too. You never know. Besides, I've made some killer purchases from the ‘normal person’ stores.”

“Good to know,” I tell her as we exit the car.

I stand by the back bumper as she comes around. V instantly loops her arm through mine and starts pulling me toward the door.

“Okay, I have a game plan. First, we hit up the food court. I need a slushie from the pretzel place. Then we window-shop and figure out what your style is, and then we try on and buy.”

“My style?”

As we pass through the doors, V starts pulling me toward the pretzel place.

“Look, I know this lifestyle isn’t yours. You’ve had so many changes in such a short amount of time that I don’t want to take that away from you. Besides, we’re two completely different people. I would never expect you to dress like me outside of school. So, I want to know what your style is, then maybe refine it a tad. Money is a nonissue now no matter how hard that is to hear right now,” she says as we stop in front of the cash register.

“Can I get a blue raspberry slushie, please?” she asks the server, then turns to me. “You want anything?”

“What the hell. Make it two, please.”

“I knew you had good taste!” V says teasingly.

After we receive our slushies, we walk around and window-shop for about an hour, V asking my opinion on different items to get a “feel” for what I like before I finally give in and agree to try something on.

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