Page 33 of All I Want Is Love
*LEO*
Robin lives up to his promise and helps me dress accordingly, lending me his mesh top with the lingering promise of taking me shopping eventually. He claims my wardrobe is way too boring for a guy my age, saying that even Aspen is more adventurous in his clothing choices.
It’s another thing on the list for me to realize how little identity I truly have. I dressed the way I did, first because my parents wanted me to follow a certain style, and then because I wanted to fit in with a particular crowd at college and later at work.
But who am I?
“I think I would like some more colors in my wardrobe,” I admit.
Robin perks up. “Really?”
“Yeah, nothing too extra, but I’d like to wear something more stylish. I don’t really see myself with patterns, but… I love colors. And I want some fancy jeans, plus some sexy things.” I pause. “And accessories!”
“Please, allow me to take you shopping!” Robin begs. “Please, pretty please.”
Barkley tilts his head and barks as if he wants to back Robin up. I pat my pup’s head before nodding at Robin. “I do appreciate the help, really.”
“How about next week? I am off on Monday.”
“Sounds great,” I say. “I think Soren mentioned he wants to invite me on another hike on Saturday, so…” My voice trails off once I realize what I just said. Robin wiggles his brows at me, but otherwise stays silent.
Fortunately, I am saved by the bell, literally. “It’s me,” Aspen yells. “And Mrs. Bell.”
“Come in.”
I can hear Aspen’s heavy footsteps and the lighter ones of Mrs. Bell. It’s only then that I realized I am dressed in a revealing mesh top with only a blazer over it. Aspen lets her step in first, her face lighting up when she sees Robin and me. “Hello, you two sweethearts, you look fantastic.”
Well, so much about my insecurities. Barkley immediately jumps up at her voice and rushes towards her to receive his cuddles. Hopefully, no one will ever try to break into my place here. I bet my super-dangerous dog would try to cuddle the pitiful burglar to death.
“Thank you for looking after him tonight, Mrs. Bell.”
“Oh, I am happy to do that. We will have so much fun!”
I hand her a bag with some necessities. While I offered for her to stay at my place or at least drop Barkley off at hers, she was insisting on picking him up herself and taking him on a walkimmediately. And then have her grandchildren come over. They are excited that their grandma is dog-sitting.
“I will pick him up tomorrow morning,” I promise.
She nods. “Don’t worry, and don’t stress if you want to sleep in. You and Soren can pick him up anytime.”
Me and Soren? Just how obvious are we!? Robin grins at her words, but at least Aspen doesn’t seem to have noticed anything. He keeps patting Barkley’s head before walking over to me and pulling me into a hug.
“What do you think?” Robin asks him eagerly. “Are we looking good or are we looking good?”
“You aren’t looking good,” Aspen says. Robin’s face falls, but Aspen just winks at us. “You are looking fantastic.”
Robin smacks his shoulder. “You got me here for a moment.”
Watching him interact with my brother, all smiley and giggly, makes me wonder if I was so preoccupied with my own problems and secrets that maybeIdidn’t notice something…
I don’t push it, though. For one, I don’t know if I truly did see something right now or if it was just my mind playing tricks on me or if I am going to make things awkward. Going by my track record, it would probably be both.
When we leave, Robin is chatting with me, excited about the evening ahead of us. Aspen is driving us tonight. He is the ASP – the assigned sober person, as Robin calls it. “You can’t get anywhere here without driving,” he tells me.
“What about taking a cab?”
Aspen chuckles. “Expensive and not always available.”
“You are kidding?”
