August (The Year of The Change Book 2) (16 page)

The small sales woman was nowhere to be seen. I didn't blame her for running for safety. I would have.

Richard pushed through. “Destiny, Sylvia, get into your dressing rooms until I tell you to come out.”

I obeyed as quickly as my shaky legs would carry me.

“Destiny, don’t push me!”  Richard snapped.

Her door clunk closed.

Crouched on the bench, I listened while Richard talked to the crowd. “The show’s over and it’s time to leave.”

There was a crash. I changed back into my own clothes as I listened to the hubbub outside. Someone yelled that it wasn’t any of Richard's business. Richard told them we were his sisters and that made it his business.

There was a vent in the low ceiling. I stepped onto the bench and pushed the cover up and out of the way. On tip toes I looked around. The duct work narrowed at a tight turn. Okay, I had a way up, but there didn’t look to be anywhere to go from there. My knees shook. All I could do was to wait for Richard to tell us we could come out. I wondered if the little woman had snitched on us, yet.

Richard tapped on my door and I jumped. “The manager just told me he called the police. It won’t be long now.” Oh great, with my luck we’ll get arrested for inciting a riot.

The Affecteds murmured and were no less adamant, though quieter than before. They still sounded rowdy and on the edge of being out of control once again.

I pictured the mob beating my door down, leaving Richard and Eli broken and bleeding in their wake. The thought of Eli being hurt made my stomach lurch with pain. Richard, too. That should’ve been reversed, shouldn’t it? Where are my priorities? Why was I so possessive of Eli? I understood the fear for Richard’s safety, but Eli? I barely knew him.

There was a surge in the murmuring. I held my breath.

A squeak and a screech signaled the sheriff had arrived with a bullhorn. “Alright, listen up! This is Sherriff Tacomba. You men are to disperse or my men and I will arrest you for disturbing the peace.” Squawk. Squeal. “That’s right, head for the front. You can pay for your products before you leave.”

I wasn't convinced the crowd would leave without a big scene.

My ear was to the door when Richard pounded. I jumped back with a squeak of a scream that I tried to smother with my hand. But I was off balance and hit my head on the mirror behind. My knees went weak, forcing me to sit down.

"You can come out now." His voice reverberated amusement.

How he could find humor in any of this was beyond me.

I slid the bolt back and peeked out. There stood Richard, Eli and a younger boy who looked to be about seventeen, maybe eighteen. Past them, the crowd was gone, except the old geezer who stood there with his toothless grin. The sheriff must’ve thought him harmless.

Destiny opened her door and searched the area. She frowned and her shoulders slumped.

A young deputy came around the corner. “The crowd has gone out the front, but you’ll need to wait a little while until we know they’re all gone.”

He did a double take and moved toward me as though I were a magnet. He stopped way too close. The involuntary step back put me against a display rack of silky thongs. I could see a neon pink pair in my peripheral, of all the places for me to get stuck.

He took his hat off. “I hope this whole thing didn’t disturb you too much. If there’s anything I can do for you, don’t hesitate to call me. I’m Officer Franklin, but you can call me Alan.” He whipped out his card and handed it to me.

With two fingers I took the inoffensive piece of paper. He put his hat on and tipped it at me. I forced a smile then looked at Richard. What was I supposed to do now? Richard grinned from ear to ear. I would’ve thrown something at him, but couldn’t bring myself to touch the only thing within reach —the intimidating panties. At the same time I could only imagine what kind of smirk Eli had since I couldn’t make myself look at him.

When the deputy didn’t move, Richard tapped him on the shoulder. “It’s okay officer, I’ll make sure my sisters are safe.”

Alan looked at Richard and nodded. He turned back and tipped his hat at me and then Destiny. Finally he left. The blush that radiated like a neon truck stop sign didn’t miss one inch of my body.

My eyes wouldn’t close. They were in immediate danger of popping out. I didn’t know what to do next.

Richard hugged my shoulders and laughed. “There’s never a dull moment around you.”

If he hadn’t held me up I might have fallen over. The residual fear had me stiff as a board.

Destiny and the eighteen-year-old joined Richard and laughed, too.

I was barely able to unfreeze and smile as I looked over at Eli. He didn’t laugh, he didn’t show any emotion. He looked away and scanned the area like he expected more trouble. Eli was a smart man.

While we waited, Richard broke the awkward moment by introducing us to the two newcomers. "This is Eli Longwater and Casey Eugley. They live in The Village."

Destiny looked at Casey with that smile she always had ready for guys she thought were cute. "What class will you be this year?" She took a step toward Casey. Richard frowned and blocked her advance.

Casey grinned. "I'm a freshman."

“Really? You can’t possibly be a freshman.” Destiny’s eyes bugged out.

“Yeah, I’m in ninth grade this year.” His smile drooped.

“Oh.” Destiny sighed and looked around.

Richard got his smile back.

Casey’s brows pulled together with the change in my friend’s mood. I should say something to get the conversation back on track. Besides, Eli was here and I wanted to thank him for our rescue.

"Richard, Destiny and I’ve already met Eli. He found us when we got lost on our hike."

Richard turned to Eli. "Were you there? All I heard about was
Mike
." He smirked over at his sister who stuck her tongue out at him.

Eli chuckled. He had the most beautiful face. I wanted so badly to reach up and touch it. One little stroke couldn't hurt, could it? Internally I shook myself like a soaked dog. Crazy thought. I had to get back to the conversation before I did something stupid.

"Eli came along at just the right moment. He saved me from having to climb a tree and probably breaking a few bones when I fell." I shuddered at the memory.

Destiny piped up. "But it was Mike who insisted on walking us back to our trail to make sure we got there safely." She was still crushing.

"But it was Eli who actually led. The rest of us just followed.”

Eli frowned and looked at his big feet as he shifted his weight and cleared his throat.

“I didn’t get a chance to thank you for saving us.” He looked away, but I continued. “Thank you.” I wanted to see his eyes up close, but Richard blocked the step I took. For a split second, I wished Richard wasn’t protecting me. Then I came to my senses.

My adopted big brother moved his sister and me back a few feet. "Grab your stuff so we can check out."

We’d put him through enough and if we’d been good girls, we would’ve just left. That would’ve been the nice thing to do, the responsible thing. I would have, really I would have, but Destiny had a good point.

"Richard, we're not done yet." Destiny dragged her clothes out of the dressing room.

He looked over her huge pile. "You have enough here for two shopping trips."

Destiny huffed at him. "Just think of all the money I’m saving on gas with just one trip. ‘Sides, we haven't decided which clothes we want and there are other things to get." She dumped the load in our basket. "If we leave now, Sylv will have to come back." She grinned. “But that’s not a bad idea. I’d love to model again.”

I wasn't coming back again this year, but the threat was enough to make Richard give up on leaving immediately.

Worried about our safety, he asked Eli and Casey to come with us, just in case there were stragglers. I wanted to hug Richard when Eli agreed. The guys, keeping an eye on us, didn’t bother me at all. It should have. On the other hand, Eli’s frown really bugged me. It was a well-known fact that guys hate to shop, but he took it to an extreme, although it was awfully nice of him to suffer through the pain to protect us.

Casey was the best help for deciding what clothes we should get, and what to put back. It was refreshing to meet a guy who wasn’t afraid of the Misses department. Thanks to him we finished picking clothes in record time. While I helped Destiny pick out socks, Eli pulled the young man away to talk to him. After they spoke for a couple of minutes he gave him a funny look, but Casey smiled as he walked away. He scooted up to us in time to convince Destiny she wanted the mega pack of multiple colors.

Eli stood, as though in thought, for a moment before he rejoined us. There was a smile, briefly, on his lips. I liked the way his mouth looked when he smiled. They were strong and full and…

I really needed to quit thinking like that.

A stop in the shoe department was a little tense for a few minutes when two men tried to get closer. It scared me and I couldn’t concentrate on choosing shoes. The tall, thin man kept looking over his shoulder, smiling. The short, burly guy took longer before he suddenly jerked his head around and stared. Before I could select a pair of shoes, they walked in our direction.

When Eli refused to let them pass, I thought for sure there would be a fight. I grabbed a pair of size tens and pulled Richard with me as I left. I didn’t care which style they were as long as no one got hurt.

I made Destiny’s brother stand in the baby department with me. I figured it was the safest place and I was right. He blushed and kept his head down when he wasn’t scanning the area. Each time a pregnant woman came by, he hunched his shoulders. One woman with a small baby stopped to look at the rack I was shuffling through.

The woman smiled. “Your first?”

Huh? Ah…she thought…how funny. “Just found out.”

Richard whipped his head around and stared at me. I grinned over at him.

The woman glanced at him and back at me. ”A tip, don’t buy a lot of stuff until after your baby shower.” Her cell phone rang. “Oh, excuse me.” She walked away.

Picking up a newborn dress, I held it for all to see. “This will look so cute on our baby.”

He took it from me and put it back on the rack, then picked up a newborn boy outfit and handed it to me. He smiled out of the corner of his mouth. Richard was definitely a good sport.

Before he could come up with an excuse to get out of the embarrassing department, Eli, Destiny and Casey joined us. Knowing Destiny, she probably tried on every boot in her size. Thanks to Casey, she settled on an adorable brown pair.

“Okay, now we go to the jewelry counter.” She beamed.

“No way, it’s time to go.” Richard’s flushed face went to stone.

“Ah, come on, I need jewelry to match. It won’t take long.” Her lower lip jutted out.

I should’ve sided with Richard, but I didn't want to lose Destiny as my friend. At least not before The Change chased her away.

When I glanced at Eli, he was looking at a rack of newborn boy sports outfits. What would Eli be like as an expectant father? I fantasized he and I were married and expecting our first child. I imagined him with his protective arm around me as we playfully argued about whether it was a boy or a girl. To win the argument he would lean down and give me a passionate kiss, like the one that got me in that predicament in the first place. Ah,
what
a fantasy!

Destiny nudged me. I focused and blushed. Everyone stared. I think Eli noticed because he also blushed as he put the newborn outfit back on the rack and looked away. I’m such a dork.

“Richard won’t let us look at jewelry.” She glowered at her brother.

“That’s right, we’re going,
now
.”

Hmmm…Destiny lost the argument with Richard, thank goodness. I was so glad he’d finally put his foot down, and it looked as though not even Destiny’s pouting could change his mind. I wasn’t going to argue with the best big brother around. Besides, I was ready to go back to the car so I could kick myself in privacy.

A young man of about twenty slipped into the department and up to me. He knelt on one knee and took my hand in his trembling palms. “Hi, I’m Troy. Please, please say you’ll have my baby.”

I looked down into his wide, eager eyes. I was so sorry for what I did to him, but there was no way I was going to have his baby. Now if Eli had asked …

It was time to change thoughts.

Before I could get any words out, Eli and Casey picked him up by his arms and carried him away. Once again, Eli saved the day. I hoped he would still be around after The Change. He was a little old for me, but I could dream anyway.

Casey looked over his shoulder. "Bye."

As I waved, I wished Eli could’ve stayed.

Richard herded us to the check-out where I made the mistake of getting in line with a slow male checker. His staring made him even slower. Richard and Destiny chortled behind their hands as they watched my frustration grow. There was nothing I could do short of going to his supervisor. I didn’t want to get him in trouble, since it
was
my fault.