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So he allowed her to haul hiner eyeas laid out like a bright, shiny banquet Sih with her barbecue sauce

Yeah, okay, these really were a lot better-looking than the scratched-up pair he’d bought in a gas station clearance bin three years ago for a buck Honestly, he’d never known that there were this many kinds or colors

A female clerk beelined for them "Can I help you?"

Nick had a compunction to look behind him to see if someone else had walked up It’d taken the other clerk ten e them in the men’s department And even then, he’d been reluctant to help until he realized Nick had a platinum credit card and Casey wasn’t afraid to use it

"Which ones do you like?" Casey asked

Nick shrugged How could one mere mortal, or in his case, seest?"

The clerk pulled out a pair of yellowish Oakleys "These are really popular A lot of guys go for these"

Yowza! Nick had to bite back profanity at the price tag But he was sure he’d gone bug-eyed when he glanced at it Were they out of their ever-lovingto drop in the driveway and possibly back over? Or worse, sit on them and crush the, he shook his head and lasses?" He had no idea what they cost, but that hat Acheron wore, and Ash, in all his Goth glory, didn’t strike hiive over a body part for fashion

"Of course" When the clerk started to hand the off before he had a chance to see it

Casey set them in his hand "They’ll be my present to you if you like them"

Nick hesitated "I don’t know about that, Case…"

"Shh" She put her fingers over his lips, causing his body to erupt again Dang, he should have bought a longer jacket…

"Don’t think, Nick Just try theht when she looked at him like a Victoria’s Secret model

His throat dry, Nick did, and froze as he saw himself in the lasses and clothes, he looked grown There in the mirror, he didn’t see the scared kid who nor to accidentally cut his throat while he shaved and bleed out before his mom came to find his body

He looked like a man Confident Sophisticated

Rich

Was that really him? He turned his head to verify it Yeah, it was definitely his reflection…

But it didn’t look like him

Casey arched an expectant brow "Well?"

"I like the out her own pink Visa card "We’ll take them" She handed the card to the clerk

Still, Nick hesitated It was one thing to have her buy hi that could very well be a hundred bucks or more "Casey, I really can’t--"

"Yes, you can," she said, cutting hiue, he really did, but she had that unique girl expression that said, "Boy, don’t you dare argue with ret it" His mom and Kody had tutored hih to try their luck when that look was present

Sub a deep breath, he inclined his head to her "Thank you"

She kissed hiood on you," the clerk said as she handed Casey the receipt to sign "You wear them like they were custom-made for you"

And that caused hi me He really didn’t like it "Uned receipt back while the clerk gave thelasses

Nick couldn’t explain it, but he did feel different Much more confident Was this what Kyrian, Caleb, and Acheron felt like all the time?

It was kind of cool not to be self-conscious To have clothes you knew didn’t co his chin with a newfound pride, he followed Casey out of the store

Casey watched Nick very carefully as they headed to the lot where she’d parked her car While he’d been cute in his regular clothes, in his new ones, he was absolutely stunning She’d had no idea when she started this little confidence-building garown, Nick would be stellar In fact, it was taking everything she had not to take a bite out of him now But he was still very skittish Every tih-voltage wire about to wrap around hi, it was starting to wear on her nerves

She had to get him to relax if she was to open the channel for his powers "Are you hungry?" she asked as they put his new clothes in her trunk

"I’ry"

That had been true of her brother at Nick’s age, too She’d never seen anyone pack away h her mind the restaurants that were nearby that would appeal to a teenaged Malachai "Hard Rock?"

She saw the hesitation in his eyes before he mumbled, "Sure"

What was that? "Would you rather eat somewhere else?"

"Nah Hard Rock’s fine" He frowned as she ?"

"Of course"

He actually scowled at her "Why? It’s just on the other side of the Westin It’s what? Half alot over two? It’d take us longer to navigate traffic than hoof it"

Was he serious? Zarelda didn’t walk She’d never been a pedestrian

"C’ those adorable di the river It’ll be fun and scenic That is why you have a convertible, right? To embrace nature and the fresh air?"

No, but she couldn’t tell hi out for hulanced up at the evening sky "It’s getting dark"

He scoffed at her argu the way" He winked at her "C’mon, Casey, I’ll be your protector"

If he only knew the truth…