“Never,” she cackled, replacing it on the rack.
Talia scanned a nearby rack. “I hope I can still wear cute clothes when I get big. I might be pregnant, but I still want to look stylish.”
I eyed her skinny frame. “I think you’ll be fine. You’ll probably be one of those girls whose belly doesn’t pop out until that baby is ready to come out.”
She frowned. “I hope not. I’m kind of looking forward to having a belly—I’ll take that over the stylish clothes any day.”
“Ollie will be so funny as a dad,” Rebecca said, moving to another rack. “I can see him trying to wear the kid as a hat or something.”
Talia shrugged. “I wouldn’t put it past him. It’s going to be interesting for sure.”
Rebecca eyed me from the next rack over. “Guuurl,” she said real low and slow. “I saw Liam hand you some money, so get to looking and buy something hot.”
I stiffened. “I’m not spending his money. I’m going to slip it back in his wallet.”
Talia snorted. “He’s going to ask you what you bought, and then he’ll be pissed when you tell him nothing. You better not go home empty-handed.”
“Ugh,” I groaned. “I don’t want to spend his money.”
Liam knew I wouldn’t spend any of my own, so he’d handed me a wad of cash and told me to buy whatever I wanted. Not likely. Even with the girls trying to persuade me I wasn’t going to break. I didn’t want to be any more of a charity case than I already was. Liam let me use a room in his house, eat his food, and he’d already bought me plenty of clothes. I didn’t need anything. I’d only agreed to the shopping trip so I could spend some time with the girls.
Rebecca came around the rack to stand in front of me. “What exactly is going on with you guys?”
I shrugged. “We have feelings for each other, but that’s it. It’s complicated.”
Rebecca rolled her eyes. “Talia, did you hear that? It’s complicated. A relationship isn’t complicated. You know what is complicated? Using the bathroom and running out of toilet paper and having no one to get you more.”
“I…Did you just…” I busted out laughing.
“Make an analogy using toilet paper? Why yes, yes I did, because you just gave me the shittiest answer.” She giggled and bumped her elbow against Talia’s arm. “See what I did there?”
Talia shook her head, laughing under her breath.
“I can’t handle you.”
She smirked at me. “You love me, and you know it. I make your days at Mo’s fly by.” She spun around dramatically.
“You know,” I mused quietly, “you guys are the first real friends I’ve had in a long time.”
Rebecca stopped, staring at me open-mouthed. “Seriously?”
I nodded and picked up a black-and-white striped sweater, holding it against my body. “Yeah.”
“You realize that’s kind of pathetic, right?”
I suppressed a laugh. “Yeah, I know, but it’s true.”
“Well, I’m honored to be your friend.” Talia briefly touched her fingers to my arm. “I’m so happy I spoke to you that day and convinced you to let us help.”
“Me too,” I agreed quietly, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear.
I owed a lot to Talia and Ollie.
I put the sweater back on the rack and moved to another.
I was only going through the motions, since I wasn’t going to buy anything, but it was still fun to look and imagine.
We moved on to another store and then another, all the while Rebecca tried to convince me to spend Liam’s money.