“Thanks, sis.” She beams. “You do too.”
“I’m gonna have to scare so many boys away, aren’t I?” I say with a laugh as we walk inside.
“That’s what I said!” Harper tells me.
“Nah, I’ve only got my eye on one man,” she taunts.
“Ooh, who?” Harper asks as we make our way through the crowd.
“Yeah, who? Why haven’t you told me?” I ask, offended.
Ivy zips her lips and shrugs. “It’s a secret.”
“Why? Is he older?” Harper waggles her brows.
“Oh my God, it better not be a teacher.” I scold.
“Ew, no! Have you seen the teachers at my school lately? They’re all over fifty.” Ivy cringes. Well, thank goodness.
By her pink-tinted cheeks, I’d say Harper’s right about him being older. Probably a senior. She’s sixteen, so it’s not that much of an age difference. I remember having crushes on boys in high school. Though I know it’ll eventually happen, the last thing I want for Ivy is for her heart to be broken because it fucking sucks. She’s too kind and willing to help anyone.
We go into the first store, and holiday music blares through the speakers. The mannequins are dressed in red, green, and gold, and fake snow is sprayed on the display windows.
“I’m searching for something for Mom,” I tell Ivy.
“Oh, she wants romance books,” she explains, pulling out her phone. “I asked her, and she gave me a list. I can Airdrop it if you want.”
All I can do is laugh as I accept the note. I open it up and find a list of at least fifteen books. “Guess we’re going to have to stop at the bookstore before we go. I mean, I was hoping to find her a nice shirt, but smutty romance it is.”
“Yep. I’m going to get her something else, though,” Ivy admits. “Some fuzzy socks or a lotion gift set.”
“Good idea,” I say as Harper tries on a pair of boots, and Ivy does too.
“Look how cute these are.” My sister stands and does a little spin. They’re silver with turquoise embellishments on the side. “I should get these.”
“I thought we were shopping for presents?” I snicker, and Ivy pretends to pout. “I guess you’re right.” She slips them off, then holds them up. “You wanna get them for me?”
I wave them over with a chuckle. “You better act surprised when you unwrap them.”
“I swear, I will!” Ivy beams.
I roll my eyes. “Hand ’em over.”
She smiles wide as she gives me the box. “Don’t worry, I’ll be totally surprised.”
Shaking my head, I know she’s full of shit, but I love spoiling her. My job pays me well enough that I can buy my little sister stuff when she needs it.
After we pay, we continue our spree.
We go into so many shops that they start to blur together. Before we leave, we go into the bookstore and find the romance section.
“This sounds dirty,” Ivy says as she reads the blurb of one of the books Mom has on her list. “It’s about a woman who has three men chasing after her. She chooses them all.”
I snatch the book away from her and read the back cover. “This might be the story of my life.”
Harper chuckles. “But what happens in it?”
“They all share her,” I explain with a smirk.
“Ooh, your mom’s kinky. I love it. Might have to pick me up a copy.”
“Me too,” Ivy says.
“Not until you’re thirty,” I tell her. “But I am buying this one.”
We pick out a couple more, then pay and head to the food court. After choosing something to eat from the different places, we sit in a booth on the edge so we can people watch.
“So have you thought any more about what you’re doing after high school?” I ask my sister.
She laughs. “Actually, I’m pretty happy doing what I’m doing now.”
I glare at her, and Harper gives her a high five.
“I have time, sis. Don’t worry,” she adds when I scowl. It’s not that I want to force her into going to college, but I don’t want her to wait and not get into the school of her choice.
“Yeah, but it’ll sneak up on you. It’s better to apply during your senior year than wait until after graduation. And your GPA—”
“It’s all gonna work out exactly the way it should. I promise,” Ivy states confidently, taking a bite of her wrap.
“Not that it matters, but you’ll always have a job with me,” Harper tells her.
“Whatever you do, I’ll support it. Just don’t want you to sell yourself short,” I tell Ivy genuinely.
“Thanks, and I won’t,” Ivy confirms.
“So you’re still going with Aiden to The Nutcracker tomorrow?”
I meet her eyes. “Yes, but I’m a little nervous about it,” I admit.
“Don’t be. He seems nice enough. Plus, you’ll be texting me through the entire thing anyway. Just use our code word if you need me to rescue you.”