Forever Changed
“Good metabolism, I guess. Plus, playing the drums can be quite a workout.”
“Alright then. So, where are we going tomorrow?” I asked as we gathered our trash and walked toward the receptacles.
“That’s for me to know, and you to find out,” he said, affectionately tugging on my ponytail.
“Ugh, I hate secrets,” I wailed.
“Too bad so sad,” he teased, linking his fingers with mine. “Where to now?” he asked.
“I need to go back to Bath and Body Works because I’ve decided I am going to get my mom that gift basket after all.”
“Is that the smelly girly shop?” he asked.
“Yep,” I said, laughing at his description.
“I think I’ll bow out of visiting that female-ramped store. One visit is enough to last me a lifetime. I have a few things I needed to get anyways,” he added, winking at me.
“Okay, do you want me to text you when I’m done in my ‘girly’ store?” I asked, nudging him with my hip.
“That works,” he said, dropping a quick kiss on my lips before sauntering off.
I watched his retreating backside for a moment, touching my lips where his had just vacated. It amazed me how natural it felt to kiss him, and to even expect it. In one week, my feelings for him had done a complete one-eighty. Shaking myself out of my trance, I pivoted around and headed toward Bath and Body Works to get my mom’s gift set. I detoured into the music store, two doors down, to pick up Maddon’s present, now that he wasn’t with me. I picked what I wanted and paid the clerk with multiple piercings and black nail polish. “Thanks,” I said as she looked at me disdainfully, handing me the bag.
Bath and Body Works was packed with harassed shoppers, so maneuvering around was a pain. I grabbed the set I wanted and headed for the register. I pulled out my phone and texted Maddon, telling him I was done while I was waiting in line.
“Kassandra?” A voice said from behind me.
“Hi, Mrs. Harris,” I said, holding back a groan, greeting Lacey’s mom.
“It’s been a long time sweetie,” she said, enveloping me in a perfume-filled hug. “How’s your mom? That poor dear, we all know how dependent she was on your father, bit of an unhealthy relationship, I always thought. Is she able to function? I swear I never saw her out without your father tied to her side. You know what? I know a great spa she can go to if she needs some 'her' time,” she said with clueless concern.
She did not just say that, I thought as my blood began to boil. “Actually, she’s doing much better. It’s been tough since they were so in love, and we all know how rare that is in most couples lives, don’t we?” I said, staring deadpan into her face.
She looked taken aback by my words. “Oh, I see,” she said, raising her perfectly waxed eyebrows at me. “I was just trying to be friendly and all.”
“Oh, me too, but I don’t need some four time divorcée telling me my parents, who loved each other more than life itself, had an unhealthy relationship. Maybe when you stay in a relationship longer than one of your cruises, you will understand.”
“How dare you speak to me like that,” she hissed.
“How dare you speak about my parents like that,” I snipped back, turning to leave.
She wrapped her hands around my arm, halting me in mid-step. “I’ll be telling your mother about this,” she snarled.
“Knock yourself out,” I said, trying to jerk my arm from her grasp.
“Now I see why my Lacey dropped you. You are poison,” she said, digging her fingers into my flesh.
“Let go of me,” I said, pulling on my arm.
“I’d do what she says,” Maddon said from behind me. Embarrassment flowed through me as I wondered how much he had heard. I yearned for the floor to open up and suck me in.
“And who would you be?” she asked, reluctantly letting go of me.
“Don’t worry about it, but I would appreciate it if you refrained from manhandling my girlfriend in the future,” Maddon said in a deadly serious voice.
“You look familiar. Do I know you?” She asked, looking at him like he was a specimen under a microscope.
“That’s Maddon. You know, Rick Johnson’s son. The guy that killed Kassandra’s dad,” Lacey said snidely, coming up to stand behind her mom.