Messiah GXG : BOOK ONE (Completed) The Other Side Of The Game Series

SEVENTEEN

G R A C E

I stood at the entrance of the building, continuing my wait for Messiah's arrival who had recently sent me a text saying she would be here soon. Just soon, no specifics as usual, I found her cautious nature quite amusing as well as interesting.

I had arrived a few minutes early just to ensure that the thrift store actually had some good stuff, and thankfully after a brief search and the stashing of a few items, I was happy to say it did.

The sight of a familiar face came into view after the line of cars in front of me finally drove off after the man before them finally settled into his parking spot. She was immediately aware of my presence, and it came with a barely visible smile and a look up and down the parking lot of incoming cars, before she resumed her journey.

Her body was dressed in a pair of black jeans that were situated right between loose and tight, which complimented her black chelsea boots and gray sweater vest that had her tattooed arms on full display.

Her body was muscular but not bulky, and a huge part of me preferred it that way. I watched as her smile grew a bit as she took her final steps towards me in—

"Hey, am I late?" She asked while I matched her gleeful expression in a greeting manner.

"No, I just came early to scope the place out," I told her truthfully as I turned to walk into the building, which had her following beside me.

"Scope?" She asked with a sound of amusement as my mind offered the destination of where I had stashed a few items.

"I had to make sure there was stuff in here I was actually willing to buy,"

"And you found stuff?"

"Yeah," I told her as we moved down the aisle where I had my stuff hidden in the middle of a circle rack. "And I stashed them,"

"You stashed them?" She asked, and instead of offering a verbal response, I simply bent and lifted the bundle of clothes from its hidden place, which only pulled a snicker from her. "You stashed them,"

"You laugh now, but this is seasoned work,"

"I guess I'm raw as hell then," She commented in a joking manner that had me smiling as I stood before her.

"Don't worry by the end of the day if you're paying attention, you'll have a little paprika on you," I teased and she nodded while removing the hand from her pocket in a silent guide that had me transferring the clothes into her hold. "Thank you,"

"So where are these masculine presenting selections you were telling me about?"

"Over there, but I was thinking we could start here and make our way over," I told her before glancing down to the clothes in her hand. "The carts are over there too,"

"Okay," She replied, motioning with her free hand for me to lead the way, and I did just that as I walked off with her by my side as I carefully scanned the racks for anything good. "So how was school yesterday? We kinda ran out of time yesterday before I could ask?"

"It was the same, thanks for asking," I replied, appreciating the genuine interest she seemed to have in my life—my job. At first I thought she was simply being polite, trying to make conversation or asking just to say she did, but she was actually interested in what I did.

She listened.

"How are the two kids?" She questioned, and I smiled at her curious inquiry as we continued our slow stroll since I had come to realize that she had taken a sort of attachment to the two.

"Seperated," I told her even though I had hoped the state of them would be different by now. "They don't get along, and I don't want to force them,"

"I respect that," She stated as a certain dress caught my observant eyes, leading to the halting of my steps and a stretch of my hand to hold the article of clothing. My mind had me seeing a certain child of mine I knew would like it, and that was enough for me to take it along with another top I saw hiding behind the dress. "Let me take that,"