Forever Yours

Chapter 14

Double update today since I was gone for so long! Dont hate me please 🫣🫣❤️

Charles POV

"What's this for?"

"Umm," I begin to say as I examine the box in my hand, "I think it's a block of dirt that you break with a hammer. And then you find a shiny rock on the inside when you're done," I answer.

"Oh," Jules simply answers before putting it back on the shelf.

I never thought picking out a toy would be so difficult. I thought he would just pick the first thing he saw and be done but we have spent at least a good 10 minutes walking up and down the same toy aisle and not a single decision seems to be in sight.

"What's this?" He asks again as he points to a bucket filled with little army men.

"They're little army soldiers that you can play battle with," I say enthusiastically. I take them off of the shelf and bend down to inspect the bucket with Jules " I actually used to have these when I was a kid. Arthur and I used to line them up on the stairs and shoot them down with our Nerf guns."

I let out a small chuckle at the memory. I remember that these army men were thrown out in the garbage about a week after having them because my mom was sick and tired of stepping on them every time she went down the stairs.

"What are you guys looking at?"

"Jesus Christ," I gasp as I fall on my ass on the hard floor. I look up and see Florence standing behind me with a confused expression as she looks over at Jules for answers.

"Florence, you can't just sneak up on a man like that," I say as I brace my hand on my chest exaggeratedly, trying to get my point across. She looks at me and rolls her eyes.

"You're a grown-ass man, Charles. Act like it." She jokingly scolds me.

Jules giggles beside me and I turn to look at him. Immediately my heart melts. I admire his smile as he looks back at me, god I love this kid so much.

"Did you find a toy you wanted?" She changes the subject as she looks at Jules with a smile.

"Yeah," He says with a smile, holding up the bucket of army men " I want this toy."

He turns to look at me and gives me a shy smile and I do the same.

"That looks like an awesome choice." She says as she ruffles his hair.

She then turns to me with a smile and gives me her hand so I can get up.

"Thanks," I say as I take her hand and stand up. " Were you able to find what you were looking for?"

"What stuff?" She asks confused before connecting the dots " Oh, yeah. I mean, no. They were out, but thanks for watching Jules while I checked."

She gives a nervous laugh before turning to Jules and changing the subject " Ready to go, amore?"

"Yeah." He says with a content smile as he starts walking away while hugging the jar of army men.

Before Florence walks away, I grab her arms gently to get her attention.

"Hey," I say as I look her in the eyes " Is everything ok?"

Ever since she had that phone call, I could tell that she'd been off. I had asked her before if she was okay but she just brushed it off. When we got to the store, she said she needed to look at something but I could hear her phone vibrating in her hand. I know she doesn't owe me an explanation for anything, but if what Jules told me was right, I want to help in some way.