Saved by the Cross (Cross 3)

5 - Old Navy

The summary is up, so only my first readers got the full suprise 😘

Gray could only see half her face and knew she was beautiful. Even her honesty about her drug use didn't change his opinion. She had gotten herself in trouble, but she had a quality that struck him. He didn't know what it was, but it made him feel like he could sit by her side all day.

"Are you close to your family?" She took the tea from him.

"That's a complicated answer." He turned for the plate of toast.

Monty had been in the kitchen with Ana. "What happened to you last night?"

Other than sore knuckles, he didn't have any evidence of his fight. Monty would worry about his reputation. He had changed since he sent Gray to protect Sofia. They had both changed. "It's a long story. Sorry for deserting you."

"Ted dropped us off. I take it she's still here. You don't drink tea."

Gray nodded, but refused to volunteer any information. He turned his attention to Ana.

Downstairs, he smiled at Katherine, as she said, "All families are complicated."

"Is yours?"

"Definitely. My father has a lover that no one knows about. My mother might know, but no one knows I know. It's weird. I've always liked her. I can't quite be mad at him for finding happiness. Meanwhile, my sister's fiance stood her up on her wedding day. I knew the groom was with his ex the night before and I almost let her marry him. I am just getting over that guilt two years later. Should I go on?"

"Don't feel guilty. You might have done the right thing."

"Maybe I would have if the jerk didn't call it off. Enough about me."

"You seem like you're feeling better."

"The food helped."

"Won't your sister or parents wonder about you?"

She shook her head. "I was heading out of town with the guy I was with."

"Not the one I hit?"

"No, the no-good cheating bastard."

"Touchy subject."

"It's still raw. The humiliation hurts."

"I'm going to make my breakfast."

Why were his insides tied in a knot? He just met her, and she had him off balance. Maybe he would feel better after his protein shake. When he checked on her again, she was asleep. Taking a chance he left to go pick up some things. His first stop was the Old Navy store. He had never been to one before. His eyes kept looking around as if he might know someone. He had dated a lot of women, an embarrassing amount. Why did he suddenly care about his dating history? Monty had tried to be an armchair psychiatrist. He didn't need a fake professional to tell him losing his fiancée caused him to avoid commitment with women.

He stared at a rack of shorts. Why were there so many sizes? A teenage girl grabbed a pair of extra small. Katherine's hips were slightly fuller although her waist was tiny. He picked two small pairs in black and gray. Then he chose three shirts. His tee looked like a dress on her, just as sexy as the tight dress she wore the night before. He added a pair of leggings to the pile. He stopped short. Underwear. Then he looked over his shoulder before he grabbed a pack of black thongs also in size small. When he turned for his getaway, he saw bras. One would have to be enough, but he picked up a three-pack of socks even though those sexy boots were her only shoes.

It wasn't until he was in the car that he breathed a sigh of relief. Grocery shopping was his scene. He often did the shopping although Monty had been enjoying home delivery. Gray didn't cook as well as the couple upstairs, but he got by in the kitchen. Women liked salad, so he focused on produce. He added a loaf of bread, tea bags, a dozen eggs, a bag of frozen peas, and a family pack of trimmed chicken breast. He also picked up some of the yogurt Sofia liked to eat. Maybe his guest wouldn't stay too long.