Playing for keeps

29. In good hands

E A S T O N

Natalie's car was pink.

The pink-wrapped sports car sped into my driveway, the engine revving. The pink bombshell that was Natalie got out soon after, smiling and waving at me from my spot at the second-floor window.

I give a wave and head back to my room to grab my jacket, mentally praying that today's shopping trip is successful and is nothing like my experience shopping with my brothers.

Before I even reach the top of the stairs, I can hear Damien giving Natalie the rundown of security. He's acting like I'm an A-list celebrity who needs intense security. I think sometimes he forgets that he is the one with the enemies, not me.

"I can assure you Mr. Carter, Easton is in good hands. I'm a fully trained Viper in combat, I've got a knife in my boot and a gun in my purse. Nothing is going to happen to her on my watch." Natalie tells Damien, and I admire that she can match his intense stare and dominating stance. 

Though it scares me how many weapons she has on her right now, she makes a good pitch to him that I'll be fine, and I'm hoping it's enough so that he doesn't send anyone with us, like himself.

After a brutal stare-down that Natalie doesn't back down from, Damien relents. "Good. Even the slightest sign of trouble, you get her out of there."

"It's not like someone's going to kidnap me. I'm not Beyonce," I huff, making myself known as I reach the bottom floor.

Damien doesn't appreciate my humor. "You know, it would probably be easier to not let you go at all."

"I'll riot," I joke, stepping to hug him goodbye. "I'll be fine. It's only the mall."

Damien tightens his hold with one arm, slipping his other arm into his pocket. Then he hands me his Amex. I grin big as I crane my head to look at him, taking the card happily. 

"Love you," I kiss his cheek before following Natalie out of the house.

Her car smells of cherries as I get in. She wastes no time, putting her foot down as she speeds out of my driveway.

I can feel Damien's heart attack from here.

~

I can feel Natalie's rising annoyance as I cringe at the seventh dress I've tried on. We've been to three stores all together, and I haven't been able to find a dress I like so far.

Natalie found her dress in the second store. She looked like a princess when she tried it on. The dress was off the shoulder and a dark emerald green that paired well with her skin and hair, the silk fabric dropping to the floor and hugging to her body that made her look even taller, the long-style cocktail dress was made for her.

Huffing out my annoyance, I flopped down onto the couch in the private dressing room Natalie got us.

"Come on, let's just try on some more," Natalie prompted, pulling me from the couch. "We are not leaving without a dress for you, Easton Carter, even if it kills me off." She looked through the racks of dresses with a determined look.

"I thought this type of thing was supposed to be fun," I said, picking at the material of one of the dresses. "You know, shopping with girlfriends and all that jazz. Gossip Girl makes it look so much fun."

Natalie let out a laugh, "You've never been shopping with girlfriends?"

I shook my head. "No, I kind of gave up on making friends that were girls in middle school. Most of them kind of just saw me as a competition with the boys, being on the soccer team and all. But I have Oakley. He likes to shop occasionally, but he's more of an online shopper. And my brothers...Well, the three of them are just like three very overprotective rottweilers that want me to dress like a granny."

"Well now you have me," Natalie gave me a genuine smile before dropping the dresses in her hands. "Let's go get some food before we do any more shopping. I think some greasy burgers and fries will help us to think better."

Twenty minutes later we were sat at a table in one of the fast food restaurants in the mall with a tray of food in front of us enough to feed four people.

"So, tell me about yourself," Natalie said before taking a bite out of her cheeseburger.

Rightfully, everything I knew about myself vanished as I stumbled on my words. "What...There's not much to say...I don't think."

Natalie huffed a laugh as she squirted a ketchup packet onto a tissue. "I can see why Kaleb likes you."

My face heated. I busied myself with unwrapping my food.

"Can I ask you a question?" Natalie said straight out, making my walls snap into place as I stared at her, curious but wanting her to go on. "How come your brothers raised you? They don't exactly talk much about their business."

I felt my stomach tighten and I avoided looking into her eyes, twirling a salted fry between my thumb and index finger. "They had custody of me the day I was born," I sighed, remembering the bits and pieces they have told me over the years when I asked about my parents, what they told me when they thought I was old enough. "Our mom bolted a few hours after I was born and they haven't seen her since. Damien was against putting me into the foster system, and since he was eighteen, he fought for custody. And since our mom was a no-show in the court hearing, he became my guardian. They all did."

The weight that seemed to be on my chest when telling that story lifted slightly, not fully, but enough so that it felt good to breathe. I haven't told anyone that story, except Oakley. My mom abandoned me the day I was born. That she never held me or stayed and fought. My brothers don't know why she ran, either. They said it was unexpected.

"Well," Natalie began, a hint of violence in her voice. "Her loss."

It made me smile and for the rest of the meal, we talked about normal things, like reality TV and my job at the shelter. Unfortunately, Natalie isn't an animal person. Guess I'll just have to introduce her to some of the shelter animals until she becomes one.

We're walking through the mall, looking for stores with dresses. Biting my lip, I ask the question that's been on my mind for a while. "So, you and Kaleb..." I trailed off, cringing at how she may perceive me, like someone clingy and jealous and controlling. She slides a glance my way, waiting for me to fill in the blank. "How close...Have you ever...Are you two..." I stutter like a fool, huffing a sigh and looking at her with a pleading look. It's obvious what I'm trying to ask.

Her grin is dazzling and her laugh is loud. "You don't have to worry about me." She snorts as if I've just told her the funniest joke. "If anything, Kaleb is the one who has to worry. I don't swing his way," She winks. "Kaleb and I are friends, have been since we were kids, same with the others. No matter how much they annoy the shit out of me, no matter how much I was to run them over with my car, they're my brothers."

I smile at the way she puts it, how much she cares for them, how they all care for each other, like a family. They are family. They found comfort and normalcy in each other when they were supposed to be trained killers. I don't think anything could break a bond like that. I feel myself craving to know them more. All of them. One in particular.

My mouth opens to ask her more about their friendship, but nothing comes out as my gaze snags on one of the store windows, at the dress displayed on the mannequin. Natalie follows my gaze until a full blow smile breaks onto her face and she has her hand in mine, pulling me into the store.