✿ Reid's POV

Aileen literally drags me to Costo and aside from the furniture, appliances, and paint... not sure why we needed that, we get there, she convinces me to take her to her thrift stores and I spend hours watching her try on clothes, and shoes, dresses, funny hats, colorful sunglasses, feather boas, wigs... half of which she wasn't even going to get.

“Oh, oh, oh, Armani you have to try this one on!”

“No.”

But she would drag me after her and force on me, hats, feather boas, matching t-shirts, fuzzy socks, and pajamas. She even tries to put male makeup on me. Her excitement and laughter are undeniably contagious but it's hard to keep up with a woman who's this exacted.

I take breaks on the benches outside every store she enters and even with my arms heavy, I didn’t know what I feared worse— how cheap the Visa bill was going to be, or that I'd be stuck in this hell-spawned thrift store until closing.

Not that I would mind being stuck together with her.

But the minute we finish getting a 'power snack' — according to her, I drag her out.

“Oh c'mon, Armani. I saw this cute hat that'll totally look bougie on you” she pouts.

I roll my eyes and open the car door for her.

“I don't wear hats. And stop saying, bougie. Get in.”

“Killjoy” she mutters loud enough for me to hear.

I get behind the wheel.

“Where are we going?”

I start the car and smile at her.

“If you're going to shop, lemme show you how it's done.”

✯✯✯✯✯✯

✿ Aileen's POV

Reid takes me away from the large mismatched crowd voices, bright store 'On Sale' signs, people sipping slushes, crying babies, to expensive hair sprays, strong perfumes, and escalators that actually work.

But I didn't complain since I'd made him suffer by visiting my 'thrift stores'. The least I could do was let him buy something fancy.

I take a sip of my still cool soothing drink in my hand as I glance over at the new man in my life to see the store manager exchanging a few words with him. Reid hands over a tie he's holding, merely waves his hand dismissively and the store manager goes scurrying off.

I let a small, amused smile cross my lips, then I turned back to the canary yellow dress the woman before me was holding. It had spaghetti straps with fishing line ruffles at the bottom.

“Oh this is beautiful” I mutter.

I hold out my hand to check the price tag when Reid's hand comes around mine and he tugs me to his side.

“We'll take it in her size” he instructs.

The woman nods and walks away. I frown.

“I didn't say I wanted it, Armani.”

“And I didn't say I wanted that 'SpongeBob SquarePants' t-shirt but you got it for me anyway.”

I shut up. The woman comes back with the dress in a  bag and Reid hands over his credit card before taking the bag.

“Here you go.”

“You didn't have to.”

“But I did so suck it up and learn how to take a compliment.”

I roll my eyes and smile.

“Thank you.”

The lady returns with his credit card and we leave. Reid's phone beeps in his pocket and he pauses beside me to check it.

“They've delivered the furniture and stuff from Costco to the house.”

I nod.

“Let's go then” I reply.

He nods and takes one step only to stop again.

“What happened?”

He turns to me.

“We might have a little problem.”

I flick my eyes back and forth as I slurp the last of my drink into my mouth.

“You're broke?” I ask, pretending to be horrified.

He playfully nudges me and I laugh.

“Pictures” he states.

“Pictures?”

“They're no pictures of us together.”

I groan.

“Can't we just get someone to photoshop us toget—”

He takes my empty cup from me, tosses it in the trash can behind him, and takes my hand in his.

“C'mon.”

Reid leads me through the mall and three minutes later, we're standing in front of a photo booth. I scoff and shake my head.

“I'm not getting in there.”

“With me or—”

“At all,” I say bluntly and turn around but Reid grabs my hand to stop me.

“Armani—”

“It'll only take a minute.”

“No.”

“C'mon. It's a start.”

“Can't we just go to a professional photographer and get our pictures taken? We bought new clothes. It'll be like a fashion shoot or something.”

He folds his arms.

“Then we can go get some of our childhood photos and that's it.”

“But we're already here” he gestures to the booth.

“And we can as easily leave, Armani.”

“One minute.”

“No.”

“Please?”

“No.”

“C'mon Lee.”

“No.”

“I'll wear whatever costume you want me to.”

My eyes immediately light up.

“Really?”

He sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose.

“Yes. But please don't make me do it.”

“Oh you're doing it” I laugh and nudge him toward the booth. “In you go.”

He chuckles, inserts money into the machine, and enters.

“C'mon,” he holds his hand out to me.

I smile softly as I take it and he guides me inside the booth so I sit beside him. He reaches out to draw the short curtain to cover the entrance as his cologne invades my nostrils.

How does a person smell this good?

“You ready?” Reid asks, taking his hand away from the buttons.

I blink.

“Yeah, yeah sure” I reply.

The first few pictures roll through and I watch him make faces at the result of the pictures.

“All good?” I ask, already standing up.

He holds my hand to stop me, a frown on his gorgeous face.

“This is horrible. There is no vibe.”

I don't take my hand away and let him hold onto it. I liked the feel of our hands together and I knew I was slowly becoming an addict. I just didn’t want to be the only one.

“And your point is?” I ask.

“We're trying to show the world that we're a couple. Not some... whatever this is” he points to the pictures.

“Get to the point, Armani” I chuckle.

He looks at me, still holding onto my hand.

“We need to get closer... cuddle even.”

“Oh, now you're definitely wearing the feather boa.”

“Oh c'mon,” he laughs. “We're supposed to pull this off perfectly. And so we need to be all over each other... for the pictures of course.”

Of course.

I sigh.

“You do have a point.”

He lets go of my hand and flashes me a charming smile.

“Good. Then get over here and cuddle me.”

“This is not cuddling. It’s strictly platonic... photographing.”

“Yes, yes, platonic photographing, of course,” Reid chuckles.

I scooch closer to him.

“Would you prefer to be the big spoon or little spoon?”

I look at him.

“What?” I ask, chuckling.

“For the pictures. We need to sell this” he replies, trying to hide his own smile.

“Little spoon” I answer.

Reid grins.

“Have no fear, milady. I shall valiantly hold you close to my heart and sell our fake relationship.”

“My hero” I chuckle.

“I've been saying it for years.”

Reid takes my hand and pulls me into his arms as he leans against the wall of the photo booth. I lean into his embrace as the warmth from his chest radiates into my back.

“Watch the hands. Don't get carried away” I playfully warn.

His laugh vibrates through me.

“The very implication is an insult to my honor.”

I roll my eyes, but can't help but ease into him as the heat from his body enfolds you like a mitten.

“But would you blame me?” I hear him mutter quietly.

I smile. The roll ends and I painfully separate myself from him. I wasn't supposed to be catching feelings for this man. This was all a charade.

“Well doesn't this look romantic?” he beams at the pictures.

“I wouldn't say romantic Armani” I look at him. “You're not romantic.”

He just keeps smiling.

“You know, being romantic is just a state of mind. If you think you're romantic, then you will be.”

I laugh.

“Another one?” he asks.

I find myself nodding excitedly.

“C'mere” he smiles and pats his thigh.

Oh God.

I take a deep breath and settle onto Reid's lap. Our bodies fit perfectly together as he wraps his arms around me.

I smile and try hard not to look at him as questions about the feelings I was starting to develop, rattle in my head. But I immediately get distracted when Reid leans his head against my shoulder.

Oh God!

My heart begins to race but the bliss I feel in the moment makes it worth it.

“Feels like this next one is going to come out better than the others” he whispers to me.

“My bullshit meter is going off the charts, Armani” I smile.

He chuckles.

“It was worth a shot.”

Reid tilts his head forward as I turn toward him. Suddenly, I'm aware of just how close his lips are to mine... and how fast his own heart is beating. I feel an invisible force drawing me toward him and my lips part in anticipation, outside of my conscious control.

He lifts a hand to tuck the tendrils of hair behind my ear and I automatically lean into his touch.

Oh...

Reid's eyes flutter closed as he leans closer and closer. My eyes flutter closed too but before our lips meet, we're interrupted by the sound of the curtain being drawn.

“Oh I'm so sorry!” the voice goes, making Reid open his eyes and pull away from me. “I didn't know anyone was in here.”

Again?!

I don't even have the energy to get up from his lap. I just remain seated, my emotions swirling through me.

“No, no, it's okay,” Reid says to the woman. “We were just finishing up here, right my love?”

Reid calling me that is what gets me to move. I get up and nod.

“Yep. We're done here.”

The woman smiles at us and moves out of the way to let us out. Outside the booth, I wait quietly as Reid prints out the pictures.

“Okay these turned out better than expected” he chuckles as he moves towards me with our snapshots in his hands. “Wanna see?”

“Sure” I manage to say with a smile.

I lean closer to him and smile at the photos.

“You did not wear the feather boa” I state.

“If you're down to wait for the woman to be done then we can do some more and maybe I'll wear more than a feather boa.”

So our moment can be ruined again?

I shake my head.

“I'm exhausted.”

“Raincheck then?”

I smile.

“We'll see.”

✯✯✯✯✯✯

✿ Reid's POV

The ride back to the house is relieving. There was no way I was going to be able to go back to the office. There was still a lot more to do back at the house. Aileen rolls her head to the side and then up to the roof of the car.

“Doesn't this open?”

I look at her. She was wearing my sunglasses. I chuckle softly and push a button. The windows automatically roll down as the roof of the car slowly begins to fold back and Aileen grins from ear to ear.

“Yes,” she sighs happily and reclines even further.

I smile at her quietly till she turns to me and lowers the sunglasses a bit down her nose.

“Eyes on the road, Armani. Don't make me hit you.”

I chuckle.

“The air conditioning is on.”

“Why do you need air conditioning when fresh air is available?”

“Well okay. But don't you think the wind is going to mess up your hair?” I ask.

She chortles.

“It's too much of a beautiful day to be worried about the wind messing up my hair, Armani.”

She didn't mind?

“Mind if I turn this on?” she gestures to the radio.

“Knock yourself out.”

She sits up and tunes through the stations till she stops when a K-Pop song comes on. We meet each other's eyes at the same time and she begins to laugh.

“Change it.”

“No way” she laughs out and turns up the volume.

I shake my head and she immediately begins singing.

“Shining through the city with a little funk and soul
So I'ma light it up like dynamite, whoa oh oh”

“Oh God,” I mutter loud for her to hear.

She just smiles and keeps going.

“Dy-na-na-na, na-na, na-na, ayy
Dy-na-na-na, na-na, na-na, ayy
Dy-na-na-na, na-na, na-na, ayy
Light it up like dynamite”

✯✯✯✯✯✯

“How do you know the words to every song on that radio station today?” I ask, breaking the comfortable silence.

I watch Aileen shrug with a smile as she puts the paintbrush away.

“Sophie has a problem” she nods, turning to face me.

She had streaks of paint on her face.

“How did that get there?” I chuckle.

She gives me a confused look and I gesture towards the living room mirror.

“Oh,” she laughs. “I'll just wash it off later.”

I nod and turn to the side of the wall that I was painting.

“It looks good right?”

I hear her come up behind me and I force myself to not turn. I couldn't have another moment interrupted.

Keep a distance.

“It looks like something I'd draw blindfolded and with my left hand,” she quips.

“You're just jealous I have the traits of an artist and you've got nada.”

Aileen laughs.

“Where are the decorations?” she asks.

I turn the other way.

“Over there.”

She nods and moves away from me. The natural lights from the windows begin to dim and when I look at my watch, it's late.

“Hey, I think we should get going,” I say.

“Yeah sure, lemme just unpack this box.”

My stomach lets out an embarrassing growl but fortunately, Aileen doesn't hear it as she's too occupied with sorting out the decorations.

“How about some pizza for the road, freshie?”

“Okay. Jumbo size, no olives, extra cheese, extra pepperonis, and some pork if they have.”

I chortle.

“Jumbo size?” I ask.

“Yes. Go big or go home right?”

I smile and whip out my phone.

“I'm paying though Armani. So don't even think about—”

A sharp cry interrupts her and I whip around just in time to catch the box falling on the ground with a loud 'thud' as she falls to the floor.

Shit!

“Hey, hey, it's okay, it's okay” I hear myself say, not sure when I got to her side on the floor.

She feels her cheeks with air and closes her eyes.

“Are you okay?” I ask.

She opens her eyes, tries to shift her weight, and shuts her eyes tightly, hissing. I immediately find myself frowning at the box on its side with its contents spilled.

“What were you thinking, Aileen?!” I scold.

She opens her eyes.

“I was just getting the box on the table so I could separate the—”

“And you couldn't ask me to do it?!” I cut her off angrily.

She frowns back.

“Why are you getting upset over this?”

“Because you stupidly hurt yourself!”

“Don't insult me!”

“When you're being a jerk, I'll make an exception.”

She opens her mouth to say something but quickly closes it. When I try to get her up, she swats my hand away.

“You don't have to baby me, Armani. I'm fine. I don't need your help.”

“Are you sure? 'Cause it sure does look like it.”

She just eyes me for a while before looking away.

“Can you walk?”

“I said I'm fine, Armani.”

“Well, you don't look fine. So you better zip it and let me help you” I scold again.

She looks away.

“I'm going to get you up and onto the couch. Collaborate or I will use force.”

Aileen turns to me with a frown.

“Don't threaten me.”

I ignore her.

“On three,” I say instead. “One, two...”

On the third count, I carefully helped her up. Aileen hisses and curses under her breath.

I've never heard her cuss before.

And I know this wasn't the right time but... it was hot.

“Lean on me,” I say to her.

“For support?” she asks.

“Yeah, why else?”

Aileen turns away and leans against me. Then securing one of her hands around my neck, I lift her and cross the room to the couch, where I gently sit her down.

“Lie down. I'll get you some ice” I say to her as soon as a whimper leaves her lips.

She doesn't argue and just lies back. Halfway to the kitchen, I pause and turn to look at her lying helplessly down. I should have been paying more attention. She wouldn't have gotten hurt then.

I groan lightly and angrily walk away.

✯✯✯✯✯✯

✿ Aileen's POV

Reid returns with a bucket of water instead.

“What happened to the ice?”

“Just be quiet, freshie.”

Why was he suddenly so upset?

I keep quiet either way and watch him dump a lot of iced cubes into the water.

“C'mon,” he mutters and lifts my foot a little.

I bite back the pain. Reid helps me remove my shoes, his touch gentle.

“How bad is it?” I whimper.

“It's bad.”

I pout.

“How comforting, Doc” I reply sarcastically.

He chuckles softly and looks up at me.

“I think it's really just a sprain. Nothing some rest and bracing can't cure.”

I just nod.

“Ready?”

“There's no other way around it is there?”

“Nope.”

I sigh and dip my foot into the bucket and the cool water sends a wave of relief through my aching body. I exhale at the sensation.

“Good?”

I nod.

“Yeah,” I whisper.

Reid nods at me and stands up.

“Keep it in.”

“Where are you going?” I ask as he moves away.

“To clean up this mess before there's another—”

His foot hits an empty box and I hold back a laugh. He frowns at me.

“Oh, it's funny?”

I slap a hand across my mouth and shake my head. He turns away and begins to move the boxes. I just sit and watch him.

He could lift.

Reid carries the rather large boxes effortlessly and stacks them up in a corner of the room. I watch him straighten up and grab a handkerchief from his jacket which was hanging on the coat rack, to wipe the sweat off his forehead.

Even when he didn't mean it, he looked good doing the simplest things.

“You must work out a lot” I mutter.

Reid looks up at me as I cross my arms.

“You hardly broke sweat.”

His eyes fall to my chest faster than gravity would allow.

“They... weren't that heavy,” he mumbles, still talking to my chest.

Casually, I clear my throat and his eyes jump back up to mine.

“That's everything,” he says, looking away completely. “We'll pick it up another day.”

I flash him a grateful smile.

“How's the pain?”

I look down at the bucket as he crosses over to me.

“My foot's numb, Armani.”

“Let's get it out then.”

Reid grabs a towel from one of the Costco bags and dries my foot. He moves the bucket away to the kitchen and empties the water. I take the time he's away to slip off my other shoe.

“Can you stand for me?” he asks, the second he reaches me.

“Yeah,” I answer.

But the second I try to get up, the jolt of pain in my left ankle returns... much stronger. I stumble and only Reid's grip keeps me upright.

“Easy” he whispers, looking up from my foot.

I stare into his eyes.

“My ankle's not so... *uff*... bad” I let out.

He chortles.

“Yeah, I'll believe you when you're able to say that without wincing.”

I sigh.

“Well, I gotta walk, Armani. How am I supposed to get home if I don't try?”

He mutters something under his breath, exhales deeply, and turns his back to me before getting down with an inviting gesture.

“Get on.”

I scoff.

“You're not serious, Armani.”

“Aileen, get. on” he says firmly.

“We've been over this, Armani.”

“And that's why you should know that I'm not willing to argue or take 'no' for an answer. Now get on before I throw you over my shoulder.”

You'd do that?

I blink.

“Just help me hop,” I say instead.

Reid gets up and although his actions seem rough, it isn't. He firmly, yet gently sweeps me into his arms.

“Hey!”

He shuts me up with a warning look.

“Next time, you're going over my shoulder.”

Thank you for reading!
Vote and comment if you enjoyed the chapter and recommend!
See ya.
~the_atticwriter