Olivia and I went to the mall in the middle of the city. \u00a0We found a men\u2019s store and within ten minutes, I\u2019d found a cheap suit, tried it on and purchased it. Olivia offered to pay using her father\u2019s credit card, but I refused. I had gotten myself into this mess, the least I could do was buy the suit that would hopefully help get me out of it.<\/p>\n
Finding something for Olivia to wear took a lot longer. We stopped at a bunch of stores with loud music and oddly dressed sales-clerks.
\nShe tried on a bunch of different outfits and it seemed to take forever. Where I could, I plopped down on the chair or bench provided and tried not to yawn boredly.<\/p>\n
Olivia led us to a GAP and went inside. She was like a whirl-wind inside. Within seconds she had poured through almost every rack in the store, picking out arm loads of stuff to try on.<\/p>\n
I had hoped that somehow shopping with Olivia would get my mind off of the depositions and testimonies I was going to have to give on Friday, and it was working. Because all I could think about was getting out of those stupid clothing stores.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m going to go and try these on.\u201d Olivia said, standing on her toes and lightly kissing my cheek.<\/p>\n
I nodded. \u201cTake your time.\u201d I replied. I hoped that she wouldn\u2019t. I hoped this time it was going to be quick and painless.<\/p>\n
It seemed to take Olivia ages to change into the outfits she had chosen. She came out of the change room several times to show me what she\u2019d picked out. But each time she made a face that made it clear she hated the outfit.<\/p>\n
I pretended to find fault with the outfit just to appease her.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have one more.\u201d She said to me. \u201cAnd if this one doesn\u2019t work, I quit. I\u2019ll have to wear something I already own\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
I babbled on about not caring how long it took as long as she found something she was happy with. But as soon as the door shut behind Olivia, I was breathing a sigh of relief.<\/p>\n
I glanced at the magazines on the table in front of me. They were all chick magazines; nothing even remotely interesting. And I wouldn\u2019t be caught dead reading an issue of Cosmo.<\/p>\n
I sighed, leaning back against the leather sofa. Olivia came out of the dressing room in a white dress. The front was a modest v-neck and the skirt fell just below her knees.<\/p>\n
\u201cWow.\u201d I breathed. \u201cVery pretty.\u201d I mused.<\/p>\n
Olivia smiled hugely. \u201cI think this is perfect.\u201d She twirled around and turned to the mirror behind her. She smoothed the skirt down over her hips. \u201cI think I could wear my hair up\u2026\u201d Her nimble fingers twisted her hair up into a pile on top of her head.<\/p>\n
She chewed the corner of her lip. \u201cOh, but I\u2019ll need a cardigan\u2026 maybe\u2026\u201d She moved into the dressing room and returned with a light blue sweater, sliding her arms into the sleeves. \u201cThere. Perfect.\u201d She smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou look beautiful.\u201d I replied. I wasn\u2019t lying. She somehow managed to take my breath away every time I saw her.<\/p>\n
Olivia smiled. \u201cOkay, give me ten seconds and I\u2019ll put my clothes back on and we can go.\u201d She disappeared into the dressing room again.<\/p>\n
I sighed with relief again and waited patiently.<\/p>\n
Olivia came out of the change room with the dress and sweater over her arm.<\/p>\n
I followed her into the store again, and she waited in line to pay for her new outfit.<\/p>\n
\u201cWill you need shoes or anything?\u201d I asked, shoving my hands into the pockets of my jeans.<\/p>\n
She smiled. \u201cNo. I actually have the perfect pair of shoes to wear with this dress.\u201d She stood on her toes and lightly kissed my cheek. \u201cDon\u2019t worry. All this girly shopping is over for today.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, I don\u2019t mind.\u201d I shrugged.<\/p>\n
The sales clerk called Olivia forward and I waited patiently while she paid using her father\u2019s credit card. She took her bags and smiled at me. \u201cOkay, where to next?\u201d She asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cWherever you want to go.\u201d I shrugged. \u201cWant me to carry your things?\u201d<\/p>\n
She smiled, \u201cOkay.\u201d She surrendered her bag to me and wrapped her arms around my free arm. \u201cYou\u2019re such a gentleman.\u201d She beamed.<\/p>\n
I shrugged lightly. \u201cYeah, well, it\u2019s coming back to me. I mean, since I\u2019m practically living at your dad\u2019s place and you\u2019re driving my ass around all the time, the least I could do is do something slightly gentlemanly.\u201d I smirked, lightly kissing her hair.<\/p>\n
She lifted her head from my shoulder and smiled up at me. \u201cYou know what I could really, really go for?\u201d She smirked.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease tell me it\u2019s a huge juicy steak.\u201d I teased.<\/p>\n
She narrowed her eyes. \u201cEw, no.\u201d She shook her head. \u201cI was actually thinking a big giant pretzel is in order.\u201d She mused.<\/p>\n
I pursed my lips. \u201cHmm, good call.\u201d I mused. \u201cIs there a pretzel stand around here?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI think so.\u201d She mused. \u201cIt\u2019s been a while since I\u2019ve been here. You live in this state, remember?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, right.\u201d I teased. \u201cI forgot.\u201d<\/p>\n
Olivia smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, there it is.\u201d She smiled, pointing in front of us.<\/p>\n
We walked in unison to the pretzel stand, and Olivia pondered over her options. She made polite conversation with the woman behind the counter. She asked if the salt used on the pretzels was sea salt or regular salt. She asked if the cheese was made with soy, and if the pretzels were gluten free.<\/p>\n
I waited patiently, obliging in her cute little quirks.<\/p>\n
Finally, when the woman behind the counter shot me a pleading look, I stepped in, lightly placing my hand on Olivia\u2019s lower back. \u201cLiv, why don\u2019t we just live a little today? Take a break and eat something unhealthy for a change. Come on, live a little.\u201d I smirked.<\/p>\n
Olivia drew in a deep breath. \u201cWhy not?\u201d She smiled up at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cGreat. Two pretzels then.\u201d I said. \u201cButter and salt.\u201d<\/p>\n
Olivia\u2019s eyes widened, but her smile never waned.<\/p>\n
I handed over a few dollar bills from my wallet and took the pretzels. Olivia grabbed a few napkins.<\/p>\n
I surrendered one of the pretzels to Olivia and she clutched it in both her hands.<\/p>\n
\u201cLets sit down for a bit, okay?\u201d I offered, motioning toward a bench. She followed me to a bench and plopped down next to me.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re going to help me eat this, right?\u201d She asked, breaking off a piece of her pretzel and popping it into her mouth.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, no.\u201d I chuckled. \u201cYou\u2019re eating your own. I\u2019m not helping.\u201d<\/p>\n
She laughed softly. \u201cThese are delicious.\u201d She mused \u201cI wonder if I can make them\u2026\u00a0 I bet I can find a recipe online\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI definitely think you should. And I\u2019ll help you eat them\u2026\u201d I smirked.<\/p>\n
Olivia laughed sweetly. She broke off another piece of her pretzel and chewed it slowly.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know, now that you\u2019re eating junk food, pretty soon I\u2019ll get you eating a big juicy steak.\u201d<\/p>\n
Olivia raised an eyebrow. \u201cI doubt it. You\u2019re a bad influence on me Isaac, but not that bad.\u201d She teased, lightly kissing my cheek.<\/p>\n