Chapter 7

Ava

My feet are aching, my back is sore, and my arms feel like lead, weighed down with all the clothes we just bought.

When we went into the first store, I picked out a few things to try on, such as a cute top with a unicorn on it, but Hunter shook his head. Apparently my taste in clothes didn’t match his image, so he picked a ton of stuff for me. After two shops and three hours—not including the two hours I spent getting my hair done—my patience was wearing thin.

I objected to a few pieces of clothing because there was no way I was going to dress like a slut, but I had to admit that Hunter had good taste. Now I had four massive bags full of clothes that I would’ve never been able to afford myself.

When we got to the register, I felt bad and wanted to contribute in some way, but Hunter glared at me when I reached for my purse. It was just as well since the total between the two shops was around $600. To say I was ready to faint when I heard the amount ~at the first store~ was an understatement.

Right now, we are in the middle of a shop looking at swimsuits, and to be honest, I am more than a little uncomfortable. A moment ago, I picked out a red one-piece only to find Hunter holding three bikinis.

I sigh as he ushers me into the changing room, hands me the bikinis, and takes the one-piece I had picked. “Hunter, I like that,” I say, but my voice sounds like a child whining. Blushing at the thought, I turn to the mirror in the changing room and watch heat creep up my neck.

“Ava, you have to learn to be comfortable with the person I am helping you become. I’m not changing who you are; I’m giving you the confidence to be the person you were meant to be. You can’t go back to safety, so you have to step outside your bubble.”

I nod and pull the curtain closed, making sure he can’t see in.

Hunter is right. I won’t be invisible any longer, so I might as well be confident in the real me, whoever she is.

The first bikini is army green with two straps on the bottoms that you can pull up around your waist; the top is a halter neck with push-up padding meant to accentuate the wearer’s boobs. Overall, the bikini looks nice, but it isn’t something I would pick.

Trying to start fresh, I shake these thoughts from my head and slip it on anyway.

I fluff up my hair and plaster a smile on my face, mustering up the courage to pull back the curtain. When I finally walk out, I see Hunter sitting in a chair and looking at his phone.

He looks up, and his jaw drops. His eyes bug out of their sockets, and something flashes in his eyes, but it’s gone as quick as it came.

“Well, well, well, princess, you clean up pretty nice. I don’t know why you cover up; you have a nice figure.”

I blush at his words but nod a quick “thanks” before going back into the changing room. I decide not to show Hunter the other two bikinis.

***

After all our shopping, I’m starving, so I drag Hunter to the food court, where I insist on paying since he paid for everything else. But there, we get even more looks from people passing by. I even see some whispering behind their hands.

Hunter, the genius, had persuaded me to change into some new clothes. I was still wearing my black ripped jeans but now had on black-and-white checkered Vans, a cropped short-sleeved top, a distressed denim jacket, and expensive sunglasses. He said the change would be a test drive, giving me a chance to get used to others’ reactions.

Honestly, I have never felt so exposed.

Guys have been staring and wolf whistling at me while girls throw daggers because I’m with the sex god. All this new attention has me squirming in my seat, so I keep my eyes on the food that I had ordered. I swear, a permanent blush has taken over my face.

Hunter ignores everyone, eating his food in silence. When I look up, he is frowning and has a faraway look in his eyes, a combination I’m coming to recognize as his thinking face.

I watch him for a few more moments before his eyes lock with mine. He sends daggers my way.

“Do you know staring is rude?” His tone is harsh, and it takes every bit of courage I have not to flinch and break eye contact.

“I’m sorry…” I start to stammer, but he cuts me off with a piercing look before getting up and walking away.

I watch as Hunter struts over to a group of girls. They flash smiles at him, and next thing I know, he is sucking faces with a blonde. She runs her hands through his hair.

I turn away from the scene, grab my stuff off the floor, and leave the food court in disgust.

~Hunter isn’t going to be able to keep this deal because he’s too much of a man-whore. He can’t keep it in his pants.~

I feel a pang in my chest. I’ll look like an idiot if he keeps running around to other girls’ houses while pretending to date me.

I start walking aimlessly around the mall, looking for something to occupy my time while I figure out a way to get home. After a bit, I notice a small second-hand bookshop, and smiling to myself, I go in.

Inside, I place my bags near my feet and run my fingers across the spines of the books that line the shelves. I start pulling out books at random, reading the blurbs, and either placing them back where they belong or sitting them next to my bags. Half an hour later, I have a pile ready to buy.

As I walk to the counter, the cashier gives me a welcoming smile. I had felt her eyes on me as I looked for books, but she clearly didn’t want to interrupt, so she just sat and read until I finished.

I wasn’t sure how long I had been in the shop, but I didn’t care. I felt at peace here, and for a while, I forgot that Hunter had brought me here and I had no way home. He had probably left with some bimbo to get laid.

Shuddering at the thought, I turn my attention back to the lady ringing up my books. She is short with curly, blonde hair that frames her face and warm, deep gray eyes.

When the cashier tells me the price, I open my purse, hand over the rest of my money, and say, “Thank you.” I then grab my bags off the floor and exit the shop, thinking nothing can ruin my good mood.

I am quickly proven wrong.

Standing no more than ten feet away from the bookshop is Hunter, his arms crossed over his chest. I would be distracted by how this pose makes his biceps bulge if I weren’t so shocked by the hard lines in his face and the coldness in his eyes.

Hunter glares daggers at me as I start to walk in the opposite direction.

I shove my head down, trying to blend in, but I feel people staring at me. Boys catcall and make comments I’d rather not repeat. Then a hand grips my upper arm.

Hunter doesn’t release me, and a whimper of fear escapes my lips as I stare at him. There is only one emotion across his face: anger. His eyes burn with hatred.

When he finally turns away, he drags me behind him. His vise-like grip makes me wince, and I know, as my arm starts to tingle from my circulation being cut off, that I’ll have bruises later.

I am literally pulled from my thoughts when Hunter shoves me out of the mall and into his car, throwing my bags into the trunk before storming to the driver’s side. We’re both quiet the whole drive home.

And when we arrive, Hunter throws my stuff on the curb and speeds off, leaving me standing there in anger, confusion, and sadness.