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“More like a nerd?” he supplied.
“No. Less approachable,” she corrected. “Too smart to associate with me.”
She handed his glasses back to him. “But you wouldn’t be you without them.”
Corbus took back his glasses and slid them on, but his movements weren't hasty, nor did he try to walk away from her. It was an interesting comparison to Noah, who hid behind his glasses like they would defend him. Instead, Corbus had almost an apathy towards the accessory, as if he could take them or leave them.
“You look fantastic, though,” Mykie said, changing the subject. She looked at Blaine over Corbus’ shoulder, this time speaking up louder. “You both do.”
He snorted. "It doesn't take much for a man to look presentable in a suit."
Mykie lifted her eyebrows, and with them, her lips in an amused smirk. Did the man not understand a compliment when it was thrown his way? “Well, I suppose that’s what sets the men apart from the boys, hmm?”
Caspar approached her before she could comment on Blaine's slack-jawed look. She knew she shocked the man, but did he really expect her to continue to be hostile or rude to him, especially after helping her at the mall or after his late-night confession when he thought she was asleep? She regretted her outbursts the morning after, but they had some positive interactions beyond those, right?
Right?
“Do you think black looks good on me?” Caspar asked, smoothing down his jacket across his chest.
“You look wonderful,” Mykie praised. “Anything else would have either blended with your hair color or made you look paler than you already are.”
“What do you think, Mykie dear? I think your ragamuffins clean up well.” Liam slipped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her roughly against his side. She felt a wave of unease run down her spine.
Mykie tried to move out from under Liam’s arm as slyly as she could. She hoped she was quick enough to wipe the disgusted expression off her face when his beard rubbed against her cheek as he turned his head.
“I think they looked great before, but I can’t deny that your suits always work magic,” she said quickly. She hoped her remark would be enough to keep his attention off of her.
Liam tightened his arm around her shoulder, pulling her right back against his side, but otherwise looked away from her. “You’re too nice, Mykie. I know how much you have an affinity for picking up strays. I always say, you can dress them up in fine clothing, but they’ll always be strays at the end of the day.”
He turned his face to give her a conspiring look, and she tried hard not to grimace or whip her head back to get away from him.
“She obviously doesn’t want you to touch her,” Renly said with a sneer.
“Yeah, let go of her already. She looks uncomfortable,” Corbus said, agreeing.
“Oh, don’t worry. That’s just how Mykie and I work.” He gripped her shoulder tightly, and she was suddenly thankful that his arm was leaning on her injured side instead of his hand gripping it. “We have an understanding.”
Blaine took a step forward, his hands in fists.
“Hey, Liam,” Jezebeth simpered, catching his free arm between her two as she tugged him away. “Can you show me your more expensive suits? I want Dexter to look like he stepped out of a spy movie.”
She pressed her chest against the side of him and she snaked her hand up his chest to cup the nape of his neck. She turned his head to face her, and Mykie could hear her whispering in his ear, but she couldn't make out what Jezebeth was saying. The blonde was grateful for it, no matter what was said, as Liam's arm dropped off her shoulder and snaked around Jezebeth's waist. Jezebeth giggled, and once she led the man far enough in the opposite direction than Mykie, she sent Mykie a wink over her shoulder.
Mykie sent her a grateful smile and once she heard the two of them begin to chatter about styles and price ranges, she let herself relax. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, allowing her fists to unclench. She took a few seconds to rub at her palms where her nails had bit into the skin. She needed to calm down before she decided to go after the man and beat him to a pulp. It wouldn’t be good for business with the Cantil if she did that.
He’d gotten too familiar for her tastes, and she was regretting joking with him when she entered the store. Once a pig, always a pig, it seemed.
“What the hell was that?” Renly asked. She heard him come up beside her. She opened her eyes and peered up at him.
“It was nothing that wasn’t manageable,” Mykie said monotonously. She was too lost in her thoughts.
Jezebeth had always been well-equipped to handle male attention and knew how to get her way in her own assignments. But Jezebeth had no motive to pull Liam away beyond helping Mykie out. Had she done that before without Mykie realizing it? She remembered the conversation Jezebeth had with Caspar in the car. Did she really just watch Mykie and react to whatever she needed at the moment, even at the expense of her comfort?
Mykie was horrified at the thought of her best friend putting herself in compromising situations for her. Sure, this time was Liam, but what about in the past? Or the future?
Mykie opened her mouth to say something to the boys, but Alec had come up beside her and began to address them first. “If everything is in order, why don’t you change, and I’ll get you rung up. Are you using credit or debit?”
Renly reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet. He then proceeded to hand over his card. “Here. I don’t need a receipt, either.”
