Claimed by my Unexpected Protector

Chapter Eleven

Eralia’s POV

I smile at the baker, before I look down at myself, my smile slipping away as I realise I’m still wearing the clothes I borrowed from the apartment upstairs.

‘Oh, let me go change quickly into my clothes, umm . . .’ I frown awkwardly, ‘do you want me to take them home to wash them or put them in the machine upstairs . . .’

I don’t know when I’ll be able to get them back to her, I have to take our laundry to the laundromat which is over forty minutes away and I only go once a week, sometimes less depending on how many quarters I have, which at the minute is none.

Mackenzie waves me away, ‘just keep them’ she replies as though it’s no big deal.

‘Oh I can’t . .’ I start quickly.

The bakery owner raises an eyebrow at me, ‘everything up there is spare clothes that the rest of us didn’t need, just take them home. If you don’t want to keep them, give them a wash and then donate them to a charity for the needy, they’ll be put to good use there, help someone out who is in need’ she adds.

My cheeks heat at her words, because she’s unknowingly talking about me. I’m one of the people who needs others to donate items to charities and thrift stores.

‘Uhh, well OK, thank you’ I mumble, ‘I’ll . . just go and get my clothes out of the dryer and come back so we can leave.’

Mackenzie nods, heading toward the cupboard where she keeps her coat and purse.

‘No rush, if you need a bag for your things, you should find some shopping bags on the shelf above the machines, just help yourself’ she calls after me.

I hurry toward the stairs, pulling out the key I still have from earlier and sliding it into the lock, pushing open the door and walking into the kitchen. I open the dryer, pulling everything out, folding the towel I used carefully and placing it on top of the machine before bundling up my own clothes and looking around me for the grocery bags that Mackenzie mentioned. Spotting them neatly folded above my head, I grab the first one and shove my clothes inside before heading back down to Mackenzie who is now by the side entrance, my coat in her hand.

‘I couldn’t find your purse’ she states worriedly, ‘did you leave it out somewhere?’

I shake my head placing my bag of clothing by my feet and taking my coat from her, pushing my arms into the sleeves.

‘No, I . . uh . . forgot it this morning’ I reply evasively.

Mackenzie’s frown deepens, ‘you forgot your purse? How did you get to work? I know from when you had that lift to the tracks that day, that you don’t live near here, you must have to take a bus or something . . ‘

I swallow sharply, avoiding her gaze, ‘I . . I got a lift from a friend, it’s fine.’ Well, it’s kind of the truth, I did get a lift and though he might not be my friend per se, he is hers.

Mackenzie worries her lower lip, ‘oh, how will you get home? Do you need a lift? I assume they were going to pick you up later, after your shift?’

I shake my head quickly, ‘no it’s fine, I can just ring them, I’m sure they can come and get me early.’

My boss nods, her face clearing, ‘OK, give them a ring and we’ll wait here until they get here’ she replies.

Panic gnaws at me, my feeble lie already unravelling, ‘Oh you don’t have to wait’ I mutter, ‘you get going, I’ll just wait outside for them.’

Mackenzie’s smile falters, ‘I’m not leaving you standing outside in this Eralia, it’s pouring down! Call your friend and we’ll wait for them to arrive in the warm.’

With no other choice, I nod weakly, tugging out my cell and staring at it, now what do I do? Mackenzie watches me intently from beside the door until I press random buttons on my phone and hold it to my ear, giving her a small smile as I pretend to wait.

‘Hello?’ I say, loud enough for the baker to hear, ‘yes, it’s me . . . yeah, sorry, we’ve closed early . . . are you able to give me a lift now? . . .’ I glance up at Mackenzie who smiles at me encouragingly, what do I do? Say oh great and wait with her for a lift that isn’t coming or make it sound like they can’t and have Mackenzie want to give me a lift.

‘Uh . . .’ I pause again, my heart pounding against my chest, as I reluctantly make my decision, ‘Oh OK, no worries, I can sort something out’ I say before hanging up the phone and meeting Mackenzie’s gaze once more.

‘They uh . . . they got called into work on short notice, they said that they were going to ring me in a fw minutes about not being able to pick me up later, but they got distracted . . .' my voice trails off as I mumble under my breath.

‘Oh drat, OK, well in that case, I’ll take you home’ Mackenzie declares, already digging into her own coat pocket for her keys.

‘No!’ I practically yell, ‘Uh I mean, I’m not going home’ I add quickly as she looks up at me in shock. ‘I just remembered I need to go to the library for a book for my studies, I can go now as we’re shutting early.’

The baker stares at me for a moment before she slowly nods, ‘OK, well . . . I’ll take you to the library then.’

I nod relieved, the library is on the way to the school which will save me some of my walk but still far enough away that she won’t know where I live or about how I live.

‘Thank you, that would be really kind’ I reply, smiling as she grins at me.

‘Hey, you battled this weather to come to work, I at least owe you a ride to the library’ the woman replies, before tugging open the door and waving me out into the storm raging outside, stepping out behind me and locking it before leading me toward her car.

The rain is still heavy enough that we have to run for Mackenzie’s vehicle, the baker unlocking it as we approach with her keyfob which allows me to wrench open the door and climb inside without waiting.

As she slides in beside me, Mackenzie starts the car, cranking up the heat to full as she tugs off her already drenched coat and throws it onto the back seat.

‘It’s ridiculous out here’ she huffs, staring up out of the windscreen at the darkened sky above, before looking back at me. ‘Are you sure you don’t want me to take you home?’ she asks, ‘I can wait for you to get your book and then drive to your house.’

I shake my head quickly, ‘no it’s fine, I usually end up looking through the fiction books and reading anyway. The librarian ends up having to kick me out’ I add with a chuckle.

Mackenzie joins in, ‘ahh you are one of those people, you go in for one book and then spend the rest of the afternoon lost in a story forgetting the time.’

I nod, ‘that about sums me up’ I lie.

The baker shrugs, ‘well if you hole up long enough, your friend will most likely be finished work and can pick you up.’

I frown slightly before remembering what I told her and my fake conversation with my ‘friend.’

‘Yeah, he’ll definitely be done by the time the library closes which is just another excuse for me to stay and read in the warm’ I quip.

Mackenzie puts the vehicle in reverse, looking over her shoulder as she carefully backs out of the space.

‘What’s his name?’ she asks conversationally as we start to move forward, the baker keeping her speed down due to the weather.

‘Who?’ I mumble.

‘Your friend, the one who will pick you up’ Mackenzie replies.

‘Oh . . . uhh . . . Austin, his name is Austin’ I scramble.

My boss glances at me curiously, ‘Austin . . nice name, have you known him long?’

I swallow harshly as I slowly nod, ‘I’ve known him his entire life’ I reply, the first honest thing I’ve said this afternoon, ‘he’s one of my best friends.’

Our conversation drops as we make our way to the other side of the city and to the library where Mackenzie pulls over, as close to the door as she can.

‘Well, were here’ she states turning toward me, suddenly a little uncertain again. ‘Are you sure your friend can pick you up? I don’t like the thought of you walking home in this, especially at night.’

I nod quickly, ‘oh he will, he usually only works till six so I can hang around here till then, I’ll message him as soon as I get inside though.’

My boss hesitates before she smiles reluctantly, ‘well OK, then I guess I’ll see you Saturday? Is that your next shift?’

‘It is, I’ll be there bright and early’ I reply, smiling, before I throw open the door and slide from the seat, slamming it shut behind me.

I wave to Mackenzie as I back toward the door, the baker lifting her hand in reply before she pulls away and heads down the road. I watch her car until it’s out of sight before I tug my coat tighter around my body, gripping the bag in my hand tightly, and start to walk through the rain toward my siblings school.