Betrayal & Redemption

Pancakes Are The Cure

Caroline POV

It wasn't my intention to cry like that, but god all the thoughts of my mother just swarmed at once. I had been trying very hard to focus on other things and put mother to the back of my head. 

At least he helped you feel better, Rae says. 

He has a very calming and comforting essence, I tell her. 

I choke down the pancakes- they are absolutely delicious. I've never had pancakes taste that good or smell that good. The pancakes my mother made always smelled and tasted...repulsive somehow, but I got used to it. I never would have if I had tasted these. 

"Thank you for these, they're the best pancakes I've ever had," I tell him, closing the box. He looks at me and smiles, dimples and all. 

I could just stare at that face all day, Rae sighs dreamily. 

Shush you horny wolf! I snap at her. 

"I'm glad you enjoyed them. Maybe we can get more tomorrow. They only serve breakfast and lunch and they close at 2," he tells me. "Let me get you some water." He goes around to his trunk and grabs a bottle, coming back and reaches his hand out to me. I slip mine into his and it's like holding hands with the Hulk- his hand practically swallows mine. I smirk, staring at our hands. 

"Something funny?" He asks. My entire face and even my ears flush. He pulls me to my feet and I can feel pins and needles in my toes- guess I sat on my bony butt a little too long. 

"Nope, not a thing," I tell him. He hands me the water bottle and turns to open the passenger door for me to get in. I bend over and set my water in the cup holder before sliding in. 

"Thank you, Jackson," I tell him as he closes the door for me. 

"No problem," he says, moving around to get into the drivers seat. 

I look out the window and my eyes drift to my red hair wafting in the breeze. 

"OH MY GOD, IS THAT MY HAIR??!!" I screech loudly. It looks like I was attacked by hair gnomes.

He laughs hysterically, holding his stomach. I dig through my purse and pull out a hair tie. 

Fucking asshole! He couldn't have said anything earlier??  I ask Rae. She doesn't bother answering, but I can almost feel the amusement coming off of her. 

Jackson POV

"OH MY GOD IS THAT MY HAIR??!!" she screams next to me. 

I bust out laughing, I can't help it. I take a look at her rat'snest hair she's trying to pull into some sort of bun and it's just a lost cause. Better add a brush to our shopping list- I don't think she could fit one in that tiny purse she has between he legs. Thank you, Jackson, keeps running around in my head. My eyes travel over her legs and up to her breasts then her face, her arms are up in the air pulling her auburn hair up. The way my name sounded on those lips, her full ass- even in my baggy sweats, her eyes... She's f*****g beautiful. I think back to her crying and have to push the thought out of my mind before Arlo gets pissed. I sneak another sideways peek at her. She looks about as busty as Lacey, but curvier, with wider hips and thicker, delicious-er thighs. My c**k twitches in my pants and I have to adjust quickly, making sure she's still staring out the window. Maybe Lacey can let her borrow some clothes or at least she can point us in the right direction. It's not like a shopping trip would even come close to affecting my bank account- not that anyone knows that. I pull out my phone and dial her number- thank Goddess she forced me to put it in my phone. 

"Mmm hello handsome, did you finally change your mind?" She asks me in a sultry voice that I think is supposed to sound sexy. Compared to Cassie's, it makes me want to puke. 

"Ha- not this time, Lace. Actually I was wondering if you could help out a friend of mine. She uh needs some clothes and I was wondering if you knew of anywhere to go?" I ask her, trying to ignore Cassie's eyes on my face.

"You expect me to help you pick out clothes for your f*****g GIRLFRIEND?!" She yells at me through the phone.

"Well not pick out, we just need to know where to buy them," I bite back a smile. Cassidy is hardcore eavesdropping right now. 

"You have some f*****g nerve Jackson," Lacey tells me. 

"Look, she lost all of her clothes and she's been through a lot. I just need to help her get some clothes- she has nothing at all," I tell her, pinching the bridge of my nose.

"I don't care about your sexscapades, Jackson," Lacey tells me in a tight voice. Goddamn the woman is a total b***h. 

"Thanks, Lacey. Just name a*****e in town so I can end this conversation," I tell her. 

"Fine. Lion's Den in town has some stuff I'm sure would be perfect for her. Good luck," she tells me and hangs up on me. I check my watch again- 2:42. Three more minutes and we can get outta here. I look over at Cassie. 

"Seems your girlfriend isn't too pleased with me, huh?" She says, fighting a smile. 

"She isn't my girlfriend, she just wishes she was," I tell her, looking at my phone maps. Lion's Den is a f*****g s*x shop. I roll my eyes at Lacey's comments and look through the apps on my phone. Suddenly Cassie reaches over and takes it from me. In 30 seconds she has a*****e pulled up with directions. She smiles sheepishly and hands my phone back to me. The bell at the school rings and I drop my phone, looking at the doors of the school. I spot the target, watch her descend the stairs, and get into her father's vehicle. I start up the car and look over at my passenger. 

"You ready?" I ask her. 

"Like you wouldn't believe," she tells me. I throw the shifter into driver and pull away from the curb. She picks my phone up again, and presses a couple buttons, so the phone speaker guides me directly to the store she wants to go to. I pull into a parking spot and look up at the Goodwill sign. 

"This is where you want to go?" I ask her.

"Uhm, yeah. This is where I usually go," she looks at the floor and her cheeks get pink.

"You need new stuff that's going to last you," I hand her my phone again, "Pick somewhere else." 

"Jackson, this is fi-" she says but I put his hand over my mouth. 

"Please. Just choose someplace else," I say again. No woman I'm with is going to wear second hand clothes. She punches some things into the phone again and it chirps with directions. We pull out of the spot and drive off. 

"There, doesn't this look so much better?" I ask her as we stand under the sign that says 'Katie's Boutique'. 

She just shrugs and opens the door. The woman behind the counter eyes us rudely as we walk in. I'm sure she's never quite had customers like us. I hand her my black AmEx and tell her "Just start a tab. You got any men's clothes?" 

She immediately lights up and holds the card like it's gold, "Towards the back there are a few racks- there may not be much to your liking but there's a few t-shirts and things there." I smile at her and she blushes. I'm sure I'll collect yet another woman's phone number from this godessforsaken town. I head towards the back and start pushing through clothing racks, finding a single black t-shirt. I turn it around and it's covered in sparkles. I curl my lip in disgust and put it back. I peek over at Cassie who is doing the same thing as me, though she looks a little more successful with a few things draped over her arms. 

"How are ya doin, sugar?" the saleswoman comes over to me. "Need any help?" She asks. 

"Yes, actually, do you have anything without sparkles? Unfortunately, sparkles just don't match my eyes," I tell her. 

"Erm, let me look," she says. Apparently sparkly men's shirts and sarcasm don't mix. "Ah. Here's one." 

I smirk. It has a silver wolf on it. I take it from her and slip it over my head quickly- she keeps checking me out and licking her lips. I look over at Cassie and then back to the lady, "I'll take this and then whatever she wants." I tell her and walk over to Cass who looks deep in thought over a couple pairs of jeans. 

"Get em both," I tell her as I walk up. She jumps slightly and I take the slightest bit of pleasure out of it. 

"Jackson, look at the prices! I can't pay you back for this," she tells me, lifting a tag into my line of sight. I push her hand down and smile at her. 

"Trust me toots- I can afford it. Besides you need it until you can get your stuff back from...wherever they are," I tell her. 

"Burnt to a crisp, I'm afraid," she tells me and her eyes get cloudy again. NO NO NO. 

I take the jeans from her and walk over to the counter, ignoring the sales lady undressing me with her eyes. "Add these on there, too." I look back and wink at Cass, and she sighs, sorting through clothes again.