009

Ocean’s POV

She refused to take my hand.

I should have expected it by now, the stubborn tilt of her chin and the way her eyes narrowed whenever she thought I was pushing too far but something about the way she crossed her arms and leaned back against the car made a slow grin spread across my face.

“Come on, let's get you dressed.” I cooed, pushing my hand further.

“No,” Astrid said firmly. “I can walk.”

“I’m aware,” I replied mildly, stepping closer anyway.

“Then stop being dramatic.” She huffed, rolling her eyes.

“I’m not being dramatic.” I pressed.

“You absolutely are.”

I didn’t answer, instead, I bent slightly, slipped one arm behind her back and the other beneath her knees, and lifted her clean off the ground.

“Ocean!” She gasped.

Her hands immediately grabbed my shoulders, more for balance than protest, though her glare promised retaliation later.

“Put me down!” she whispered , gritting her teeth.

“No.”

People near the entrance glanced our way, some amused while others were curious.

Astrid noticed the attention too, which only made her squirm harder.

“You’re embarrassing me,” she hissed.

“You were refusing assistance.”

“I didn’t need assistance!”

“Well, that's debatable.”

She groaned, hiding her face briefly against my shoulder as if that would make her invisible.

I pushed through the glass doors into the store, the warm lighting spilling over polished floors and endless racks of clothing arranged with surgical precision.

The attendant, Tacha, spotted me immediately.

“Hey, Ocean,” she greeted warmly, her smile widening when she noticed the girl in my arms.

“And who do we have here?” She was grinning from side to side now.

“My girlfriend.” I replied, the word rolling off my tongue before I could second guess it.

Astrid’s head snapped up so fast I thought she might get whiplash.

“She’s beautiful. Should I bring some pieces for her?” She asked, moving around the table.

“Yes,” I said calmly. “Something that fits her style.” I added, setting her down.

She shoved against my chest the moment I set her down but it didn’t end there.

I barely had time to steady myself before she grabbed my wrist and dragged me toward a quieter corner between racks.

“What are you doing?” she whispered harshly.

“Shopping.”

“Don’t play dumb,” she snapped. “Why did you call me your girlfriend?”

“Because it simplified things.”

“Stop making it sound real.” She was scowling now.

The way she said real did something strange to my chest but I shoved it off.

“I didn’t realize it bothered you that much.” I muttered, rubbing the back of my head.

“It doesn’t bother me,” she shot back quickly. “It’s just… unnecessary.” she muttered, shrugging slightly.

Parting my lips, I was going to say something but she beat me to it.

“I didn’t ask you to buy me anything.” Her hands were crossed on her chest now and she was staring directly past me.

“I agree.”

“I have enough clothes back at the dorm.”

“Then why didn’t you wear any of the clothes you claim to have.” I shot back.

As of this moment, rage baiting Astrid had finally become my top favorite thing to do.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” She was frowning hard now.

“You said you have clothes back at the dorm,” I said, keeping my voice calm. “So why did you show up in a hoodie three sizes too big?”

Her mouth opened, then closed again.

“That’s none of your business,” she muttered.

“It becomes my business when you walk around looking like you’re hiding from the world.”

Her eyes widened slightly, hurt flickering there before she masked it with anger.

“I wasn’t hiding.”

“Then what?”

Silence stretched between us, charged and fragile.

“I was trying to get you off my back,” she finally said.

Tilting my head to the side, I laughed quietly. “You really thought that would work?”

“Yes.”

“Sorry to burst your bubbles, it didn’t.”

“I know,” she muttered.

We were standing too close now, the tension between us humming like a live wire.

“You don’t have to fight me on everything,” I said softly.

“And you don’t have to control everything,” she countered.

Before I could respond, Tacha returned carrying an armful of dresses, tops, and skirts in different textures and shades.

“A fitting room is ready,” she said cheerfully, handing the clothes to Astrid.

Astrid scowled at me one last time before following her, clearly plotting my downfall.

With my hands tucked in my pockets, I watched her disappear behind the dressing room curtain, the fabric swaying slightly after she vanished.

Only then did I exhale.

The store felt quieter without her voice filling the space.

All by myself now, I moved to the waiting area and sat down, leaning back while replaying the evening in my mind.

Her laughter at dinner, the way she argued over ice cream like it was a life-or-death debate, the way she looked at me sometimes, confused, guarded, and curious.

Before I could get lost in my thoughts, my phone buzzed in my pocket and it pulled it out at once.

It was Calvin, my cousin.

Calvin: Where the hell are you? The party's starting and you’re the host.

Another message followed immediately.

Calvin: Don’t tell me you bailed.

A slow smirk tugged at my lips as I typed back.

Busy. – I sent and three dots appeared instantly.

Calvin: Busy doing WHAT?

Still smirking, I glanced toward the dressing rooms.

The curtain shifted slightly, and I caught a glimpse of movement behind it.

Priorities. – I sent and his reply came with an exaggerated string of shocked emojis.

I slid the phone back into my pocket, leaning forward with my elbows resting on my knees.

The music in the store was soft, almost hypnotic.

Attendants moved quietly, adjusting displays and folding fabrics with practiced precision but my attention stayed fixed on the dressing room.

I wasn’t sure what I expected when she walked out.

Honestly, I wasn’t sure what I wanted, maybe just to see her look at herself differently, maybe to prove that she didn’t need to hide behind oversized clothes and defensive walls…

I trailed off as the curtain moved again and I lifted my head without thinking.

Astrid stood there, framed by the soft lighting.

She was wearing a dress that revealed the elegant curve of her spine and hugged every line of her body like it had been designed specifically for her.

For a moment, I forgot how to breathe.