Chapter 5

Eva Gibson’s pov

Driving down the main street instead of back to my house, I glanced at Austin's profile and recalled what my sister said about being nice.

“Alright, I will be a good child,” I sighed mockingly.

“How about we get an ice cream cone and walk around the city park?” Austin offered and I shrugged.

“I'd rather have a milkshake,” I mumbled softly, and hearing me, Austin laughed.

“I can get you that; what flavor,” he asked, pulling up at the drive-through of an ice cream parlor.

“Strawberry,” I replied and he eyed me oddly.

After hearing him order my milkshake and a strawberry double-scoop cone, I rolled my eyes.

“I just wanted a milkshake.”

“The cone is for me, silly. Strawberry is my favorite,” he responded and I swallowed uncomfortably because it had always been mine as well.

After paying and getting our order, he continued to the park, and I grinned slightly, remembering visiting it in my youth.

“Have you been here before?”

I glanced at him and said, “Twice, once on a school trip and the other time with my parents and Olivia.”

Parking, he turned to me with a handsome smile and told me that it had been renovated.

“A walking path has been put around the large pound, and if we're lucky, we'll get to see the swans!”

“Okay, calm down, you don't want to have a stroke over some big white birds,” I snickered.

Gobsmacked, I watched him quickly exit and come around to open my door.

Eyeing him oddly I wondered what his deal was by acting like a gentleman. As I slid off the seat, I missed the sidestep and was going to faceplant to the ground but was surprised by Austin catching me.

“Sorry I missed the step,” I muttered looking up at his concerned indigo eyes just inches from my very own.

My shock was short-lived as I felt the coldness on my chest and glanced down at the ice cream cone smashed between us.

Frowning I shoved him back and watched in horror as the smashed treat fell to the ground and the pink wet smear on my shirt.

Hearing him snicker at me I narrowed my eyes at him.

“Thanks for nothing, Austin. You should have let me fall! I'm covered in sticky pinkness!” I hissed and noticed that he was looking around me at the stores.

Grabbing my arm he yanked me off toward a store with me squeezing my milkshake in my gripped hand.

“I'm going to get you a new shirt, so ditch the attitude,” he growled as he continued to pull me into a small clothing store.

When I saw who was working I furrowed my brow as I sucked on my straw.

“Veronica, find a nice shirt for Olivia’s sister, “ Austin asserted and one of his playthings came strutting out from behind the checkout counter with a grin on her pert lips.

“Can do, sweetheart. Whatcha doing with her?” She questioned him while waving her fingers in my direction like I was an object.

“I'm babysitting,” he asserted and she giggled as she covered her mouth.

“Well, we have blouses, but nothing like that cheap rag she's wearing. I will find something,” Veronica said condescendingly and I was getting pissed off at both of them.

She turned to go to the racks and I glared at Austin.

“Fucking asshole, babysitting? Really?” I mouthed to him and he shook his head at me then held up his hand up for me to hand him my shake.

“Behave, Eve,” he said under his breath as Veronica brought over a button-up shirt that looked identical to the shirt I was wearing, minus the pink stain.

“You're a lifesaver; I don't want Olivia thinking I mistreated her baby sister. Oh, is there a restroom that Eva can use to get cleaned up and change in?”

Veronica smiled and nodded, gesturing for me to follow her to the back of the store.

Shaking my head at Austin, I grabbed the shirt, still fuming, and followed after her.

After cleaning up I put on the new blouse and looked at my reflection. I frowned at myself.

“I need to stop being a bitch to my sister’s mate. I can be nice,” I murmured to myself in encouragement.

When I exited my resolve faltered seeing Veronica hanging over the counter with her breasts oozing out for Austin to gawk at.

“Tramp,” I said softly and hurried to Austin's side. Side-eyeing him I was surprised by him not acting like the manwhore he normally behaved as and was slightly impressed. His eyes never wandered to her cleavage.

“Ready?” He asked me as he sucked on my shake. Shocked, I simply nodded as he grabbed my stained shirt and said, “Let's go for that walk.”

Taking another sip, he snickered and handed me my drink back, but it was empty.

“Thanks for the new shirt,” I mumbled in irritation, holding my empty treat, and he had the nerve to nod.

“Unbelievable,” I murmured, holding the empty cup and tossing the empty shake into a trash can we passed by near the park entrance.