“You don’t have to thank me.It will be nice to get some stuff taken care of and get out of town for a bit.The weather tends to be nicer in Timber Falls, so we can truly enjoy some fresh air and sunshine.”
I shook my head because it felt like he was in it.He somehow always seemed to know what I was thinking, and it was as if he realized how stir-crazy I had been.
**********************************
After breakfast, Igrabbed my purse and waited for Axel to bring his truck around to the front of the bar, where he helped me in.It was a newer truck with heated seats that felt marvelous on my sore body, but it also felt like the safest vehicle I had ever been in.I knew I shouldn’t be jumping into things so quickly and letting my mind run free, but I also couldn’t help but picture what the future could look like for the three of us.
An hour and a half later, we had arrived on the outskirts of Timber Falls.Axel took the first exit, abandoning the highway that went through the town and heading to several larger cities.I leaned forward, taking in the town that was already far larger than I had expected.
It was nothing like Nowhere, or any of the other super small towns I had passed through before stopping in Nowhere.Where most small towns were limited to a single main street and a handful of businesses, Timber Falls was packed with an abundance of stores, restaurants, and several parks.Every street we drove down offered something different, sparking my curiosity about the treasures I might find here.It was definitely smaller than some of the big cities I was used to, but it was nice having big-city vibes without the actual big-city traffic and people rushing about.
Axel pulled into the parking lot of a large retail shop that I loved, and I felt my cheeks split when I turned to look at him in disbelief.No wonder they purposely kept Nowhere small and undesirable to stay there when people could literally drive a few hours and be in a town that had everything they needed.
We got out of the truck and headed inside the store, the fresh air and sunshine immediately improving my mood as we walked through the parking lot.Axel grabbed a shopping cart, pushing it for me after I set my purse inside and headed straight to the baby section.I had been wanting to shop for my baby girl for so long that it felt surreal to actually be doing it.
I knew Axel had covered most of what I needed with the diapers and baby wipes, but I wanted to take my time and go up and down every aisle.I was worried that Axel would get bored and rush me, but he didn’t.He just smiled and picked up as many things as I did, adding them to the cart in a pile of things that I wanted but didn’tneed.
Two hours later, we finished going through the baby stuff, and I decided to take a break to look at everything I had picked out.I had shopped with the intention of coming back to my pile later and narrowing it down to the things I absolutely had to have.
The bench was uncomfortable, but it gave my feet a much-needed break since they were swollen and bothering me.I separated everything into two piles, surprised that I hadn’t grabbed as much as I thought I had.
“What are the two piles for?”Axel asked as I put one back into the cart and laid the other on my arm so I could return those items.
“I was separating what I wanted and what I decided to put back,” I said as I held onto the back of the bench and tried to pull myself up.
Axel reached out a hand and helped me, making sure I was stable on my feet before taking the pile on my arm.I started walking back to the baby department to put them back when I looked behind me and found him standing by the shopping cart, putting them with the other items I was keeping.
“What are you doing?”I asked, rubbing a hand over my belly as I walked back to him.“I was going to put those back.”
“I know.”
He swallowed hard as he looked at me nervously.
“I don’t want you to put them back,” he finally said, his eyes meeting mine.
“Why not?”
“Because I like them.”
My face softened as I looked at him, noticing his boyish charm that made my heart melt.
“I like them too, but I don’t need them.I have plenty between what you already bought and what I’m getting today.”
“Would it be that terrible if I bought them for you?”
“Axel,” I replied with a soft sigh.“You don’t need to keep buying me stuff.You should save your money for yourself and stuff you need.”
“I don’t need anything,” he rushed out.“I save more money than I know what to do with.Please let me buy them for you, Charlie.”
I was about to continue arguing that I didn’t need more clothes for the baby, but when he pressed his hands together in front of his face and begged, I couldn’t say no.
“Alright, but that’s it.You can’t keep spoiling her,” I teased as I pointed my finger at him.
“Deal.”
He snaked his arm around my waist and pulled me into his side before kissing my cheek.We walked hand in hand through the rest of the store as if we did this all the time.I tried not to let my heart get too used to this because deep down, I knew good things like this never worked out for people like me.No matter how much Axel vowed to protect this baby and me, I knew we would always have a target on our backs thanks to Jason, and there was nothing I could do to protect him from that.