Page 28 of His Bullied Fated Mate

I felt a ping of regret and turned. I chewed on my cheek, wondering if I had been a little rough on him. I didn’t know anything about Riley. I hadn't wanted to learn either. He was my high school bully, and that was all I wanted him to keep being.

We headed to the checkout and brought the cart out to the car. Riley loaded the car up and pointed down the road. “The store is just down the block.”

I grabbed the car handle. “Okay?”

“Want to join me?”

I frowned. “At the store where you're going to buy clothes?”

“They have other stuff.” He shut the trunk. “I’ll buy.”

I grunted as I let go of the car door. “Fine. But only because I don't want to sit in the car alone.”

We shopped around the boutique that he wanted. I looked at the women's area while Riley went through the men's clothes. He ended up buying three new shirts and two pairs of pants. We were on the way back to the car when I paused at the flower store. I glanced inside, taking in all the plants and the decoration.

“You want anything?” he asked as he looked in the window.

“I don't see you as a plant person.”

“It's for you.” He pushed the door open, and I stumbled after him. The flower store smelled amazing, and there were plants all over. It was filled with various varieties, and there were vases of flowers everywhere. There was a small water fountain where you could see some fish swimming.

“Anything you want?”

I frowned. “What made you think I wanted something in here?”

“You don't want anything? We can leave.”

“I didn't say that.”

He smirked. “So you do want something?”

I looked across the space at the orchids. I had always wanted one but was afraid of killing it. Riley seemed to notice. “You want an orchid?'

“No.”

“You're a terrible liar.”

He bought me an orchid, and I held it close to me as we headed back to the car with all the rest of our purchases.

“Thank you for the plant.”

He gave me a smile. “It will look nice in your room.”

I gave it a sniff and couldn’t help but smile.

We walked down the sidewalk, and I spotted someone coming towards us. It was a man, a little shorter than Riley, walking towards us. But he didn’t look well. He looked pale and paused a few yards ahead of us.

“Is he okay?” I asked, glancing at Riley. Riley was staring at him, though, a worried expression filled his face. “Riley?”

I glanced back at the guy and watched as his eyes went straight to me. I stiffened and realized there was something in them. It was like a wild, rabid animal was staring at me, and all the hair on my body stood up.

“Back up,” Riley said, his arm reaching out, pulling me back.

But the man charged at us. He moved faster than I could see. One moment, I was standing holding my plant, and suddenly I was yanked back. The orchid fell from my hand, and I could hear the pot shatter on the ground.

“Dustin!” Riley yelled, yanking me into his chest. The smell of mint slammed into me. His arm wrapped around me, and I felt my heart race.

I was turned, and I took in his clean, pressed shirt. I felt my brain glitch out for a moment. I couldn’t process what was going on.