Chapter 2 - Evander

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I had a task on my mind—buying a gift for Calista's brother. Over time, he and I had bonded like real siblings, and I wanted to get him something meaningful. I turned to Calista, who was sitting quietly beside me. “Want to buy a gift for your dear brother?” I asked.

“But it’s pouring heavily…” she replied, glancing out at the sheets of rain.

Undeterred, I reached for the umbrella beside the car door. I opened it as I stepped out, feeling the cold rain hammer against it. When I looked back at Calista, she was shivering, her clothes still damp. Without a second thought, I slipped off my jacket and draped it over her shoulders. She nodded, her voice barely above a whisper as she said, “Thank you…”

I smiled at her. “So, do you want to get something for him?”

She shook her head. “I’m just really cold…”

I hesitated, not wanting to leave her in the car by herself. “How about I buy something for you instead?”

She considered it for a moment, then spoke softly, “Could you get me some dark-colored yarn, please?”

“Yarn?” I repeated, a little surprised. I wondered what she was planning to do with it, but I nodded and closed the car door, leaving her to warm up while I headed into the supermarket.

Inside, I searched for the yarn and a few other things that might go well with it—fluffy cotton balls and some other craft supplies. I also picked out a few books for her brother, including "The Love Hypothesis" by Ali Hazelwood. I chuckled to myself—it was quite the steamy book. I headed to the cashier to pay, but as I reached the counter, I felt a small tug on my leg. Looking down, I saw a wide-eyed kid clutching my pant leg.

“Mister, can you help me find my mom, please?” the kid asked, his voice trembling.

I bent down to his level, trying to stay calm for his sake. “Are you lost?”

“Mhm,” he nodded, his eyes brimming with tears.

“Where was the last place you saw your mom?” I asked gently.

“Probably the toy section… Oh! I remember—I was grabbing a new toy car to show her, and when I turned around, she was gone,” he explained.

I thought for a moment before responding. “How about I take you to the information desk? That way, your mom can find you easily.”

The kid’s face lit up. “That’s a good idea, Mister!”

I quickly paid for my items, swiping my credit card and taking the shopping bag. Then I led the little boy to the information desk. Within minutes, his mom appeared her face a mix of relief and gratitude. The boy ran to her, hugging her tightly.

“Thank you so much for finding him,” the mother said, her voice filled with emotion.

“It was no trouble at all,” I assured her. I bent down to the boy again, ruffling his hair. “Next time, stick with your mom, okay? There are some bad guys out there who might try to take you away.”

“Got it, Mister!” he said proudly.

As I left the supermarket, the boy waved goodbye with a huge smile on his face. I smiled back at him, glad I could help.

When I returned to the car, I noticed Calista had fallen asleep, curled up in the passenger seat. I carefully placed the shopping bags in the backseat, trying not to wake her, but the sound of the car door closing stirred her from her sleep. She blinked groggily at me as I got in.

“Did you have a good nap?” I teased.

“I heard you putting the bags in the car,” she murmured, rubbing her eyes.

“I thought you were in a deep sleep, like Sleeping Beauty,” I said with a grin. “Just waiting for a prince to come and break the spell with a kiss.”

She raised an eyebrow, a playful smile tugging at her lips. “Do you think I’m under a witch’s spell, and you’re my prince coming to save me?”

“I wish you could have slept a little longer,” I teased back, “so I could have the chance to break the curse.”

She laughed softly, and for a moment, the tension of the day melted away, leaving just the two of us, sharing a lighthearted moment in the rain.

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