𝑀𝓎 𝑀𝒶𝓃#1~When Love Lasts
Chapter 27

This entire situation wasn't good for my health. I'm not exaggerating. Cedric drove us to the local home store, and I'm now standing in front of twenty different coffee pot brands.

Twenty.

“Babe, just grab one.” Cedric grunted as he leaned against the cart. “Don't have time for this. I need to get to the station.”

“I can't just grab one. My grandma told me that a coffee maker is one of the most important things in your kitchen.” I snapped, continued to read the tags under each pot before twisting my head towards him with a frown on my face. “And stop calling me babe.”

A decided happily on a forty-two dollar coffee pot. It holds five cups of water and had two different compartments, one for hot coffee and one for cold.

See, I couldn't just pick one.

My mood was already going up as I walked towards the checkout counter.

This morning was a little stressful.

Before we left the house, I told Cedric I was not leaving in the same clothes. I would be embarrassed if anyone witnessed that and assumed I had a one-night stand with the hot cop.

He didn't think it was a big deal, went upstairs and came back down a few moments later, carrying women's clothing.

I didn't know what came over me, but I was upset, offended and a little confused about my feelings. I didn't have any right to be angry that he had another woman's clothing in his home, but I was, and I couldn't help it.

“I'm not wearing those!” I snapped, looking at him in disgust as I looked at the offensive items in his hands.

“Why not?” He asked, confused, before holding them out towards me. “You claimed you didn't want to leave wearing what you wore last night, so here. Take them.”

“I'm not wearing another woman's clothes, Cedric.” I repeated, frustration lacing my icy tone.

“What's up your ass?” He growled, sounding annoyed as he ran his hand down his face. “Drop the attitude.”

My ass?

What's up my ass?

Is he serious?

What woman wants to wear another bitch's clothes?

Not this one.

“Nothing is up my ass, I just don't want to wear someone else's clothing.” I shrugged, liked my heart wasn't overreacting inside my chest and feeling like it was breaking.

I was being ridiculous, but I couldn't stop the attitude I was apparently throwing his way.

“Hmm.” He said softly, that sexy grin forming on his lips as he looked at me. “I see.”

See what?

What the hell does he think he sees?

“What?” I asked, ready to be done with this conversation. “Look. Let me just go home and I'll get my clothes.”

“Your jealous.” He declared, that grin only growing bigger on his lips, making me want to punch it off.

I'm not jealous.

Definitely not.

“No. I'm not jealous, you cocky asshole.” I growled, crossing my arms over my chest.

“You are.” He growled softly, looking pleased. “It's okay to admit it, babe, it's hot.”

“I said I'm not! I just don't know where those clothes have been.” I snapped and walked away, but didn't make it five steps when I felt Cedric advancing behind me.

"On Anna.” He chuckled.

Anna?

His sister Anna?

“Anna?” I asked, making sure I actually heard him.

Did he mean his sister? Maybe it could be another Anna.

“Yeah babe. Anna.” He repeated and smirked like he found this entire conversation entertaining, it wasn't.

Nothing about this conversation is entertaining. It's embarrassing.

“Your sister?” I asked again, confirming what he had already stated twice.

“My sister.” He whispered and handed the clothes out to me again. “We good now?”

My lips parted in surprise, and I stared at him for several seconds, feeling extremely embarrassed at how I just reacted.

“Yes.” I replied as I snatched up the shirt and pants and headed to the extra room to change.

Jesus, Avery, get your shit together, I scolded myself. I don't have feelings for him. He's an asshole. I'm just overwhelmed, yeah super freaking overwhelmed.

The coffee maker I'm holding in my arms has my made my day ten times better and put a smile back on my face.

I placed my new baby on the checkout counter.

“Need anything else before we leave?” Cedric asked me while we waited for the cashier to be done with the person ahead of us.

“I'll need clothes.” I informed him, hoping that me saying that didn't bring up the conversation we had before coming here.

“I didn't want you to go back to your house, but you're right. You need clothes. I'll take you after work. We won't stay long. Just pack what you need.” Cedric growled, not looking happy about this plan.

“We can just grab my coffee pot then.” I said and lifted the one I just picked out into my arms, ready to go put it back.

“No. This one's better.” He informed me before taking it out of my hands and placing it back onto the counter.

“You don't know-” I complained that nothing was wrong with my coffee pot at home, but his chuckled stopped the words and just had me looking at him in annoyance.

"I do when I slept on your couch. This one's better. You want it.” He confirmed my inner thoughts.

“Fine.” I sighed, giving up and accepting the fact that ill never win a disagreement with this man.

We waited in silence as the woman checked us out and when she told us the total, I dug my wallet out of my purse and pulled out my card.

“Don't insult me.” Cedric grunted while pulling out his card.

“Insult you?” I asked puzzled. How am I insulting him? I just wanted to pay for the coffeepot that I picked out.

“You don't pay with me.” He stated, hard, and swiped his card into the machine.

“I don't?” I demanded again, confused. “You do remember our relationship is being faked, right? You don't need to pay for me. Don't be ridiculous. I'll pay you back.”

“You try to do that babe, and I'll make sure you don't sit for a week. I pay.” He growled, grabbed the bag holding the new coffee pot, and headed towards the door.

“That doesn't work for me.” I shouted, rushing to catch up to him. “I wanted it. I should have been able to pay for it. It's mine.”

“Ours. You're staying with me, remember?” He informed me as we walked through the parking lot.

“You don't even drink coffee until you get to the station. You said that.” I growled in frustration.

I don't understand this man.

“So you're telling me now that I'll have one inside my house, I can't use it?” Cedric asked and raised an eyebrow, waiting for me to answer his stupid question.

“Of course you can. That's not what I meant-” I tried to defend myself.

“Okay, so it's ours. In my house. Therefore it's not a big deal that I paid.” He grunted and opened the passenger side door for me and waited for me to get in. “I will be using it too.”

“Fine” I snapped, trying not to feel much more frustrated that I keep losing these arguments. He always makes sense. I can't even argue with half the shit he says.

It's annoying.

It's frustrating.

And I don't like it.

“Now, if you're done throwing around your attitude for the day, I have to get to the station.” Cedric told me as he climbed into the driver's side seat. “You work today, right? I'll drop you off and pick you up.”

“No need. Just bring me to pick up my car. I don't want to be a bother. You may have plans-” I started to say, but of course he didn't let me finish.

That's also annoying.

“No plans but picking you up. I get off two hours before you, so I'll head home and shower. After I pick you up, we can get something to eat before heading to your house.” Cedric said and started the truck, ending the conversation.

Something about Cedric picking me up from work has those damn butterflies dancing around inside my belly again.

Damn this man.