Christopher
Well, brunch went better than I thought.
Alec's ire was completely soothed with a salmon omelet, bacon, and a side of fresh fruit. Maybe I got lucky or maybe food is the key. I'll definitely keep that in mind next time.
We reached the large, furniture outlet just a little after they opened. Just walking in the door Alec grudgingly admitted that it's a much larger selection than he would have found in Shady Woods. My mate waved off the salesperson, saying that he wanted to browse first. I've following him through various displays, groups of furniture set up like little rooms.
It's very entertaining watching him. Currently, we're in a set up in a living room. Alec first stands in front, eyeing each piece closely. Sometimes, that's it and we move on. On this one, he approaches the couch and takes a seat.
I hide my smile as Alec sits first one way, then another. Crossing and uncrossing his legs, pulling them both up, sitting cross-legged. Then he stands up and flops down in the same spot, leaning different ways. He gets up again and does the same in the middle and at the other end of the couch. I'm not sure what he's looking for but I could watch him find it for hours.
That couch must not have what he wants because he gets up and heads to the next grouping of couches and chairs with me contentedly trailing after him. I see the same routine on this one too, only he must like it because he also lays down, stretching out his legs. He's so short, the whole length of his body fitting easily on the cushions. Alec wriggles around a little before closing his eyes and relaxing.
"What do you think about this one?" Alec's question surprises me. It's the first time he's spoken to me since we arrived, plus asking for my opinion to boot. My mouth opens but no words come out. I've never really given much thought to furniture, aside from whether it will hold my weight or not.
"Umm... " I mean, I think it looks good, but anything covered with Alec will look amazing to me. Especially the way he's relaxed and horizontal, making me want to crawl up next to him.
Alec sighs and sits up. "I think it's nice," he says ignoring me, "the fabric will stand up well, I like the color and it's in my price range. This is the one."
He was so serious it was adorable. I strode over and sank down onto the couch he chose, making sure not to crowd him. He's finally being tolerant of me and I don't want to scare him off.
"Awesome! Want me to get the salesperson?"
"Oh no, not yet. I still need a dining table and chairs as well as a bed and a mattress set. I don't like to be hovered over, so let's keep walking around. I think the dining rooms are over there." Alec points before getting up and heading in the new direction.
Frozen, my brain quit working at the word 'bed'. As in, Alec is going to crisscross and wriggle his way across a bed. While I get to watch. Oh, no! A boner in the car is one thing, but I can't get hard here.
Desperately, I try to think about the most un-sexy things I can. Budget reports. The Boston tea party. Telemarketing calls. Hamsters. Alec looks cute like a hamster. Alec rolling around on the bed again.
Aaarrgh! Screaming inside, I try to shake away that image. Okay. It's time to pull out the big guns. Think about when you saw Grandma shifting.
Okay, I'm good.
I stand up and hurry across the store to Alec, who has completely forgotten about me. He's going through the dining room setups, sitting in different chairs and walking around the tables. He very seriously studies each one before declaring that he doesn't like any of them.
We move onto the bedroom displays, Alec looking at each one carefully. I just trail behind, watching Alec over looking at furniture. He pauses at one and walks around the bed carefully, looking more thoroughly than the previous ones.
"You're not going to get on and try it?" I ask cautiously, half-hoping he won't while desperately half-hoping he will.
"No," Alec responds absentmindedly, still focused on the bed. "All these beds are made up, so they're probably just basic mattresses underneath. So, I'm just taking in how the bed looks."
I let out a relieved breath. Too soon.
"I'll get this one. Let me go pick out a mattress and then I'll get the salesperson."
More hesitantly than before, I follow Alec over to the area marked 'Mattress Gallery'. A long row of mattresses sets are spread out along one wall. Warily, I watch Alec approach the first mattress set. He slowly walks past a couple of them, reading the price sheets and info graphs of each one. When he does try one out, he lays down calmly on one side, no wriggling or anything. Thank goodness, I can handle that without embarrassment.
Alec has his eyes closed as he lays there, so I'm waiting when he suddenly asks without looking, "What are you doing?"
"What? I'm watching you."
"Creepy. Go do something."
"Should I try it out, too?"
"No! Not with me on it. Go try out some other ones."
Pouting a little, but not really surprised, I turn away and make my way down the row of mattresses, casually browsing. Several mattresses down, I see one that looks like a fluffy cloud. It's higher and thicker than the previous ones and looks like it has an extra layer on top, like a big puffy pillow.
I lay down on it and it feels like a dream! It reminds of my bed back at the pack house, a custom-made size that was large and roomy, ordered by my mom as a birthday gift a few years ago. "Good sleep is incredibly important when you don't get enough of it," she told me then, as I'd started training with Dad, working my share for the pack and had started attending college full time.
"Alec," I sit up and call loud enough to be heard, "come try this one. It's amazing!"
I can hear my mate sigh from here but he does get up and come over. I climb off so he can lay down. He chooses the side I wasn't on anyways and lays there for a few minutes. Eventually, he sits up and starts to stand.
"It is very nice. However, I'm going to go with that one." Alec points to one he was on previously.
"That one? It looks so flat and hard compared to this one, though." I walk down and try it out. It sucks. "Ugh, don't get this one, I don't like it."
Alec walks up to the one I'm lying on now. "Well, this has literally nothing to do with you. I'm getting this one. It's supportive, and affordable."
"Is it just about price? If so, -"
"Stop. No, it's about how I choose to allocate my money on things that I buy for my home. That is the one that I pick, so if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go find the salesperson." Alec spoke with a harsh glare the entire time before stalking off towards the front of the store. Fuck, I got him all riled again.
Silently, I find Alec, up at the sales desk where I wait for my mate to finish his purchase. It takes some time, but what Alec wants is in stock and he even sets up a delivery date for later this week. He doesn't speak to me again as we climb into the car.
I wasn't trying to upset him. I was just encouraging him to get the better product. I don't really think much about spending money. I rarely shop for myself and with the profitable businesses the pack works hard to run, I don't usually look at price tags when I do buy things. As Alpha, I always keep tabs on our finances and I know what our budgets allow. They just allow a lot, that's all.
Again, the windows are rolled down and the radio is blasted. My mate, his eyes hidden behind sunglasses once again, is ignoring me, very hard. Am I always going to annoy him?
I turn to look out my side of the car, not even Alec's scent bringing my joy. How can I be happy when he hates me so much? I've got to chance tactics. Obviously, somehow, Alec is immune to my charm.
I remember how Alec was so upset that I didn't discuss my plans with him beforehand. Also, how carefully he selected his purchase today. My mate is likes to think things through. However, he was soothed by the delicious food at brunch and he did say that the mattress I picked was nice, so I think Alec might not be as immune to some pampering.
Smiling to myself, I start planning my new avenue of attack. Alec is about to become the target of some well thought-out, straight up pampering.