Chapter 27: Eli

A/N: 13.07.20

Expect a bunch of updates of AB within the next few minutes 🥰

READERS DISCRETION: LOTS OF FLUFF IN THIS CHAPTER!

You have been warned.

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“I’ll try this one,” I said to no one in particular, grabbing another pretty suit. “Oh, and this one too.”

This time, I picked up a beige cashmere sweater, the soft fabric immediately putting a smile on my face.

I glanced towards Thomas who was sitting on a chair, his legs sprawled out while he yawned. I narrowed my eyes.

He can at least try and act interested.

But Thomas looked like he was seconds away from slipping off his chair and falling asleep on the floor. The people who worked in the Gucci store gave him weird stares, and I started to get embarrassed. I rushed towards him, kicking his foot so that he’d sit up. His lazy lids opened.

“Oh, hi,” he mumbled. “You done yet?”

“No, I’m not done,” I hissed under my breath. “Can you sit up properly and at least pretend like you’re rich?”

“I’m from the average class,” he snorted. “Below average actually.”

“You’re drawing too much attention.”

“Thank you.”

“Thomas-”

“I’m going to need to hear the magic word.’

I crossed my arms over my chest and glared at him. “Please, Thomas, can you sit up and not act like a filthy rat?”

“I might if you kiss me.”

“I’m not kidding.”

“And you think I am?”

I narrowed my eyes. “I’ll buy you something instead.”

“If you buy me a 1000 dollar sweater, there’s a high chance that you’ll find it on eBay.”

“Fine then, I’ll kiss you,” I huffed, putting my palm against my lips and then slapping my hand against Thomas’s cheek. “There, your kiss. Now get up and act like you actually want to be here.”

I stormed away and tried to focus on the pretty clothes. When I glanced towards Thomas, he was on his feet, walking around the store. He pretended to take interest in the clothes but I could tell that he was more interested in the hangers than the actual clothes.

At least he was trying.

I went back to the lady who was telling me about the recent Paris fashion show and how Bella Hadid just set a new trend. She also told me how many celebrities were wearing matching sweaters and sweatpants were the new thing. My eyes discreetly drifted towards Thomas and my brows furrowed.

One of the shop workers (a pretty brunette with nude lip gloss) was talking to Thomas with a bright smile. It wasn’t the usual polite smile they were trained to do, but a happy one. Thomas said something and she laughed, fluttering her lashes. She handed him a pen and piece of paper and he started scribbling something done.

I glared at her. How could she find Filthy Rat attractive? It was obvious by the way she was looking at Thomas that she didn’t approach him just to advertise the items in the shop and it would surprise me if they were actually talking about fashion and clothes considering Thomas’ disinterest in the ladder.

I looked towards the lady standing in front of me.

“Do you perhaps have a suit that would fit that person over there?” I said, casting a dark glare at Thomas who was too busy flirting to even notice.

“Which color would you like, Mr. Golden?”

“Black and white, the traditional colors,” I muttered. The lady suggested me a rack of suits and I took the first one my hands caught, thanking her before storming towards Thomas. I tugged on his arm.

“Let’s go.”

He turned towards me, surprised. “Oh, hey Eli,” he said. “Where to?”

“To the changing room.”

“You need help changing?” he asked quizzically.

What did I even see in him?!

“Hello, Mr. Golden,” greeted- I glanced at her name tag. Sophia. Yes, read her name in a tone of disgust.

“Hi,” I answered flatly, before tugging harder on Thomas’s arm. “Let’s go.”

I knew Thomas was about to object, so I quickly said, “Please, Thomas?”

He blinked in surprise before looking away, running a quick hand through his chestnut hair. “Fine,” he muttered.

He said his goodbyes with Sophia before following me to the changing rooms. The man who led us to the cabinet suggested we use separate cabinets, but I told him that Thomas didn’t even know how to tie a tie and that we could share one. I pulled the curtains and ignored Thomas’s gaze.

“I saw you writing something for her.”

He shrugged. “She asked me to write down all the brand names I knew because it was obvious I wasn’t familiar with many of them.” I didn’t answer. “Are you mad?” he asked.

“No,” I growled, picking up the sweater I chose earlier.

“You’re definitely mad.” I could hear the grin in his voice.

“I said-”

Thomas wrapped his arms around me, his chest pressing against my back while his lips dipped closer towards my ear. I stiffened at his touch.

“Li-ar,” he teased, his lips brushing against my earlobe. A shiver traveled down my spine and I held my breath.

“I’m not-” but my voice hitched when I felt him pressing his body against mine. I spun around, pushing him away. “You were flirting with Sophia.”

He cocked a brow. “You’re the one who told me to get up and not embarrass you.”

“Yes, but I didn’t tell you to flirt,” I huffed. Even to my ears, I sounded spoiled. And I knew that Thomas was probably just striking a conversation to kill time, but it still annoyed me.

Thomas cupped my face in his hands, stopping my trail of thoughts. He pulled me closer, looking straight into my eyes.

“I wasn’t flirting,” he stated. “As crazy as this may sound, the only person I’d flirt with is the stubborn, rich snob standing in front of me right now.”

I didn’t answer.

“So are you done being angry?” he asked.

“Maybe.”

“Good,” he smiled, pulling away. I was getting the feeling that Thomas and I now knew how to deal with each other’s temper now. We used to argue and it’d take us days to resolve our anger, but now, we’ve found ways to untangle our annoyance. It actually gave me hope that we wouldn’t be disastrous if we were to be in a relationship.

“Thomas?” I asked. “What are we?”

“Thomas and rich snob.”

I glared at him and he raised his hands as a sign of innocence.

"Alright, fine," he said. "Rich Snob and Thomas."

Impossible. Thomas was absolutely impossible.

“I’m serious," I said, rolling my eyes but smiled.

“I thought I made it obvious in the car how much I disliked you.”

“You won’t cheat on me then?”

“How bad did Steven hurt you?” he asked, genuinely sounding worried. He parted my hands to stop me from fiddling with my fingers and squeezed them gently in his big, rough palms. “No, Eli, I won’t cheat on you.”

I bit my lower lip, finally looking into his soft, brown eyes, feeling my heart race inside my chest.

“What about you? Are you really okay being with someone who can’t spoil you with clothes and who doesn’t live in a mansion?”

It did, but not enough for me to stop liking Thomas, which was surprising because I always imagined myself with someone as rich, if not, richer than me. Anyone who couldn’t meet my financial expectations was an immediate elimination to my eyes.

But as always, Thomas was an exception. How he made me feel couldn’t be bought with money or objects.

“I’m rich enough to spoil the both of us,” I said. “So hurry up and ask me.”

“Ask you what?”

“Ask me out,” I said impatiently.

Thomas smiled, but I could see his cheeks turn pink.

“You’re so dramatic,” he laughed, pulling me closer. “Eli fucking Golden, will you do me the honor of going out with me?”

“Thomas ugly Klence, I’m feeling considerate, so yes, I will go out with you.”

He smiled before pressing his lips against mine.

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A/N: Please don't forget to leave a vote 🍑

So um, we might have to organize a wedding for these two. Who wants to be invited? 🙋‍♂️🙋‍♀️

Just a heads up, but I'm going to be the priest who names them husband and husband 👼 I'm going to need some flower boys/girls, a best man, a ring boy, a wedding cake, all of those fancy things. Chop, chop, Homies, we don't have much time!👬