Shopping is something everyone likes to do, it's even therapeutic to some, for me it's normal, I'm neither bothered nor enthusiastic.

We were in the car when Derick pulled out his phone, unlocked it and handed it to me.

I gave him a questioning look and he told me to open the 'Notes' application, when I did there was a list of clothing, neatly put into sections and what each was meant for.

"Hiking boots?"

"It's a surprise"

"What isn't?" I chuckled bitterly.

He raised an eyebrow at my tone then continued driving.

"Why don't you just drop me off at the mall and I'll just buy whatever I need"

"I'm paying for everything today, I hope you know that"

I suspected as much.

Typical.

"And why is that?"

"Perks of going on a date with me"

"You're a funny man Derick Reid"

He chuckled and we kept making small talk until we parked in front of the mall.

"You look good by the way, you should braid your hair more"

I felt myself blushing a bit and touching my hair, again I wasn't wearing anything extravagant but I do agree the braids are really cute.

I was wearing skinny black tights and a thigh length, dark green dress shirt.

We walked in and into first store we saw, I looked to see he took out his phone again.

"You've packed clothes only for an entire week right?"

"Yeah..."

"Tell me everything you've packed other than your underwear, not that I mind if you tell me" he smirked.

I gawked at him for a second before ignoring his comment and gave him a list of my suitcase.

"Two pairs of pants, black and denim and the tights that I'm wearing, shirts, two purses, two pairs of shoes, sneakers and heals, a skirt and an evening dress"

"That's it?! We really do need to get you some serious clothes"

"How was I supposed to know you wanted to go to the beach?!"

"I mean, what do you think of when you think of California?!"

"I don't know?! Sun!"

"And what comes with sun?! Beaches!"

I saw someone staring at us weirdly and that's when I noticed we were shouting.

So embarrassing...

"Let's just get this over with"

"Don't girls normally like shopping? Why are you acting so different?"

"I just don't like people in all honesty, I don't mind people but I'd rather be doing something other than shopping"

"Okay, I got your point now let's get started, these clothes aren't going to be bought by themselves" he sighed.

So let me give you a complete summary of the next three hours, it was ten in the morning when we first started and now it's currently 1 PM.

The first store we went into, I noticed the cutest pair of floral tights and instantly Derick was like "I found your size, go try it on"

When I grabbed the pair he was holding, I noticed it was my size and I asked how he knew.

And boy I wish I didn't!

"Your body is very easy to read, I've been hired by a few modeling agencies before I became a CEO, I had asked them how they determine someone's size just by looking at them and they told me you can tell by the scale of their height"

"You used to model?"

"Do you think my fashion sense comes out of thin air?"

After a lot of scavenging we had gathered a pile of clothes all the while woman of all ages were looking at us, which was pretty uncomfortable, I'm not all for attention but I guess I don't blame them, Derick is drool worthy.

When I went towards the changing rooms, he was going to walk in with me.

I quickly put my hand out and stopped him from taking a step further, he looked at me as though I denied him of something and stepped aside and I again stepped in front of him.

"Would you mind stepping out of my way or are you playing some sort of game?"

"Derick, I don't think you noticed but this is the ladies changing room"

"I am well aware of that Julie, so what's the problem we're dating aren't we?"

I sighed.

"No, we're not dating this is a 'trial' date, not a real one, I'm still deciding wether you're a good guy or some asshole"

"I thought we established I'm a 'good guy' and not some asshole" he smirked.

"Well, If you go into a place where women change their clothes, you're an asshole" I stated, raising my brows.

"Got it, but when you get to something nice, come out and show me how it looks"

"Okay"

After doing that for a few more times, we stopped in front of DOLCE & GABBANA, I saw a very beautiful two piece swim suit.

It was the perfect combination between elegant and cute, it was a pink floral pattern that had the right amount of skin but not to much to make me self conscience and I especially love the bottom part.

But the only problem is, it screamed expensive.

I was knocked out of my daze by Derick getting closer to the two piece.

"You don't have to worry about the price, I'm paying, remember?"

"Did I say that out loud?"

That's a surprise.

"No, but your face gives it away"

"I mean it's my fault, this is DOLCE & GABBANA, we could have went shopping at Target or Forever 21, So no big deal plus I didn't have my heart set on it anyway"

Liar, Liar pants on fire.

He walked over to one of the racks and pulled out the two piece and handed it to me.

"I want to see you wearing it"

That sentence alone made me both happy and flustered, I grabbed the bikini and went to the changing rooms to try it on.

When I saw that it fit, I was even happier, the pink complimented my skin tone and the whole thing hugged my figure perfectly, I'm always self conscience about my hips and I never knew why but a complement to myself, I look pretty good.

"Did it fit?" Derick asked the second I walked out.

"Derick, are you calling me fat?"

I raised an eyebrow playfully.

"What? No, why would I ask that?" He looked surprised, making me smirk.

Not the ladies man you thought you were, are you Derick?

"Dude, you don't ask a woman if something fits or not" I chuckled

"One did you just call me dude? And two I was just asking a question, but seriously how did it look?"

I started towards the cashier but turned to look at him.

"Well, you're just going to have to see when we go to the beach" I smirked and added a wink for extra effect.

And here we are, picking at the leftover fries after a delicious unhealthy meal.

Derick had already went ahead and put all the shopping bags in the car so we were free to just roam around the mall.

We got to the ice rinks and I watched people skate I'm not a skater myself but I like to watch it.

"Do you wanna have a go?"

"No, I'm good, I don't like to participate in activities that have a high percentage of spraining your ankle"

"If that's what you want" he chuckled.

From my peripheral vision I saw him rummaging through his pocket and he took out a small gift bag and handed it to me.

"What's this?"

"A present"

"I know it's a present but you already bought me a sh*t ton of stuff, why buy more?"

"Because the second I saw it I thought 'Wow, Julie is already a shining person in my eyes, is this gonna make her glow even more?"

"If you get any cheesier you're gonna smell bad" I chuckled at my own stupid joke.

I opened the little baggie to find three, star shaped diamond hair pins, they were absolutely gorgeous, I couldn't take my eyes off of them for a second.

I saw Derick grab one and stick it on to the braided side of my hair and stuck the other just below it.

"Keep the third one safe, will you?"

"When did you even have time to buy this without me noticing?" I said as I put the third pin in my bag.

"When you were trying clothes on I noticed them, I couldn't decide between this and the floral hair pins but in the end you remind me more of a star"

"Stop being so cheesy"

I lean in and give him a kiss on the cheek, he looked stunned for a second but quickly recovered and before I could pull back he grabs me by the waist and hugs me to him, and honestly, it's warm.

We stay like that for a few minutes but then I looked at the time to see it's almost 3 PM.

"Hey! Aren't you going to take me to the beach?!" I yelled playfully in his ear.

"Yeah I got it, you don't have to yell"

I chuckled and grabbed his hand but he stopped before I could drag him and let go.

I was confused for a moment but then he grabbed my hand and intertwined our fingers.

"Now we can go"

"Can you please stop embarrassing me?" I blushed, sometimes I feel like he's a bit too shameless.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"When are you gonna take off your clothes?"

"In a minute! And did you just whine?! What are you? A baby?"

"But I wanna see you in a bikini" he smirked.

"Somehow you have anything but innocent intentions"

"Let's be honest, who'd have innocent intentions when a very sexy woman is standing in front of them?"

I huffed and started taking off my shirt and then I unbuttoned my new shorts.

"You happy now-"

My breath was caught in my throat as soon as I saw him shirtless, you can tell why he was hired by a number of agencies.

When I got to his face I found out he was checking me out just the same way I was and when he got to my face our eyes connected.

I stared deeply into his blue irises but was pulled out of my daze by him grabbing my hand and again pulling me close so that our chests were touching.

"F*ck, I regret taking you to the beach...

Now that I've seen how you look I don't want anyone else but me to see it, am I wrong to be this possessive?"

I held his face and reconnected our eyes again.

"For this trip I belong only to you"

I normally would never submit to anyone, but I don't mind if it's him.

I shrieked because all of a sudden he picked me up and threw me onto his shoulder.

"Derick Reid! put me down right now or so help me I will kick you really hard in the stomach!"

"I'm getting a great view of your ass right now but okay, I'll put you down sweetheart"

I looked down and noticed he was standing in the water and I knew what was coming next.

The next thing I know, I'm sitting in the water and there, above me, was a laughing Derick that looked like he was about to piss himself from laughing to hard.

"If you think this is funny then you are very wrong! I'll just have to punish you later on" I smirked.

"I look forward to it" he smirked back.

I gestured for him to lean down with my finger and he came closer.

I grabbed his hand and made him also take a dip.

"That was unnecessary"

he said removing a piece of my hair out of my face.

"Oh it was very much necessary plus the water's fine" I chuckled.

And that's how the day went and I had such a great time I hadn't noticed it was getting dark but when I started to feel cold, I agreed we should head back.

"Hey Derick"

"Yeah?"

"I had an amazing time with you today"

"You're not the only one"

⭐️💬

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