Control Yourself

The next day, Forrest took Shae out to do what every woman – whether they like to admit it or not – loves to do; shopping.

“This is a bit unnecessary,” Shae grumbled from behind the change room door as she slipped on a buttercup yellow, sweetheart style sundress. Forrest’s feet were visible from under the change room door as she leaned against the wall across from the stall, wiggling his toes against his sandals.

“Me coming with you?” He asked.

Shae sighed.

“You should be training,” She told him.

“Your safety and happiness is a little more important to me than training,” Forrest retorted in a matter-of-factly tone. “Besides, it’s not like my skills are going anywhere.”

Shae rolled her eyes, emerging from the change room, placing her hands on her hips. Forrest smirked.

“Buy it,” He told her. Shae groaned.

“You’ve told me to buy everything,” She reminded him. “I’m not going to have the money to pay for it all.”

“You may not have the money, but I do,” Forrest grinned. “So, go try on some more stuff.”

Shae’s jaw dropped.

“Forrest Griffin – I forbid you to buy anything for me—“

As Shae lectured, Forrest pushed himself off the wall, stepping forward, gently pushing Shae back into the change room.

“Okay, honey,” He beamed. “We’ll stop there next.”

Shae glared at him, closing the door of the stall, stripping out of the dress and pulling back on her own denim shorts. She then pulled on the tangerine coloured baby doll shirt she had picked out.

As she was brushing out the wrinkles in the light fabric, she couldn’t help but over hear a female squeal.

“Are you Forrest Griffin?”

Shae rolled her eyes, adjusting the straps before unlatching the door, stepping out of the change room.

“Yeah, that’s me,” Forrest chuckled, his eyes darting over to Shae. His smile widened. “Buy it.”

“Can I like, get a picture with you?” The girl pressed. Shae finally glanced over, catching sight of a beautiful, olive-skinned woman with dark chocolate curls and electric blue eyes. She gulped as the girl dug through her hand bag for her phone, adjusting the setting to ‘camera’.

“Uh sure,” Forrest said with a shrug. “Shae, do you mind taking it?” He asked. Shae sighed, the girl handing her the phone. She thanked Shae softly, taking her place next to Forrest. Shae made sure not to crop either one of them out of the picture. Forrest wrapped his arm around the girl’s shoulder, flashing a swoon-worthy smile.

Shae took the picture, handing the phone back to the girl as she thanked Forrest and Shae yet again. As she tucked her phone away in her bag, the girl cleared her throat.

“So, are you his girlfriend?” She asked Shae.

Shae hesitated.

“Yep,” Forrest said for her, without second thought. He placed his hand on the small of Shae’s back. Shae couldn’t help but raise her eyebrows, looking over at Forrest.

“I am?” She asked absent-mindedly. Forrest chuckled.

“You are,”

“Since when?” Shae yet again blurted.

“Since now,” Forrest said softly.

The woman gave the two a quizzical stare before thanking them one last time, heading out of the change room area.

“You sure?” Shae asked, her eyebrows now furrowing. Forrest grinned, planting a small kiss on her forehead.

“More than sure – now, go try on some more clothes,” Forrest urged. Shae scoffed.

“If you think by calling me your girlfriend, I’ll let you pay for some of my clothes – you’re wrong, Griffin,” She retorted as she backed into the change room, her hands firmly on her hips.

“No, calling you my girlfriend means now I’m entitled to selectively listen to you and your rules,” Forrest smirked, mimicking Shae’s stance, placing his hands on his hips. “So, go try something on babe, ‘cuz I got this.”

*

It was a little after lunch time when Shae decided she wanted to browse through the Victoria’s Secret boutique. Forrest groaned, clutching his stomach.

“As much as I want to go, I’m hungry,” He whined. Shae rolled her eyes.

“Well, go get some food, and I’ll meet you in the food court,” She suggested, shrugging her shoulders. Forrest sulked.

“Are you sure you’ll be okay?” He asked. Shae couldn’t help but smile.

“Forrest, I’ll be fine,” She assured, patting his arm. “Go get something to eat.”

Forrest pecked her cheek then headed off towards the food court. Shae sighed, turning on her heel, heading into the boutique, hoping to pick up some decent sales considering she was being, literally, weighed down by the result of her other purchases. Shae staggered through the narrow aisles, accidentally brushing against a few other women looking at undergarments.

“Sorry,” She mumbled, finally setting down her handfuls of bags to look at a few clearance bras. She sighed, trying to find her size.

After a moment, someone walked over to her, clearing their throat lightly. Shae looked over, noticing a clean shaven man with an expensive looking suit. She gulped. A few ladies from beside her began whispering excitedly.

“How tall are you, miss?” He asked. Shae hesitated.

“About five-eight,” She said softly. The man smirked.

“You’re absolutely gorgeous, has anyone ever told you that?” He complimented, making Shae – as well as a few of the other women around her, even – blush. “Have you ever considered modeling?”

Shae gulped.

“Uhm, well, not really,” She stammered. “But, I mean, I’m willing to try new things.”

The man chuckled, pulling a business card from the pocket of his suit.

“Meet me at my studio for a photo shoot,” He instructed Shae. “I’m looking for a fresh face.”

Shae accepted the card he handed to her, scanning it over quickly.

“You want me to model for Ford?!” She gasped, looking up from the card in disbelief. The man chuckled yet again. Though Shae hadn’t considered modeling as a professional, she had definitely heard of Ford Models – the empire of beauty based in New York.

“I know beauty when I see it,” He said, smirking, causing Shae to yet again flush. “I look forward to working with you…” He trailed off.

“Oh, it’s Shae,” Shae said, smiling widely. “Shae Dawson.”

“Wonderful,” He said, brushing out the non-existent crease in his suit. “My studio; Wednesday.”

Shae nodded obediently, beaming as she heaved her bags back together, rushing out of the store towards the food court.

It was almost too good to be true.