Deven turned, not realizing Kennedy had stopped in front of a nearby window display. She was pointing at one particular mannequin, dressed in a navy blazer and high-waisted short set. If she wasn’t mistaken, Deven could’ve sworn she’d seen a similar outfit in the slew of clothes back in Kennedy’s bedroom-closet. But she shrugged anyway. Taking that as permission, Kennedy disappeared into the store, leaving Deven to wander to one of the nearby kiosks to waste some time.

For it to be nearing Valentine’s Day, she wasn’t at all feeling in a lover’s mood. The atmosphere was more annoying than stimulating, with gift baskets and stuffed animals clutching oversized hearts bearing those cliche expressions that reeked of procrastination. Deven fingered the ribbon attached to a balloon bouquet that danced in clusters above the kiosk stand. It would’ve been cute if it hadn’t been so damn cheesy. But she would’ve given anything for Justin to be this cheesy.

“What can I get for you?” A woman, obviously working the booth, shuffled over with an expectant smile.

Deven opened her mouth to respond, pausing for just a moment when she noticed a man staring. He was across the hall, not too close as to be suspicious but not far away enough to blend in with the other patrons. His skin was dark like lacquer, and he was tall and slender with a head full of locs braided into a single cord down the center of his back. He was dressed a little too elaborately for a leisurely stroll at the mall, Deven noticed, the sleeves and turtleneck of a cream sweater poking from underneath his tweed jacket. If Deven wasn’t so apprehensive, she would’ve been initially attracted to him. But there was something about the way he looked at her, glanced away, then looked at her again that made her a little uneasy.

It wasn’t until Mr. Mysterious bent the corner for the escalators that Deven redirected her attention back to the kiosk lady. “Sorry,” she said, though she wasn’t exactly sure what she was apologizing for. The man was long gone but she still felt like his eyes were on her. Deven turned just as Kennedy strolled up with two shopping bags swinging from the crook of her arm.

“Hey,” she greeted, sliding her eyes to the stand at Deven’s back. “What are you getting? Something for Justin?”

Deven dismissed the question with a wave of her hand. “No, I was just looking. Let’s go.”

They started walking, Deven navigating them in the direction of the food court. “So, what did you buy?”

“Just a few things,” Kennedy said with a shrug. “You should’ve come in there. I saw some really cute things for you.”

“Girl, I don’t need no more clothes.”

“You only live once.” Kennedy laughed and held up the bags as if to affirm her statement.