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The next morning, Benji awoke to the sound of the doorbell. He stretched and looked around, momentarily confused by the unfamiliar surroundings. The events of the previous night came flooding back to him, and he couldn't help but smile at the memory of Joseph's surprise gift and their night out. He threw on a pair of sweatpants and padded downstairs to find Char, Bella, and Gabby already dressed and ready to go.
"What's up?" Benji asked, yawning and rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
"We're heading to the mall," Char said, her voice filled with excitement. She bounced on the balls of her feet, her ponytail swinging behind her. "You coming with?"
Benji looked at her, his mind still a little foggy from the night before. "Yeah," he said with a grin, stretching his arms above his head. "Sounds like fun."
He found Joseph in the kitchen, already dressed and sipping on a cup of coffee. "Hey," he said, "I'm heading out with the girls to the mall."
Joseph looked up, his eyes assessing. "Be safe," he said, his voice a low rumble. "Take my card." He tossed a sleek black credit card onto the counter. "Get whatever you want."
Benji's smile grew. "Thanks, man," he said, snatching the card.
Joseph nodded. "Just be careful," he reiterated. "Take the Escalade." He glanced at his watch, a gleaming Rolex . "I've got a session at the studio with the guys. Don't wait up."
The mall was bustling with life, the cacophony of shoppers and music from various stores a stark contrast to the quiet of the apartment. Char, Bella, and Gabby dragged Benji from one high-end store to another, their laughter and chatter a siren's song to the luxury items that beckoned from gleaming display cases and neatly folded racks. They tried on clothes, compared prices, and gossiped about the latest celebrity scandals. Benji found himself caught up in their excitement, the weight of the world momentarily lifted from his shoulders.
As they wove through the crowded aisles, the girls couldn't help but whisper about Joseph. "You got him wrapped around your finger, don't you?" Char teased, nudging Benji with her elbow.
Bella rolled her eyes. "You don't know the half of it," she said, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Remember that one time he put that guy in the hospital for touching you?"
Benji flushed, the memory of the bar fight rushing back to him. "That was different," he protested. "The guy had it coming."
"Different or not," Char said with a knowing smile, "You're his weak spot, Benj. He'd go to war for you."
"You guys are exaggerating," Benji said, trying to downplay it, but the warmth in his chest suggested they weren't too far from the truth. He had always known that Joseph was fiercely protective of him, but the depth of that loyalty sometimes left him feeling both loved and slightly overwhelmed.
