Chapter 147 | Friends & Purchases
"Friends?"
Dexter eyed her suspiciously. He had a feeling that Rachel’s interest wasn’t purely platonic and why was her cheeks a bit flushed?
But then again, he couldn’t control how others felt. He could only control his own actions.
"Okay," he said finally. "Just friends then."
Rachel’s face lit up with a brilliant smile. "All right, friend."
Then she blinked her eyes innocently. "Since we’re just friends, can I get your contact information?" She held up her phone.
Dexter’s eyes narrowed.
"My number?"
Rachel nodded naturally.
"Friends exchange phone numbers, don’t they? Besides, if anything changes within the Hero Association, I can let you know immediately. And... I can also ask how you’re doing every now and then."
Dexter looked at her.
Rachel puffed out her cheeks.
"It’s just your phone number."
He stared at her for another second before finally giving a helpless shrug.
"...Fine."
He recited his phone number. Rachel typed it into her device double-checking each digit before saving.
"Got it," she said, sliding her phone back into her blazer pocket. She looked up at him with a warm smile. "I’ll text you later, friend."
Dexter nodded. "Goodbye, Rachel."
"Goodbye, Dexter."
He turned and walked away to his car.
•••
As Dexter exited the Hero Association’s main gate, the guards saluted him once more. He nodded rode out.
He didn’t head home immediately.
Instead, he pulled up his phone’s GPS and searched for the nearest commercial district. He needed to purchase renovation supplies like paint, tools, fixtures, and building materials. He also needed a few things too.
The GPS displayed a large shopping mall about ten minutes from the Association. Dexter set the route in his vehicle screen as he pressed the pedal.
As he drove, his phone buzzed.
He glanced at the screen.
’[New Message from: Rachel]’
> ’Hey, friend. Drive safe. 😊’
Dexter stared at the message for a long moment. Then he shook his head, pocketed the phone, and focused on the road.
He had lots of things to do, the last thing he needed was another complication.
But as he drove toward the mall, a small, involuntary smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
’Friends.’
He’d believe it when he saw it.
...
Dexter drove to one of the city’s largest commercial mall.
He parked the ordinary looking SUV in the parking lot.
Then as he entered he saw a few trolleys. He calculated then grabbed two of them.
Then he blinked his eyes, recalculated and then went to grab two more, making four and then began his shopping.
He started with the hardware section.
The house needed extensive work. Mira had cracked the bathroom wall tiles during her spectral arm mishap, so replacement tiles were first on the list. He selected premium ceramic tiles in a soft, neutral tone that would complement the bathroom’s existing color scheme.
From there, the list grew rapidly. He loaded the first trolley with multiple buckets of premium interior wall paint, warm cream for the living room, light gray for the bedrooms, and pure white for the ceilings. He also selected exterior weather-resistant paint in a clean, modern color for the outside walls.
To complete the painting work, he picked up paint rollers, brushes of various sizes, extension poles, paint trays, painter’s tape, protective plastic sheets, sandpaper, scrapers, a folding ladder, gloves, and safety goggles.
Since the wallpaper in several rooms had begun peeling with age, he selected several nice rolls of wallpaper with simple, modern patterns, clean, tasteful designs. He also grabbed wallpaper adhesive and trimming tools.
He moved to the electrical and plumbing section next. Replacement light bulbs, new electrical switches, new curtains, curtain rods, screws, nails, wall anchors, wood filler, silicone sealant, a heavy-duty drill set, screwdrivers, hammers, measuring tape, levels, wrenches, and replacement plumbing fittings all went into the second trolley.
For the backyard, he picked up several pieces of treated lumber to repair the old swing chair that Selene loved.
The chains were corroded, the wooden slats were splintering, and the frame itself was beginning to bow.
He also bought replacement chains, bolts, and weather-resistant wood stain.
Remembering the leaking kitchen roof, he purchased roofing sealant, replacement roofing sheets, insulation material, and waterproof coating.
Dexter sighed as he walked back to admire the various tools here. he washed he could take them all back home and test them and also figure out their uses!
Sadly he couldn’t afford to spend so much money.
The garden section was closed so he thought for a bit and picked up a few flower pots, bags of garden soil, and several flowering plants, marigolds, lavender, and a small hydrangea bush to make the front yard feel more welcoming. The bungalow’s exterior was dull and unwelcoming. A few plants wouldn’t transform it into a mansion, but they would at least make it look nice.
The third trolley was for necessities.
The massage oil he had been using on Mira was almost finished. He picked up two new bottles of premium grade massage oil, soothing, and can easily transmit mana from finger tips to the muscles.
Then his eyes caught something on a nearby shelf.
’Massage Glove 3000 Pro.’
Dexter picked up the box and read the description.
The glove was a device designed for deep tissue massage, with multiple intensity settings and vibration modes.
It claimed to be 300% more efficient than ordinary hands at penetrating deep into muscle tissue, stimulating blood flow, and accelerating nerve recovery. It was expensive—$8,000—but the potential benefit for Mira’s physical therapy was significant.
He added it to the trolley.
He also picked up extra electric toothbrushes, a new set for the girls and a replacement for himself.
He grabbed shaving cream and a high-quality shaving kit for his growing beard and mustache, which had begun to itch annoyingly.
’That should be all right?’
Dexter pondered and shrugged as he walked towards the checkout. But then, he passed the food section and he immediately thought of Lyra.
’I should probably get a few things for her.’