“Nuns and cool kids. Stop dodging the question, princess.” He leans forward and puts his arms on the table. Marty reaches forward and places both of his hands on top of mine and pats me.
“Uh, there was no question.”
He cocks his head to the side. “Avery, are you seriously going to make me say it. Fine, the blank look on your face is enough. Are you going back to work this weekend?” He slips his hands back.
I nod. “Yeah, Black wants me to come in tonight. I think she’s going to kill me and leave me in the alley. She sounds pissed. I’m not really sure why.”
“You’re a high-maintenance pain in the ass, that’s why. Every time she gives you another chance, you screw it up. It’s like you’re doing it on purpose.”
“I am not! I want this job. I need this job.”
He studies me for a moment. “You really don’t mind the idea of it being some random guy this time?” I mind. I mind a lot, but it’s the best I can do. It’s like he can read my mind. Marty leans forward and lowers his voice, “Then, don’t do it. Quit.”
“What? Did you hit your head? I can’t quit. I’m going to get hit with a ton of hospital bills, plus my regular stuff. My car is totaled. I don’t have enough money to replace it and eat. It’s not like I have a choice, Marty.”
He sighs and watches me for a moment. “Then, tell me how I can help.”
“I don’t think you can, not unless you want to go shopping again. I have to but a slutty outfit tomorrow. No more wholesome girl stuff. Mel isn’t around tonight. She took a midweek client. You want to come?” Marty’s eyes drop to the table. He looks at my hands and seems like he’s lost in his thoughts. “It’ll be the same as last time, well, without Mel calling you names.”
I realize that I want him to come. Marty is one of the people that puts me at ease, and this stuff with Black has me strung out. I don’t want a new client. I want Sean, but I can’t have what I want. Besides, Sean probably had a different girl every day this week. They’re probably all tied up under his bed.
Marty touches the back of my hand. He trails his finger over my smooth skin. The touch pulls me from my thoughts. I look up at his face, into those dark eyes. “I’ll come. Anything for you, Avery. You know that.”
I let out a rush of air. I didn’t realize I was so tense about everything. I slip out of the booth and go around to his side. I slide in next to him and give him a hug. He doesn’t hug me back. Instead he puts his arm behind my neck and rests it along the back of the booth.
Marty pushes the rest of his pie toward me. “Here, finish it.”
I release him and sit up. I devour the rest of the pie like I haven’t eaten in weeks. My life is finally getting under control again.
CHAPTER 9
“What about this one?” Marty asks, pulling out a tiny hanger with a red string on it. Seriously, it’s a string. I don’t even know what it is. A bottom? A bra? A shirt?
I walk over and touch it, then look up at him. Leaning in close, I ask, “What is it?”
He laughs. “I don’t know. I was hoping you knew.”
We both giggle quietly and put it back. I’m in one of the shops that Miss Black said to buy my lingerie in, but I don’t know what I want. It’s weird. Last time I did this, I thought of Sean and bought things that I wanted him to see me in. This time, I don’t even know who I’m going to be with. I guess I should pick out things for me, but I’m not really into it.
Marty wanders away, browsing racks. He picks up something white and I shake my head. I’m not making that mistake again. I tell him about the rules and he nods and wanders off. When I turn around, I see a red satin bra that seems cut so low that it wouldn’t contain my girls. I lift the hanger and hold it up.
A salesgirl comes over. “Do you like it? That’s one of our bestsellers.” I turn around. The salesgirl is a little taller than me, wearing a stunning blue dress that makes her hair look like gold. She’s smiling at me. “Would you like to try it on?”
I nod, “I think so. It seems a little low in front.”
“It’s supposed to be.” She smiles at me and must recognize the blank look on my face, because she explains. “It’s a hybrid shelf and peek-a-boo bra. It holds you up, creates beautiful cl**vage, but is still revealing. The panty you had before is the matching bottom.”
“The string?”
She nods and picks up the red string. “It wraps around the side, after you step into it. Then, tie it on the hip.” She selects pieces that are my size. “Is there anything else you’d like to try?”
I glance around. “I don’t know.” Where’d Marty go?
“Is there something in particular that you’re looking for?” I tell her something sexy and she makes a few more selections for me.
On the way back to the dressing room, I see Marty. He falls in step with me. “Try this one too.” He hands me something blue. I nod and take it.
The salesgirl doesn’t say anything about Marty following me back. I think about that red set and worry about him seeing me in it. I don’t really care about him seeing me in my underwear, but exposed n**ples with those bottoms—I don’t know. Gay or not, that’s a little bit overexposed for my preference.
The salesgirl hangs my items in a room and leaves. Marty finds a chair and sits down across from my changing room. “Okay, show me the blue one first.”
That’s the set he picked out. It’s also the one with the most coverage. No problem, although I know Black will shoot down the bottoms. I have to show off my ass from now on. I’m not a virgin anymore.
I slip out of my clothes and pull on a blue satin set. It is pretty, but it’s too plain for this. I crack the door and call Marty over. He slips into the dressing room with me. “Turn around, let me see.” Marty nods as he rubs his chin. “It’s too old school for this, but it is pretty.”
I look at my h*ps in the mirror. Old school is right. The boobs are kind of pointy. I laugh. “I look like Marilyn Monroe.”
“If they were just a bit pointier, I would have said Madonna.”
“Okay, this one is out.”
Marty cracks the door to step outside. I glance over his shoulder and see a familiar face standing in the store just outside the dressing room. Bright blue eyes catch my gaze. My heart hammers harder.
Sean.
He holds my gaze for a moment and then blinks like he didn’t just see Marty come out of my dressing room. Marty doesn’t notice him, and I don’t want him to. I try to get rid of Marty quickly. The last thing I want is the two of them fighting back here, and since they both seem to hate each other, it’s pretty much a sure thing.
“Marty, would you mind heading to the second floor to scout out a dress? I’m pretty sure I’m going to want the red panty set and I’m not showing you my ass.”
He chuckles. “Sure, babe. What color?”
“Red.” I blurt it out and shut the door. Marty’s feet disappear from sight. I lean against the door. My shoulders tense as I listen for the altercation, but it doesn’t come.
I sigh and push off the door. I don’t know where Sean went, but at least he had the decency to not make a scene. It probably looked like Marty was doing me in the dressing room. My cheeks burn. I wouldn’t want anyone to think that. Then, I realize that everyone probably thinks that. I’m so slow. I palm my face and shake my head.
Damn it. I’m so stupid. I guess it doesn’t matter, but I don’t want word getting back to Black that I was doing some guy in the dressing room. I need to keep my personal life separate. I wonder if that’s possible as I slip out of the panty set and try on another.
I turn and glance at my h*ps and then my butt. My boobs look okay, but I don’t like it. I try on the last two normal sets of lingerie. I stare at myself in the mirror wondering if it matters what I wear. Who cares if I like it or not?
I glance at the red set still hanging on the wall.
I slip out of my clothes and reach for it. I step into the string bottoms and tie a bow at my hip.
Seriously? A string doesn’t change the fact that this is commando. The guy is going to get an eyeful as soon as I’m out of my dress. As I’m taking the top off the hanger, the door creaks opens slowly.
“I’m in here.” I can’t decide if I should cover myself or stop the door. My hands wave around like I’m dancing and Sean slips into the room.
“I know.” The grin on his face is so wide. I twitch and cover my br**sts with my arm. When I catch myself in the mirror, I groan.
He smirks. “You look like you could use some help.”
“I don’t need your help. Go away.” I want to push him out the door, but then I’d have to flash my boobs at him and I don’t want to. “Scat.”
“Scat? Seriously? You’re going to throw me out, but you let him in?” Sean’s tone is light, playful. He glances around the room and walks over to the things that I’ve already tried on. They are in a pile on the padded bench against the wall.
“He’s gay—”
“Keep telling yourself that—”
“Oh my god. You are unbelievable. You’re jealous of a g*y guy.” I tilt my head to the side and give him my best are-you-f**king-serious face, but I’m nak*d—so he laughs.
“Damn, you’re cute.” Sean takes the red bra from where I dropped it on the floor and looks at it. “I’m not jealous. I just don’t like liars and I don’t want anyone to hurt you. Turn around.”
“Sean—” I try to protest but he turns me toward the mirror. I don’t drop my arm.
“I’ve already seen and had them, Avery. Drop your arm.” Sean is standing behind me with the bra in his hands. I’m stubborn. I feel my spine straightening. I don’t want to do it. I don’t want him here, but part of me does. Part of me likes this. Part of me is obviously defective.
“Fine,” I bite back, “but this didn’t happen. My friends hate your guts and I don’t want Black to know I’ve been talking to you.”
Sean gives me a lopsided grin as he reaches around me and slips the bra on. His fingers brush against my skin as he fastens it in back. Involuntarily, I suck in a sharp breath at the light touch. I’m staring at myself in the mirror, with Sean—who is fully dressed and beyond beautiful—standing behind me. My stomach curls and I feel hot. I glance away, hoping he doesn’t notice, but now I’m noticing everything. I’m breathing too much, too loudly. I don’t know where to put my hands, but they feel stupid dangling at my sides. But the worst part is this bra. The front holds me up and adds a cup size, which makes my taut n**ples glaringly obvious.
Sean looks up into the mirror, but he doesn’t step back. I feel his breath on my skin and resist the urge to climb on him. Because that’s what I want to do. With him here, looking at me like that, and standing so close—oh God—I want to touch him and feel his skin under my fingertips. I wish he wasn’t so f**ked up. Or maybe, I wish I was more messed up so I could let him do what he wanted, but I can’t. I shiver thinking about it.