Page 100 of Something Cheeky

As long as things were good with him and Zoe, then everything else would fall into place.

Chapter 43

TJ had run ahead of her down to the costume shop, so Zoe stopped at the bottom of the stairwell to reread Derek’s texts to her. She was grinning like a fool and she didn’t care.

As miffed as she’d been with him after their conversation yesterday about scaling down the costumes, she’d had a tough time falling asleep without him next to her. Mr. Bobbins would only put up with her snuggles for so long before leaving for his cushiony cat bed.

The costume shop was thrumming with the same exciting energy as when she’d left to watch the stumble through. The happy sounds of a well-running workroom filled her ears: the whirring sewing machines, the snipping of scissors through fabric, and the whooshing of steam from the irons.

Her staff and Prestige’s sewists worked together as if they’d known one another for years. Everyone had gelled almost immediately, which impressed the usually stoic Shawn.

“Oh, wow,” Zoe whispered. A craftsperson had left the finished heels on Zoe’s workstation. Now that the show had been renamed, they’d upgraded T?m’s brocaded slippers to brocaded power heels.

“Zoe,” TJ called as he walked up beside her. “Damn, those heels look like they came brocaded!”

“Right? Jules did a fabulous job on these.” Zoe picked them up to get a closer look. If she’d been alone in the shop, she might have tried them on. She and Katie Mai wore the same size.

“Can you take a look at this pattern placement before we cut it?” TJ nudged her elbow.

He guided her toward the back table, where a very expensive piece of matching brocade had been spread out and covered with patterns drafted onto kraft paper. It was a little quieter than the front of the shop, where all the sewing machines were.

Zoe ran her hand over the luxurious golden silk they’d sourced from the Fashion District in New York. Gold was a color reserved for Vietnamese royalty. T?m and the Emperor would have coordinating costumes after their wedding.

“Shouldn’t you have Shawn double check? He’s got way more experience in matching patterns.” She didn’t want to be responsible for screwing up the fabric. They’d stretched the budget too far already.

“There’s something you need to hear,” TJ whispered. “Join me in the fitting room in two minutes. The main one.”

She nodded in acknowledgment, though she was unsure why he was being covert. This wasn’t like him.

“Do you still want me to make sure the patterns line up?” she asked.

“Please, but first I need a bio break.” He tilted his head toward the fitting room outside the shop and mouthed,Two minutes.

For 120 seconds more or less, Zoe surveyed the paper patterns pinned to the silk brocade. TJ wasn’t formally trained but his eye was impeccable. The pattern placement looked great, though one wouldn’t know for sure until the overcoat was sewn together.

Maybe TJ would come work at Something Cheeky after their gig here was complete. He’d be great in the workroom and on the sales floor. The idea of not working beside him every day made her sad. His snark and slightly chaotic energy had made all their long hours flow with ease.

Two minutes had to be up by now. Zoe was worried about herstaff judging her for leaving the shop so soon after returning, but they were all focused on their work.

Right. The main fitting room was where TJ told her to come. Her breath hitched as she stopped in front of the closed door. The last time she’d been close to this door had been the afternoon that Greg had walked in on her and Derek. She’d moved all subsequent costume fittings to the smaller room, because it was a bit warmer for the actors as they had to change in and out of their costumes. At least that’s what she’d told herself.

TJ flung the door open and popped his head out. He looked both ways down the hallway before pulling her inside.

“What is going on?” Zoe exclaimed. She froze.

Danny and Katie Mai were sitting on the vanity where actors sat to put on their makeup. They were lit by the halo of warm yellow lightbulbs around the mirror behind them. Their skin was still pink from the stumble through, and Katie Mai’s hairline held a glimmer of sweat from the dance numbers.

“What are you two doing here? Your fittings aren’t scheduled till later this week.” Zoe tried to remember this week’s schedule.

The costumes were running a little behind, but not so much that she’d lost track of the fitting schedule. Shawn would’ve reminded her. Zoe checked Heather’s calendar on her phone.

“That’s not why we’re here,” Danny said somberly. He exchanged worried glances with Katie Mai.

“Something’s wrong. You hate your costumes? Oh God, we don’t have time to redo them.” Zoe paced the tiny room.

Her mind raced through time and fabric calculations. Both of their costumes were 75 percent complete, but if she pulled a couple of all-nighters then maybe, just maybe—

“Zoe, you’re overthinking again.” TJ placed his hands on her shoulders to stop her. “Sit down.”

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