Page 118 of Honeysuckle
Josh shoved his hands into his pockets and followed me out across the street to the sidewalk without saying anything. His surrender was enough of a yes for me and I opened the door to the shop for him.
“The shop owner is obsessed with Cael. It’s hilarious.” I moved past Josh and into the store, where it smelled like fabric and leather. It wasn’t large inside, but the walls were lined with coats and shirts of every color. The dark walls were rich and made the entire place feel like a gentlemen's club without the smoke.
“Mr. Tucker.” Mr. Malik came out from behind the store room curtain with lengths of dark purple fabric lying in his arms. The funny, small man was a ball of energy that only rivaled Cael’s. He wore a dark dress shirt and suspenders, his smile stretching from ear to ear.
“He’s been in the store for two minutes,” I laughed, looking down at the tailor's arms.
“I picked these out for him two weeks ago.” Mr. Malik winked. "He’ll be the center of attention.”
“He always is,” Josh grumbled.
“Correct. This is our new pitcher?” Mr. Malik set the fabric down and gave Josh a small bow of welcome. I saw the surprise on his face when the tailor didn’t offer him a handshake and smiled. Josh scowled at me as Van and Cael dropped something in the back of the store and took the attention away from us.
I turned to him. "Mr. Malik’s store burned down a few years ago, you remember that massive fire, it took four trucks to get it out?” I asked and Josh nodded.
“That fire took out half the block,” Josh said.
“They had to pull him out of it; most of his body is covered in burns, hands, neck… he doesn’t really like contact, like you, but different,” I explained. “He’ll respect your space.”
Josh’s eyes drifted back from the commotion to mine. He took a deep breath, his hands flexing in his pockets. “So that’s why we're here?” He finally asked.
“We always come here, they’ll fit everything for you and send it over to the Nest the week before. Mr. Malik and you sharing trauma is just a coincidence.” I shrugged and turned around to find Van holding up some suits for me to look at.
“No,” Mr. Malik cried. "No, no!” He waved his arms. “They have to complement one another!”
Van scowled and put the suits back.
“Do you remember the sheer red shirt Mr. Cody wore at his first Gala?” Mr. Malik asked.
“Don’t call me that,” Cael hollered from somewhere in the store. "It’s Cael, I’m not sixty!”
Mr. Malik rolled his eyes and waved his hand at me to remember.
“Uh yeah, I think so?” I said, I was so drunk that year I couldn’t even remember what I was wearing, let alone Cael but it was better just to go with it.
“Good, I made you something.” He clapped his hands together and ushered me to the back of the shop. Josh followed nervously, his eyes dragging over all the suits and racks as we walked. “Look!” He held up a sheer dark blue shirt with pride. “We can match it with a jacket,” Mr. Malik nodded, and I reached out to rub the fabric between my fingers.
It was soft and thin under my touch and I could see my skin through it. "You think I can pull this off?,” I laughed gently looking up to Mr. Malik and his frantic nodding. “Alright,” I conceded and took the hanger from him.
“Now.” He looked at Josh.
“I’d like a real shirt if possible,” he chuckled nervously and Mr. Malik obliged, making Josh follow him through the back and away from me.
“I’m so excited to see your perky nipples all night,” Cael teased in passing, his fingers reaching out to twist at my chest.
“Yeah, you and all the old ladies.” I slapped his hand away and held the shirt up to the light. It was something I had never even thought about wearing before, and I wasn’t even sure I could muster the confidence, but I was turning a new leaf. It was time to be a little louder.
“Sit, sit!” Mr. Malik returned after some time and shooed the three of us to the couch in the center of the shop. “He’s very grouchy, Mr. Tucker,” he commented. “Not in the least impressed that you called ahead,” he laughed.
“He’s all bark.” I laughed as I settled onto the couch.
“What did you do?” Van asked.
“I asked Mr. Malik to put together some new dress clothes for him…” I said, looking over at them both staring at me like I was nuts. “He wears the same shirt every game, I’m sick of looking at it.”
“Sure.” Cael rolled his eyes and doubled back against the couch in laughter.
Before I could argue with Cael, Josh appeared from the back with Mr. Malik on his tail to push the pace. I could tell instantly that he hated every second of it.
