Page 171 of The Hookup Situation
“Get out before I call the police,” Patty says.
“It was posted that she was here! I wanna see if she’s as hot in real life,” he says to his friend, loud enough for the store to hear. “You know, the coffee chick with the great tits.”
Rage and embarrassment flood through me. Before Nick can react, before I can think better of it, I’m placing the costume on the hook behind the door, and then I march toward them.
“Leave—right now,” I say. My voice doesn’t even shake. The steadiness surprises me almost as much as it surprises them. For a second, I’m braver than I feel.
When he recognizes me, the man’s eyes light up with excitement.
“Holy shit, you really are here! Can I get a selfie? My friends won’t believe I met you,” he says, like he’s a fan.
“Are you serious right now?” I ask.
“Come on. You’re hot! Especially for a ginger!” He smirks, his eyes doing a slow scan of my body.
Nick moves so fast past me that I almost don’t see him. He grabs the younger guys by their shirts and carries them outside.
“Hey! You can’t do?—”
One of them drops his phone, and Nick kicks it across the floor.
“Leave.” His voice is calm, but it’s absolutely terrifying. “Before you regret it.”
Patty has already taken out her phone and is speaking to dispatch. “Yes, we have two men harassing a customer at The Costume Shop. They were refusing to leave and are standing outside. I want them charged with trespassing.”
The one who took pictures of me looks at his shattered phone screen, and he’s whining about lawsuits and assault charges.
“Sue me,” Nick calls after them. “Please. I’d love to tell a judge what happened, and I’m sure the owner would too.”
Patty nods with her hands on her hips.
After they leave, the store feels too quiet. Some customers are pretending not to care, while others’ stares cause pinpricks on my skin. I feel out of place.
“I’m so sorry, honey,” Patty says, touching my arm. “If anyone else bothers you, they’re banned for life. I’m not kidding.”
“Oh, please don’t apologize,” I say, but I’m shaking. My fight-or-flight is kicking in.
Nick wraps his arms around me from behind, his chin resting on my head. “We can leave if you want.”
“No.” I straighten my spine, channeling every ounce of stubbornness I have left. “I’m not letting creeps chase me out of here. I’m buying a costume, and we’re going to the Halloween party, and I’m going to have fun for the rest of the month, even if it kills me.”
He grins at me, tucking loose strands behind my ear. “Love it when you’re fierce.”
We continue shopping, but I’m now hyperaware of everyone. A mom with two kids gives me a sympathetic smile. Every glance feels loaded with something more, either judgment or pity. I hate this.
I glance down at my phone, realizing those little bastards posted the picture of me somehow. The comments under it are disgusting.
“Stop reading them,” Nick singsongs as he hides his costume behind his back so I can’t see it. “Now, go give her your costume and let her bag it up, and then I’ll come pay.”
I laugh, enjoying how seriously he’s taking keeping it secret.
We make our purchases, and Patty refuses to let Nick pay full price. Then she leads us through the back entrance to avoid the lurkers who have gathered out front. A teenage girl watches us with wide eyes, and a few ladies from the book club give us nods of approval.
“You come back anytime,” she says as we stroll hand in hand down the alleyway. “This is your town, not theirs.”
I look over at Nick. “Then why am I the one in a back alley?”
Nick wraps his arm around me. “I can’t help but think this is somehow my fault.”
