Page 100 of My Cosplay Escape
I carry the pink boxes of calorie bombs back to the gym. “I brought doughnuts,” I say at the meeting.
“That’s a good start,” Tony says. “In fact, Sarah, you asked for some time. What is it you want to talk to all of us about?”
“I just want to thank everyone for covering for me and my shifts. Um, and I want to apologize. I have been going back to school, but it wasn’t study groups that had me off on Thursdays and Saturdays. I’ve been working at Superhero Escapes.” I catch myself from looking down at the floor and instead look out at my colleagues. “I’m their Catstrike.”
“No way!” Kate says.
“Yeah. And I should have told everyone, but I was embarrassed. I mean, dressing up as a supervillain every weekend is kinda embarrassing for me.” I wince. “I should have told everyone the truth from the beginning. And to say sorry and to say thank you for understanding and for all the support, I bought passes for everyone to Superhero Escapes.” I reach into my pocket for the stack of gift cards. Thank goldfish for employee discounts. “Good for two rooms. Please come. I’m often in Malum Asylum.”
“Sarah, this is so nice,” Alice says.
“You didn’t have to do this,” Nathan says.
“I really did,” I say.
“Wait,” Kate says around a mouthful of cherry-filled doughnut. “If you were working at the escape room on Saturday, why did you call to ask me to tell that hottie that you were working in La Jolla?”
I feel my face go bright red. “That was my other boss. And I need to take doughnuts over there next.”
Kate looks confused until Henry whispers something in her ear. “Oh!” She giggles.
“Right,” Tony says, reaching for his clipboard. “Next order of business. As you know, I’m stepping down next month as club manager because”—he smiles at his clipboard—“I will be a certified chiropractor.”
There are cheers. Chiropractor? I look around the room. Literally everyone knew this but me.
“Thank you,” Tony says. “And while I’ll still be around as a personal trainer, Nathan will be your new manager, which means we have a spot open for an assistant club manager. I was wondering if any of you could recommend someone for the job.”
“Sarah,” Alice says. “You should do it.”
I bray involuntarily.
“What? You don’t want to?”
“I—”
“Who better to sell more memberships than the girl who practically lives here?”
“She can run circles around most of us.”
“All of us.”
“True. Speaks volumes that she was the one who got a job parading around in a jumpsuit,” Kate says.
“Hey, now! Be nice.” I blush.
“She’s got the right temperament for the Kids Club and all the new parents, and that’s our fastest-growing demographic, right?” Nathan adds.
I straighten. “Hey, Tony…”
He looks up from his clipboard, an amused smile on his face.
“I’d like an application, please.”
Tony hands me an application. “When can you interview?”
* * *
I’m back at Stu’s. “Four dozen doughnuts, please.”
