Page 83 of My Cosplay Escape
Her eyes are fixed on the screen. “No.”
I can’t lose him, and the moment he walks into the gym and finds out I’ve been lying, he’s gone. He told me that it was the deception that hurt most about Allison, and then if I turn out to be just like her—it will be over.
I close my eyes, already loathing what I’m about to do. “You’re right. I have to tell Adam the truth. Tonight.” My back is to Stacey, and she can’t see my face twist at the lie.
I hear her huff and some angry clacking of computer keys. Probably toggling through camera feeds.
My phone pings again.
Adam: Can’t wait to see you.
“It’s Adam,” I say, turning to Stacey. “He wants to see me. Please, let me go just this once. I need to talk to him in person.” I close my eyes and wince. “I need to tell him the truth.”
Stacey softens. Her eyebrows knit together in the most beautiful picture of concern. “Go. I’ll break you. Go.”
I run out the back door, and when I get to the alley, I grab my phone and dial the gym. “It’s a great day at Fit Gym 24 Pacific Beach. This is Kate. How may I help you?”
“Kate, this is Sarah. If a guy named Adam comes in looking for me, will you tell him that I picked up a shift in La Jolla?”
“Will do,” Kate replies in her chirpy voice.
“Thank you.”
“But next time you pick up a shift, could you ask me first?” Kate groans. “I’d die to have a Saturday off.”
“Absolutely.”
I run and skid to a halt in the alley behind the gym. Stu is out back with his phone and cigar.
“Hey, Stu,” I call.
“Hey, crazy lady.”
I run past the doughnut shop and weave to the small parking lot on the side street. If I had a car, I’d have happily parked it here every night and changed in it rather than vault the wall outside the gym. I look and light up with relief when I see Adam’s Mustang. He hasn’t left for La Jolla. Now it’s just a question of stopping him from going.
I take gulps of fresh air, trying to catch my breath. I can’t tell the truth. I can’t take off my mask. I’d lose him before I’d have a chance to say,Surprise, it’s me. I’m crazy. Just ask Stu.Adam would be gone and out of my life for good. And my life without Adam in it… would be like a backyard without a Meyer lemon tree.
If I take off my mask, Adam would have a complete, detailed picture of what a crazy loser I really am. He’d never let me kiss him again. And I need to kiss him again. I need to give vent to my feelings. Because even though I’m not sure what is at the top of the feelings escalator I’m riding, I do know that feelings have developed. Big ones. Ones that have me up at night. Ones that have me out for runs in the early a.m. again.
Ones that have me desperate to buy more time.
Adam, keys in hand, appears. His phone is out. No doubt he’s googling the location of the La Jolla gym.
“Well, well, well,” I say, leaning against the driver’s door of his car. The lighting is better on this side street than it is in the alley. Pink and blue neon signs add a soft glow to the brighter streetlamps. My vinyl suit shines under them.
Adam jolts to awareness. “Sabine? You’re working tonight?”
“It’s my break,” I purr.
“Well…” Adam takes a lingering glance at my vinyl before returning to his phone. “I’d love to stop and figure out what you’re doing here, but I have plans.”
“Mmm, so do I.” I grab his face and kiss him. I catapult myself onto him. I kiss him with the intensity of everything I felt Tuesday night and then some. I kiss him until he melts and kisses back. I kiss him until a dialogue develops between our kisses.
I really didn’t want to do this,his kisses say.I’d like to pretend that this isn’t one of my fantasies, but damn, Sabine.
My kisses taunt and tease.Tell me about your plans now?they say.Am I a part of them?
I slither his hands down to my waist and hips. I push him against his car and climb on top of him, straddling him until he has to hold me back.
