Page 98 of My Cosplay Escape
She turns around.
“Hey.” I pull off my mask. “I’m Sarah. You wanna walk up to Mr. Frostie with me on our break tonight? They brought back the pistachio soft serve.”
“Sarah? I’d love that!” Vanessa smiles. “It’s really nice to officially meet you.”
She’s right. And I feel silly for not embracing a possible friendship sooner. “Yeah. Sorry it took so long. I’m working up the courage to meet everyone officially.”
Stacey’s at the door. “Take your time. No one is going to out you here.” She’s beaming. “Villains, let’s get to work,” she shouts.
Old Sarah would have panicked about stepping through the front doors in her cosplay. But I don’t panic when Vanessa and I grab ice cream, and I don’t panic when the night is over, and I head back to the gym. In fact, I’m proud. I can do this. My smooth night of cosplaying is proof. My mom knows. Vanessa knows. Stacey knows. Soon, everyone including Adam will know. And I’m perfectly okay with that.
It’s after midnight, and the gym front doors are locked, requiring my gym card. I slide it through and am nearly to the women’s locker room when I hear a man’s voice.
“I was wondering when I’d see you here again. Back for more proof that no one kisses you like I do?”
Tony grabs me and pulls me close. He would have kissed me had I not screamed bloody murder.
“Jeez, Gwen!”
“Not Gwen,” I say, pushing Tony back.
Tony looks terrified. “Sarah! What are you doing in Gwen’s catsuit?”
Oh no. I pull off my mask. Wearing it when Tony knows it’s me underneath feels ridiculous. Worse than ridiculous. Mortifying. Maybe I’m not as okay with all the world knowing about my cosplay escape as I thought. “It’s mine actually. Or it was. I forgot to pack my other suit tonight…” I awkwardly shuffle in my boots. The story of my forgotten costume is probably not important right now. “I asked Gwen to fill in for me one night when I was… when I wasn’t up to it. I work Thursday and Saturday night at Superhero Escapes.”
“You’ve been lying about the study groups?” Tony groans and slowly drags his fingers down his face.
“It’s how I’ve been able to pay for classes this semester. I love working here at the gym, but it all goes to my student loans. I needed a side hustle. I should have told you the truth, but I was embarrassed. It’s a pretty ridiculous gig.” I pull off my gloves and try to hide them behind my back. “You mad?”
“Yeah. I’m mad. You’ve been needlessly lying to me and everyone else on the team.”
“You going to fire me?”
“No. Are you kidding? You work like a dog. You know most of our members and their kids by name. If it weren’t for what I thought were study groups, I’d have asked you about co-managing. It comes with benefits.”
“Are you serious?”
Tony looks offended. “Yeah. I’m your friend, Sarah.”
Tony’s my friend? “You’re my boss? And you’re my friend?”
“Yeah,” Tony says impatiently.
Okay, then. “What the fudge is up with you and Gwen and your on-again, off-again—”
“That’s Gwen’s choice. You should ask her.”
“Yeah. Yeah, I will.” I pull out my phone, about to text her, but remember something. “Hey, Tony? Can I have some time at the next all-staff meeting?”
“Sure,” he says.
I text Gwen.
Me: Can I take you out for that omelet? We need to catch up.
I wake up the next morning to a text from Gwen.
Gwen: Finally.
