Page 99 of My Cosplay Escape
* * *
I meet Gwen for breakfast the next day at a little bistro that specializes in French omelets and pain au chocolat. We sit outside in the October sunshine. “So you and Tony were always a thing? From the beginning?”
“Not from the beginning,” Gwen swirls her coffee and smiles. “Since Comic-Con.”
“That was pretty much the beginning. So you two were never off, always on?”
“I didn’t want to be a distraction, and he had some certification thingy he was working toward. He wanted to be exclusive. I didn’t want him to feel that kind of pressure. Not that I dated anyone else.”
“But you did end up kissing Mike, the Badpun?”
“Yeah, I blame it on the costume.”
Our waiter comes out with our steaming omelets and an assortment of pastries.
“What happened that night?”
Gwen giggles. “First off, your suit barely fit me. Couldn’t even get it zipped up all the way. So I was hanging out everywhere. Your Fem Fantastic was, like, rolling on the floor, laughing. Wouldn’t let me take any photos with the clientele. Which was more than okay with me. Except I got bored really fast, so I started flirting with Mike. I mean, he was in a crazy costume. I was in a crazy costume. Catstrike and Badpun are like a thing, so why not get into character, right?”
I choke on my omelet. “They’re really not.” Seriously, Gwen’s lack of comic savvy is astonishing.
“It was his last night.” Gwen rolls her eyes. “Or it was his last night for a while. I was getting into my character. But… it wasn’t any fun. Like, it was awful. I ran to the gym in the catsuit, told Tony that no one kisses me like he does, fell apart, and went home with him, where we spent the night mapping out our two kids, dog, and minivan future.” She rests her left hand on our bistro table. A gorgeous diamond surrounded by emeralds dazzles in the morning sunshine.
I blink. “Are you serious?”
“I wanted to tell you in person.”
“Holy fudge Shirley Temples, Gwen! Can I be the flower girl?”
“If you want to meet us at the courthouse the Friday before Thanksgiving. So how are things going with you and Adam? Have you told him yet?”
“Not yet, but I’ve got a plan.”
* * *
I make time to stop by Stu’s doughnut shop before the all-staff meeting at the gym. “I’d like four dozen doughnuts, please.”
Stu is behind the counter this afternoon. “Any particular kind?”
“An assortment, please.”
He looks up. His eyes narrow. “I know you…”
“Crazy lady.” I smile.
“Yeah!” Stu says with the realization. “How you doing?”
“I’m good. My name’s Sarah.”
“Nice to meet you, Sarah. I’m Stu. You going to a party?”
“I’m going to apologize.”
“Oh…” He continues to shove doughnuts into a box. “Well. I think you look nice without the mask. Not crazy at all.”
“Thanks, Stu.”
“Don’t mention it.” He smiles and rings me up.
