Page 87 of Turnabout Is Fair Cosplay
“Who are you?” I ask.
“I’m Catstrike, silly.” She strikes a pose and clears her throat before trying to tug the zipper of her costume up over her ample curves. “‘But can you see in the dark?’ See?”
“Fantastic,” Stacey says without conviction. “Can I have a word?”
“Of course…Fantastic Girl.” The redheaded Catstrike trots out of the room behind Stacey.
Mike chuckles. “This is going to be fun.”
“Bea, you’re on register,” Stacey calls. “Ditch the cat ears.”
Wait. “What?”
“She does have the better costume,” Mike observes.
I roll my eyes.
“Oh, you look disappointed. You weren’t looking forward to spending the night locked up in the asylum with me, were you?”
“No one would look forward to spending a night locked up with you.”
“Hey, neighbor,” the redheaded Catstrike croons to Mike as she steps into her cell.
“You want to bet?” A smirk is plastered on Mike’s face. “One bottle of ginger ale against my Pellegrino says you’re wrong.”
I scoff.
“Oh, I want a lemon drop when this is all over.” Catstrike pauses. “That is,ifwe get drinks after… Do we get drinks after?”
“All the time,” Mike says in his most charming voice.
I leave before I have to hear any more of Catstrike’s giggles.
“That can’t be Adam’s Catstrike,” I say to Stacey when I join her at the register.
“She is tonight.”
For the rest of the evening, I’m a grunt in heels and pleather leggings. I run errands, queue parties, make sure everyone gets the photos they want on their phones, and frequently check in on Catstrike. Every time, I find Mike at his most charming and her giggling.
“Has she been here before?” I ask when I return to the register.
“Who?” Stacey says, not looking up from her iPad.
“Never mind.”
“Can you see if the crew is willing to stay for a last-minute booking?” Stacey asks. “And take them these?” She hands me some water bottles.
I start with Mike’s cell and chuck the water bottle at his head, but he catches it deftly with one hand. “Easy, Bea.”
“Stacey wants to know if you can stay late.”
“Wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“And then we get drinks after?” Catstrike says hopefully.
“How ’bout it, Bea?” Mike leans against the bars.
“I never pass up an opportunity for a free ginger ale.”
