Page 130 of Turnabout Is Fair Cosplay
I’m not proud of it, but yes, I do wait up for Mike to come home after his shift at Superhero Escapes on Black Friday.
There is something undeniably delicious about a man in a dress shirt. Add suspenders and I’m pretty sure a quarter of the population starts salivating, Pavlov’s dog-style. Present company included.
I’m not creeping, I have a very good reason for waiting with my ginger ale on Mike’s back step. Ordinarily, I’d just waltz inside and find a seat at his kitchen table, but the house is locked tonight.
He pauses when he sees me, the glow of his phone highlighting his chiseled chin and runway cheekbones.
He slides his phone into his trouser pocket. “Something I can help you with, Bea?”
“Yes.” I stand, blocking the door. “I need a favor.”
“No.” He twists his key in the lock.
“A small one.”
“No.” He struggles with the lock.
“All those muscles and can’t even open a back door.”
“The lock has corroded in the salt air.”
“Sure it has. Why’d you lock up, anyway? Don’t you trust me?”
“I’m holding on to something for a friend and didn’t want to tempt fate.” He sighs and tries again.
I don’t make it easy for him, leaning against the door. “So about my favor… I just need to borrow something.”
“Let me guess. A kidney. Maybe a working heart. My right brain?”
“Silly Mike still thinks he has one.”
“Fair, considering I agreed to lease to you.”
“I need to borrow your truck. And I need you to be in it. Driving, preferably.”
Mike takes me by the shoulders and guides me away from the door. He then pulls, jiggles, and shoulders it open.
“Come on, Mike.” I follow him inside. “I found this amazing fire pit for my patio, but it won’t fit in my Porsche.”
“No.”
“Not even when I fold the seats down.”
“No.”
“You want me to beg?”
He pauses. “I must admit I’m curious. Is that even possible?”
I consider as I help myself to a glass of cranberry juice and a couple of blackberries from his fridge. “I don’t think so.”
“Aren’t you going to wash those?”
“Why?” I pop the berries into my mouth. “You buy organic.”
“You still have to wash them!”
“Oops.” I live for the exasperation on his face right now. “So how ’bout it? We could leave around noon. Maybe grab burgers at In-N-Out.”
