Page 53 of Unrequited (Unrequited 1)

“I guess you found something,” I said, my tone dry, but also in awe at the speed in which she shopped and made a decision.

“I don’t know if you remember what I was wearin’ when I performed in New York, but it’s become my signature look to shred up T-shirts and wear them on stage. Usually I buy them at thrift stores, but…” she held up a Blue is the Color shirt, “you can’t really find band shirts like this unless you strike gold.”

“You’re going to...wear another band’s T-shirt on stage with us?”

We’d toured with Blue is the Color. They were decent guys, all married, family men. But imagining their faces on Maeve’s tits? Nah. Not into that.

“Oh.” The excitement drained, not just from her face, but from her limbs, dragging her down into a puddle of disappointment. “I guess I shouldn’t.”

Well…damn. I felt like a squashed bug, riding out my dying breath on the bottom of some jackass’s shoe. I couldn’t see her sad. Not when she’d been so damn happy with herself before I’d opened my mouth.

“You do you. It’ll look tight, I have no doubt,” I said.

She didn’t look like she believed me, and the cashier was waiting for her to make a decision, so I swiped my credit card in the little machine, making it for her.

“You can’t pay for my clothes,” she protested.

“Can. Did.” I stuffed my hands in my pockets and sauntered out of the store, needing a second to collect myself so I didn’t continue acting a fool in front of Maeve and the teenage cashier unironically channeling early two-thousands emo boys.

Maeve followed close behind me, muttering under her breath. “Let’s go,” she said.

“You only went to two stores.”

“I’m all done. I got what I came for. Shopping isn’t normally very fun for me anyway. Plus, I want to get back home and rip these shirts to shreds.” Her eyebrows shot up. “Youdohave scissors, don’t you?”

“Yeah, I have scissors.”

When we got home, she didn’t hide in her room for once. Instead, she set up a crafting space on my table, cutting off sleeves and slicing through the sides of the shirts. I had no idea what the end result would look like, but if they turned out anything like theGooniesshirt she’d worn in New York, I’d be playing with an erection throughout Europe.

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