Page 13 of Hot Mess

“I’m Mithrandes. I needed to fix”— I gestured at my costume— “then I heard you.”

She nodded and wafted her hand in front of herself, fanning more oxygen to her face.

“Kayla, thank you. Thank you. I can’t believe how stupid I was. I had to use the restroom, and I met him earlier. He showed me the bathroom.”

I adjusted my belts and straps. “Don’t tell me he seemed so nice.”

“Oh, hell no, he was a total creep. I should have locked him out in the hallway. I just had to pee so badly.”

She stopped and looked at me. “You look familiar.”

I gestured at myself and the costume.

“Right, Mithrandes. I have a confession. I never watched the show. I need to get out of this room.”

“Of course.” I opened the door. She brushed past me. She smelled of warm citrus and heaven.

“If you don’t watch the show, can I ask why the costume?”

She brushed it at her hips as she looked at herself. “My cousin got it. Said it was the only…” she faltered before smiling up at me. A light blush tinged her cheeks. “It was the only costume left in my size.”

She said the words as if she didn’t want to admit they hurt.

“Well, I think you look stunning. I always thought Ishtaria should have been a curvier woman to have attracted the king of a barbarian horde.”

“Hey, dude!” Another Mithrandes stopped in front of us. “We need a picture!”

He stood between me and Kayla. Reached out and snapped a selfie. “You know Nick Sadler is around here somewhere. If I find him, I’ll give you a shout-out, we can get a pic.”

“Sounds good.” I gave him a tilt of my head kind of nod as he walked off.

Kayla turned around and watched him for a minute before turning back to me. Her brows furrowed together making a dimple right above her nose. It was the most adorable expression.

“What?”

She looked at me incredulously. “That guy Ken said something back there too. Don’t these guys know who you are?”

“What do you mean?”

She laughed, and her smile illuminated the entire room. “They don’t know you’re the actor, Nick Sadler. You’re in your own costume, and they don’t think it’s really you.”

“And you figured it out? You didn't watch the show, and you figured it out?” Damn, she was smart. Smart and sexy.

She shrugged. “My cousin showed me a picture of you, not in costume.” She lifted her hand and ever so tentatively touched my cheek. “Your bone structure. I think I’d recognize you if you were painted blue.”

“I’ve been blue before. Played an alien extra in Guardians of the Galaxy. You think you would recognize me?”

“Yeah, I do.” She turned and held her hand out to me.

I slid my hand into hers, not sure what to expect. The bolt of electricity I felt with her touch was definitely not expected. But also, not a surprise. This woman was flipping all of my switches.

“Nice to meet you, Nick.”

“Sh, I don’t want anyone to know.”

“So, you dressed up as your most famous character?”

I gave her a look. She seemed to know a lot about me for someone who didn’t watch the show.

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