Page 2 of South of The Skyway

“I’ll settle for an escort.”

I rolled my eyes and released an airy laugh, catching her drift. “If you wanted to pregame, you just had to ask.”

“But where’s the fun in that?” Noel grinned, mischief in her eyes as she settled the final print, standing as Royal proudly pranced to my side.

“You’re impossible.”

Noel flicked the leash off the hook on the wall, bending to clip it on Royal’s collar before ruffling her golden coat. The bell clanged as she opened the glass door and stepped onto the sidewalk. Thick Florida heat slicked my skin, abrasive enough that I practically felt my hair frizzing out. Winter was comparatively mild, but summers in this humidified swampland felt like gradually suffocating with a wet rag strapped to your face.

Oblivious to the sweat immediately dripping down my back, Noel turned her face to the sun like she worshiped the thing, unwilling to acknowledge her freckled skin still refused to adapt to her unfortunate environment. Our walks to the park had become tradition a few years back when we first opened The Cracked Corset.

Royal was practically salivating, her head tall as she led the way to the park against the bay, enthusiasm intensifying with every yard we closed. She was something of a local favorite. Her promise of cuddles and a wagging tail were as much an enticement as the curated selection and collector’s edition covers.

“If Nick is there tonight, you should say hi,” Noel encouraged.

“Eh, too eager.”

“Too eager? Do you hear yourself? I’m not sure any woman has ever said a man begging to date her was too eager.”

“Honestly, have at him. He’s not my type, and I don’t know…I’d like to decide for myself if I’m interested before someone’s propositioning me.”

“What? Did he—”

“Figuratively speaking.”

“Jesus, woman. Give me a heart attack.”

“Like you’d expect me to say yes?” I balked, tugging on Royal’s leash as she buried her face deeper into the shrub, likely for discarded food from the cafe we were passing. Or attempting to pass. Pulling again, she finally budged.

“No, but I need to know these things.”

“Obviously, I’ll keep you apprised in the dating department.”

“You better.”

“Albeit, it’s been so long, I think I’ve forgotten how.”

“It’s like riding a bike. You’ll hop right back on, promise,” she said with a wink.

We stepped out into the road, Royal now happily trotting a step in front of us as I complained, “There are freaking cobwebs down there.”

She snorted, shaking her head and sending her soft hair swaying. “So, stop putting so much pressure on things. Lighten up a little. Have some fun.”

“Fun—because tolerating idiots until you find your soulmate is fun?”

“It’s supposed to be, but we might need to surgically remove the stick up your ass.”

“It’s just, nothing's been the same since Robby.”

Every girl has to fall for one bad boy, right? Robby was mine. Maybe it had been the fact that one look at his grungy band t-shirts, leather cuffs, and loose-laced skater shoes would have had my dad turning twelve shades of crimson, and thatTop Gunmustache of his quivering. Of course, that assumed the man had come around to lay witness.

Spoiler:he didn’t.

Maybe it was just the fact that after a few short flings, he was the first guy to pay me any consistent attention. But after a year of cleaning up after the lazy ass, paying both our bills for the sake of his ‘music’, and putting up with his stoner buddies pissing on my bathroom floor, I determined flying solo was infinitely more freeing. The Cracked Corset had been taking up my time and energy ever since. And our numbers freaking showed it.

But so did my dating life, or pathetic lack thereof.

Stopping just outside the black gate, Noel leveled me with a glare. “I know.”

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