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Authors: Julie Mangan
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examined her once more. She didn’t look more than 19 at the very most. “I do believe gambling is illegal for those under the age of 21.”
“You’re over 21.”
“I meant you.”
“Oh, I’m 24.”
I laughed and finished closing my bag. “24. Right. Don’t worry. I won’t nark on you.”
“No, really. I’m 24. I just look really young. Everyone says so. And you wouldn’t believe how handy that’s been for me.”
Why is she telling me this? “I see. Well good luck at your poker game.”
“Thanks.” She handed me my receipt and I gathered my bags together. “And if you’re interested in sitting in, we could always use another player.”
I walked away quickly. She had already gotten enough money out of me. The last thing I wanted to do with the rest of it was throw it away at a poker game. Not to mention that I was critically creeped out from the conversation. I had serious suspicions that she was actually hitting on me. While that life-style worked for some, it certainly wasn’t my preference.
Victoria’s Secret came into view a few shops down from PJ’s PCs and I hurried past the other stores in an attempt to preserve the rest of my funds. Stepping into the store I felt like I had walked into a spilt bottle of stomach medicine. Pink plastered every surface.
Pink had never been my color. I’m more of a black or gray type of person with the occasional blue thrown in. And yet, the soft fabrics and laces sucked me in, clouding my judgment. Before I knew what happened I found myself in the dressing room with a slew of lingerie. I tried each piece on with skepticism, wondering who on earth actually purchased the things. When I stepped out of the dressing room I had fresh perspective and a new determination for nothing but pajamas. Eyeing a pair of red button down jammies on a sale rack I felt someone walk up behind me.
I stepped to the side and glanced over my shoulder. The women from the salon stood at the rack adjacent to mine, considering a skimpy black nightgown with matching panties. Their freshly manicured hands trailed over the fabric as if it were real silk rather than some spandex nylon blend.
“I think he’ll love it. Black is his color. You should get it,” the older woman said.
Are they going to make the guy model it? I wondered, unable to repress a laugh. Both women heard me and turned.
Bleached Blond eyed me up and down then gave a grunt of distaste. “Look Honey, just because you’ve got your nails done for the first time doesn’t mean you’re ready for the big leagues. Wouldn’t you be more comfortable exploring the sleepwear in Kmart?”
The older woman gave a bark of laughter then turned and walked away. Bleached Blond followed but not before licking her lips and blowing me a kiss.
I stood for a moment, rooted to the spot, wishing I’d had something, anything to come back at her with. But I wasn’t used to public confrontations and the entire encounter left me reeling. I wanted to leave. But I also didn’t want to look like I ran away. Finally I just turned and moved on to another rack.
Thick plush red and pink robes caught my eye and for a lack of anything better to do I reached out and fingered one of the sleeves.
“Oh, Temptress. You can’t do that to me. Not after what I’ve seen,” Corbin whispered in my ear.
After screeching in surprise I turned and swiped at him. “You’re a pig! What the hell gives you the right to come into my apartment anyway?” I glared at him openly, eying his stance and demeanor. He had changed his clothes and now wore the leather duster again. Glancing over his shoulder I noticed Bleached Blond and her mother were no longer within sight.
“Who’s going to see me? Your landlady? Big deal,” he said with a shrug.
“Anyone in my building could see you!”
“And what conclusion do you think they will reach? Crime? I don’t think so.”
I grimaced and turned back to the robes. “You’re a pervert and a freak show.
“You’re over 21.”
“I meant you.”
“Oh, I’m 24.”
I laughed and finished closing my bag. “24. Right. Don’t worry. I won’t nark on you.”
“No, really. I’m 24. I just look really young. Everyone says so. And you wouldn’t believe how handy that’s been for me.”
Why is she telling me this? “I see. Well good luck at your poker game.”
“Thanks.” She handed me my receipt and I gathered my bags together. “And if you’re interested in sitting in, we could always use another player.”
I walked away quickly. She had already gotten enough money out of me. The last thing I wanted to do with the rest of it was throw it away at a poker game. Not to mention that I was critically creeped out from the conversation. I had serious suspicions that she was actually hitting on me. While that life-style worked for some, it certainly wasn’t my preference.
Victoria’s Secret came into view a few shops down from PJ’s PCs and I hurried past the other stores in an attempt to preserve the rest of my funds. Stepping into the store I felt like I had walked into a spilt bottle of stomach medicine. Pink plastered every surface.
Pink had never been my color. I’m more of a black or gray type of person with the occasional blue thrown in. And yet, the soft fabrics and laces sucked me in, clouding my judgment. Before I knew what happened I found myself in the dressing room with a slew of lingerie. I tried each piece on with skepticism, wondering who on earth actually purchased the things. When I stepped out of the dressing room I had fresh perspective and a new determination for nothing but pajamas. Eyeing a pair of red button down jammies on a sale rack I felt someone walk up behind me.
I stepped to the side and glanced over my shoulder. The women from the salon stood at the rack adjacent to mine, considering a skimpy black nightgown with matching panties. Their freshly manicured hands trailed over the fabric as if it were real silk rather than some spandex nylon blend.
“I think he’ll love it. Black is his color. You should get it,” the older woman said.
Are they going to make the guy model it? I wondered, unable to repress a laugh. Both women heard me and turned.
Bleached Blond eyed me up and down then gave a grunt of distaste. “Look Honey, just because you’ve got your nails done for the first time doesn’t mean you’re ready for the big leagues. Wouldn’t you be more comfortable exploring the sleepwear in Kmart?”
The older woman gave a bark of laughter then turned and walked away. Bleached Blond followed but not before licking her lips and blowing me a kiss.
I stood for a moment, rooted to the spot, wishing I’d had something, anything to come back at her with. But I wasn’t used to public confrontations and the entire encounter left me reeling. I wanted to leave. But I also didn’t want to look like I ran away. Finally I just turned and moved on to another rack.
Thick plush red and pink robes caught my eye and for a lack of anything better to do I reached out and fingered one of the sleeves.
“Oh, Temptress. You can’t do that to me. Not after what I’ve seen,” Corbin whispered in my ear.
After screeching in surprise I turned and swiped at him. “You’re a pig! What the hell gives you the right to come into my apartment anyway?” I glared at him openly, eying his stance and demeanor. He had changed his clothes and now wore the leather duster again. Glancing over his shoulder I noticed Bleached Blond and her mother were no longer within sight.
“Who’s going to see me? Your landlady? Big deal,” he said with a shrug.
“Anyone in my building could see you!”
“And what conclusion do you think they will reach? Crime? I don’t think so.”
I grimaced and turned back to the robes. “You’re a pervert and a freak show.
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