Page 68 of Turnabout Is Fair Cosplay
“You want to rub it on my shoulders?” I dramatically sweep my hair to the side and turn around before making pouty lips at him over my shoulder. Yes, I’m being ridiculous. It’s the only way I can keep from blushing.
“Out. Go walk your dogs and talk to your cats. Make videos in your adorable cactus crown, and leave me be.”
I spend two hours with Princess Kitty, one of which is filled by doling out treats as she presses random buttons that I pretend lead to conversations. “Yes, I am a friend. More? Yes, you can have more treats. Yes, you are Mitzy.”
Afterward, I walk Kenny the Basset Hound, who poops more than any dog should. Then I meet and greet a new client in Bird Rock, a Pomeranian named Skibby who likes routine.
“Just sit on a bench when she gets tired. She likes to be outside and people watch.”
“Do I need to film content for her TikToks? Turn on a GoPro?” I ask.
The owner looks at me, confused. “She’s a dog.”
“Never mind.” I smile.
She’s my last walk of the day, and I have an entire Saturday evening with nothing to do after. Ordinarily, this would be amazing. Except it means an entire evening to think about Mike on the other side of the fence and all his books that contain allhis clever thoughts. If he were just a pretty face, it’d be one thing, but I know what is inside his head.
I find a bench, and Skibby happily bounds up next to me. “Do you like Shakespeare?” I scratch the dog’s fluffy head and pull up the video of Mike’s performance from earlier today. I texted it to myself before I handed back his phone. “Don’t worry. I deleted the incriminating evidence.”
Skibby is panting hard and drooling as we watch the video, and it’s not lost on me that if I don’t do something drastic, this could be my future.
I send a text to Adam.Have a minute?
My phone rings. “Long time,” he says when I answer.
“Does your offer still stand? I’d love to pick up a shift or two at the escape room.”
“Are you kidding? We can always use the extra help. Especially on Saturdays. You wanna come in tonight? It’s Customer Cosplay Night, so it’s bound to be wild.”
Fun. “Count me in.”
“Cool. Find yourself a costume, and Stacey will put you to work.”
“You’re not going to be there?”
“I don’t know if I’ll be able to make it. I’m in LA today meeting with some contacts from my internship at Halifax Studios.”
“Are you an entrepreneur, or are you a grad student?” I tease. “Because if you’re this busy, I really don’t think you have time to be both.”
Adam laughs. “I was interviewing them for my thesis, okay? But they’re raving about this new Indian restaurant in Santa Monica.”
“And when have you ever said no to Indian food?”
“Well, I was going to show up in my vintage Nightbat costume tonight.”
I gasp. “The one you bought from that stunt double? You never wear that. You say it’s a piece of history and have it buried in archival-quality tissue paper in a box at Mom and Dad’s.”
“But then my friends said they wanted me to meet someone for dinner who has a case study I might be able to use for my thesis. Meanwhile, Stacey called and said we are booked to capacity. I called Mike this morning and asked if he could persuade you to help out tonight.”
“I heard.” Well, overheard. I grab Skibby and head back to her house. My lips curl into a smile. “So it sounds like I’m the one doing you the favor…”
“Nice try, but either we call picking up shifts an equitable arrangement, or the offer is rescinded. I can’t owe you one again.”
It was worth a try. “Fine. I’m going to let you get back to it. I have a costume to scrounge together.”
This is how I wind up in a vintageStarship Cruiserdoctor’s uniform at Superhero Escapes. Blue fatigue jacket with rank and insignia, black pencil skirt with sheer black tights, and knee-high boots. Plus a white lab coat. It’s totally iconic.
“Bea?” Stacey says, barely pausing to look up from her tablet. “What are you doing here?”
