Page 107 of Turnabout Is Fair Cosplay

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“Blackberry. Help yourself,” he says.

A little boy with a balloon walks up. “Is that your cat?”

“Sadly, no, but I’m her friend.”

“Can I pet her?”

“She’s feeling a little shy today, but how about an autograph?” I hand the boy a sticker.

“I wish I had a princess kitty.”

“Aww.” Heart melting. “Maybe you could share that with your family.”

“Nah, we have Baseball. He’s a dog.”

“I like dogs,” I say.

“And Scooter. He’s a turtle.”

“Oh.”

“And Harriet and Chester. They’re guinea pigs.”

“But no cats?”

“No, Mom says they’d eat the fish.”

“Well, guinea pigs are cool.”

“They just squeak.”

“During the day, sure. But what if they’re superheroes at night? With capes and everything.”

I make my goodbyes to the boy and the mom and stroll toward the beach. Mike tags along, smirking. “What?”

“Nothing. My truck’s this way.”

I crouch down to Mitzy’s level and get a video circling her before I focus in on the ocean. “In that case, can we get a ride? We’re late for our coffee chat, and we’re supposed to go live.”

“Sure. On one condition.”

I sigh.

“Come on.” He bumps my shoulder with his own. “Turnabout is fair play.”

“Fine. What do you want?”

“I want to watch. It’s not every day you get to witness a grown woman talking to a cat in a tiara.”

I look Mike up and down and grin. He’s the most engaging clickbait I’ve ever seen. “I’ll do you one better.”

“She might not want to talk with you,” I say when we get back to Mitzy’s house.

“I won’t be offended.”

I slip off Mitzy’s tiara and coat. “Remember, this is live, so if you laugh you’re gone.” And I’ll be in hot water.

“I love clear direction. I shall be sincere and…”

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