Page 23 of Haunt the Mall
I groaned and threw off the covers. “Fine.” Not like my racing heart would allow me to fall back asleep. Nor would I have the answer my dream hottie needed to engage with me.
I padded to the kitchen. Jinx wound between my legs and meowed.
“Shh.” We didn’t want to wake up my roomie, assuming they came home at some point this morning. Night shift was almost as weird as retail.
I poured out Jinx’s kibble and stifled a yawn. “Why are you being so noisy this morning, huh?”
Jinx’s pupils shrunk to pin-pricks. He stared for two full seconds before chowing down. I’d take that as an apology.
I must’ve forgotten to set my alarm last night. Too busy sleuthing. My cat's reliance on our schedule was sometimes an asset.
“Thanks, Jinx.” I scratched the high point of his back, then looked at my phone. No missed calls.
My stomach rumbled.
I wanted to dine in—er, eat with that manager, ASAP. And that required more than a 'taste' of my mystery man.
12
Costume Catwalk
At work, I ripped the tape off a huge box and peeled back the flaps to check out the costumes inside. Sexy Harlequin. Classic. I pushed it aside. Once I got all the boxes sorted, I hung each outfit option and smiled at the menagerie of mischief.
Hot Contra got it right.
Killer clowns, pony princesses, and vampire masquerades: a little something for everybody. Or at least those of us who wanted to play.
I glanced at my phone, that mystery-number-holding slab, and sighed. If I wanted to set up for the costume party, I wouldn’t have enough time to run to the theater. Sadly, I chose nibbling on discount candy instead of my spider man’s lips. Frickin’ priorities. Frickin’ management.
The store was busy, so I ran between day-to-day tasks and the office to finish sorting costumes and decorations. A stiff spine and mystery name were the least of my worries today. Every spare second went to the costume parade.
My coworkers’ chatter drummed through the walls. They’d been waiting all day for this; some even came in especially for it.
I poured individually-wrapped discount candy into a bowl, then turned up the music. “Let’s get dressed.”
The team scrambled for snacks and outfits. Bree bounced off the desk and flung open the biggest dressing room stall. “Dibs.”
I furrowed my brow. “You can’t claim it forever. Each person rotates through after one try-on.” Didn’t she remember from previous years?
She scoffed and unzipped her shirt. “Whatever. We can change right here.”
AJ shielded his eyes and flushed. “Can I grab a Freddy sweater first?”
“Take it.” She tossed one at his face.
The sleeves knocked his glasses askew. He wrinkled his nose at the tag. “Do you think I’m a medium?”
“I don’t know, can you speak to the dead?” I joked.
He gave me a blank look.
“You know, because mediums are the people who…do that.” I looked for a glimmer of recognition in anyone’s expression, but most were too distracted by costumes to register my silly attempt to lighten the mood.
Bree rolled her eyes and turned around.
“Never mind.” I ushered him to the candy bowl. “We’ll give them five minutes.”
As it turned out, the medium-sized sweater barely fit over his head.