“If you don’t mind, it’s perfect.”

“Hang on, I have something else. It’ll make you feel great for tonight.”

She tosses a light bundle wrapped in paper at me.

Opening it, my jaw drops. “Is that…?”

“Yep.”

I blink. “But it’s all…”

The pink-haired emo chick grins. “The word is crotchless, darling.”

35. Claire

35

CLAIRE

It turns out, Dez wasn’t dressed. When she and Markus slide into the back of Keller’s car, she’s in a short, black tutu skirt with a dark green boned top, positively sinful.

“Where are we eating?” Markus drawls.

“SLAB,” Keller replies, and Dez bounces a little on her seat.

“Oh, goodie! I haven’t had been in ages.”

“Slab?” I repeat, crossing my legs and blushing.

This dress is far, far too short for what I’m wearing underneath. I catch Dez’s eyes, and she grins knowingly.

“S.L.A.B. Best place for steaks, and they’re fairly fast, as well as close to the movie theater.”

After the short drive into town, Keller drops the couple off in front of the restaurant. I opt to stay with him as he finds somewhere to park.

I expect it to be a struggle in the busy, small-town center, but he just rolls in behind one of the largest buildings in town, where a private parking lot is tucked in. He enters a code and rolls forward.

I shake my head. “Is everything easy for you guys?”

“I don’t know. I had to coerce one girl to give me a chance.” He winks.

We haven’t driven very far from the restaurant, but a pressing issue becomes apparent within a few feet.

Dez is shorter than me, with more butt, while I beat her in the breast area, but we’re the same shoe size. She convinced me to wear all her things tonight, shoes included. And while the four-inch white heels make me look amazing, I am not good at actually walking in them.

“Sorry I’m so slow,” I groan, embarrassed, holding on for dear life to the elbow he lends me.

“Don’t be. They’ll hold my table however long. Besides, Markus is already there.”

I sigh, frustrated. We’ve barely left the side street!

“But we don’t want to be late for the movies.”

“True.” He takes a step forward and crouches down, patting his shoulder. “Hop on.”

I blink. “On your back?”

He rolls his eyes. “What, you’ve never had a piggyback ride?”

I…don’t think I have, actually.

But trusting him, I tentatively lower myself to his strong back, thrusting my legs through his arms.

“Hold on tight,” he warns me.

I grip him around the shoulders, and he stands, walking the rest of the way as though my weight is of no consequence whatsoever.

We must look so funny, and there are plenty of people staring, with amused smiles.