“It looks like the last six you tried on,” she droned, dropping her chin in a hand. “I’m bored. Do you really need my opinion on all of these?”
“Yes. I know it’s similar, but look at this.” I pointed to the bra, where the cup dipped much lower than the last had.“Do you know how much more I can show off with this one? There won’t be so much bra in the way and I can just walk around like‘hey, look at me.’” I cupped my chest and bent forward to wink at Ari, who did not look amused.“Okay, fine. I’ll change and we can go.” I shut the door and shimmied back into my bustier, then straightened my clothes and strode out.
“You’re getting all of these?” Ari asked, prying the chosen sets from my hand.
I nodded.“Do you want some, too? I’ll buy. I can wait while you try them on. I don’t mind.”
“This store is so expensive.” She checked each price tag before handing them back.
“Who cares?” I waved my new babies in the air.“What else am I gonna use my extra money for? College?Children?” I started laughing at the very thought.“I’ll start dancing again when I find a good spot and make this back in a shift. Go pick yours out. I’m gettinghungryagain.”
“Thanks, Emy.” She smiled and headed to the pink section.
“It’s stuffy in here. I’ll be outside. Let me know when you’re ready and I’ll come back to pay.” I placed my bras and blouses on the counter on the way out. There was only one lady working and she was in the back at the moment, but I figured the chosen merchandise would be safe until my return. My eyes lit up when I spotted a tattoo parlor a few shops down. I rushed inside and made a beeline for the wall of designs.
“Ever had any ink done?” A very muscular, very tattooed man was watching me. He came around the counter to see which design I had my eye on.
“Yeah. I have a few.” I touched a gorgeous fox before asking,“How much would that be? I really want a vixen tattoo. I love vixens.” I ran my dark nails along it in admiration.
“Depends where you get it and how big. What do you have so far?”
“These, for starters.” I showed the thirteen bat silhouettes traveling up my right arm, then the intricate skull that adorned my left forearm.“And this.” I lifted my hair to show where‘Mon Chéri’was written across the back of my neck in delicate cursive.“This one’s my favorite,” I said, gesturing to the angel wings on my lower back.“And this was my very first.” I unbuttoned my pants and rolled them down slightly, low enough to expose the word‘Vixen’across my hip bone with a lipstick print beside it.
I patted it affectionately before redoing my jeans. I wouldn’t choose this one nowadays—I’d gotten it at eighteen in a flurry of excitement. It was my least favorite, but at least it wasn’tterrible. It could be worse.
“Nice. Why so muchvixen?”
“It’s my middle name. And my old stage name. I think I want it right here.” I slapped a hand to my lower left side, almost on my otherhip bone.“Not today, though. My cousin’s waiting for me. But I’ll come back sometime.” The guy nodded as I walked out.“Or maybe here would be better,” I thought out loud, placing a hand over my right ribcage. My thoughts strayed to the night before as I passed a gothic store, and I briefly wondered if that was where Dennis and Mateo had gotten their fangs.
“Vixen,” a familiar voice mused, followed by a shrill laugh.
I whirled to see Dennis. He smiled as I stepped back and right into something. I turned to see what it was—a thick light pole—and when I looked back he was gone.
“Emy?”
“Huh?” I was frozen in place.
“Emery,” Ari’s voice sang, “where are you?”
I regained my senses and hurried into the lingerie store, where she was waiting at the register. “Sorry. I got distracted.” I gave my card to the lady, who’d already rung up my four lingerie sets and the three bras Ari had chosen.
“Thanks again.”Ari smiledfor a second before it turned to a frown.“Are you okay?” She leaned to the side to look me in the eye.“Did you have another hallucination?”
I nodded.
“Here you are. Have a nice day.” The woman handed me both bags. I quietly thanked her and gave one to Ari.
“Do you wanna go home now?” Ari asked, leading the way outside. Once again, I nodded.“Do you wanna talk about it?”
“When we get home.” I looked around as we headed for the car. I had no idea if this was all in my head or if it was actually happening. Even worse, I didn’t know which I would prefer: more proof of my own insanity or some guy stalking me. By the time we were almost home I couldn’t hold it any longer.“I wanna talk about it,” I blurted. “I was talking to this guy in a tattoo parlor, you’re gonna help me pick out my next one, by the way, and I said something about how my middle name is Vixen. Then when I left I heard someone say‘Vixen’ behind me and then a laugh—hislaugh—you know how it’s like a giggle? It’s so creepy that it’s kinda sexy. Very sexy, actually. I can’t lie. It’s so creepy but in a really sexy way. Like so unnerving it’s arousing, you know? It’s—”
“Emy.Focus.”
“Right. Sorry. Dennis was there, I saw him. But then I hit a pole and looked away for like a second, and when I looked back he was gone.”
“I don’t think you’re seeing things. I think this guy is really following you.”
“But he can’t be. How would he know where we were all day? I’ve been seeing himallday. Well, evening. Since we left the house.”
