I give up trying to find her, instead standing stock-still in the middle of the shop and yelling, "Where are you?" I don't have the patience to play hide-and-seek today.
Despite her calling out, "I'm over here," several times, I'm none the wiser. In the end, she has to come and collect me. After taking my hand in a vice-like grip, she drags me to the very back of the shop, and then into another room.
On spotting a sign above the doorway that says BIG & BEAUTIFUL, I steel myself to be confronted with the usual plus-size tat.
"This will be wonderful on you!"
I spin around, ready to spit out "NO!" but I can't. I'd never have expected the like in a backwater like Coogan's Break. Even more astonishing is that it looks like it might even fit.
Ten minutes later and I'm out at the truck, gripping a large plastic bag that the lady in the shop had taped shut for me. The one thing that couldn't be crammed in there is the helmet, a smaller version of the one Zac will wear.
The less Zac sees of my 'spacey' outfit before the parade, the better. That's if I don't chicken out and change my mind.
ZAC
Kelly is back at the truck far sooner than I've expected, with me pocketing my phone to avoid her seeing what I've been searching for.
I'm still not sure it's the right choice. But I can't leave things as they are. I'm stupid, but I'm not that stupid.
"I see you got a helmet. Can I see the rest?"
After shoving the haphazardly taped plastic bag in the footwell along with the helmet, Kelly climbs in. "No, you can't."
Well, that was unexpected. "Can you at least tell me about it? Can I assume it's like mine?"
She tsks while shaking her head. "Zac, you know what they say aboutassume?"
She doesn't wait for me to give the usual response, instead huffing out and adding, "You'll have to trust me."
Great! There's a 'NO' if ever I heard one. A couple of days back, and I would have trusted her with my life. Now I'm not so sure. I'd been fool enough to trust we had something together. Then she'd accepted that job in LA.
"Can you at least let me know if it's silver?"
While her smile is slow to start, she's soon grinning like a loon. "Oh, it's silver alright."
On dropping her back at Sand 'O' Sun, I'm no clearer about what her outfit is, despite peppering her with questions. The more I'd asked, the happier she got, although she'd given nothing away with her answers.
Other than the helmet, for all I know, she's riding the float dressed from head-to-toe in aluminum foil. That and more of the silver gaffer tape like that used to seal the plastic bag from the costume hire place.
Dirty mind that I've got, but on yanking on the park brake, all I can think of is us atop the rocket. My cock jammed against her foiled ass.
Sheesh, what is wrong with you?
She's already grabbed the plastic bag and is about to pick up the helmet when I put my hand out to stop her. "Why don't you leave that with me? It looks the same as mine. I should be able to rig it so we can speak to each other."
That she agrees this will make things easier is confirmed when she drops the helmet back on the floor mat. "I'll see you at the lock-up tomorrow. Mary said she'll give me another key."
My mind is chock full of all the dirty things I'd like to whisper through any comms set-up when she shuts the truck door. She's halfway up the front steps before I've had time to get my mind out of my crotch. Or rather, hers.
Shoot, if I didn't know better, I'd think she was teasing me on purpose.
Six the following morning, and I arrive to find the lock-up's roller door open as far as it will go. I'm freaking out about all my tools having been stolen when I see Kelly moving about inside. Of her car, there's no sign.
Even dressed in disposable coveralls and wearing an industrial gasmask, I'd recognize her anywhere, with her curves imprinted on my psyche for eternity.
What I don't know is why she's here this early. The parade is still three days away. Despite falling behind because we were too busy exploring each other's bodies, we'll soon be back on schedule.
Unless she's here early because she wants to avoid me?
