Ghost (The Halloween Boys #1) (9)
The friendly store clerk gently took my wrist and guided me farther into the store. I ducked under dark-purple fabric draped from the ceiling and rubber bats bouncing and swaying from all heights. The shop smelled like herbs and cinnamon. “There’s a lot of rules, some more enforced than others. You know, what’s unrecognizable for me might be different from you, ya know?”
It sounded like a riddle. “I don’t think I’m following. I’m sorry,” I admitted.
Yesenia smiled a dazzling white smile. “Don’t worry, I got you. Here, I’m going to pull a bunch of outfits and put them in the changing room for you.” She looked me up and down, clicking her tongue. “You look about my size . . . twenty? Twenty-two?”
Surprise curved my lips slightly. If she could make me look as good as she did, I’d be doing okay. Yesenia was gorgeous. Her eggplant-purple, form-fitting, long-sleeved dress hugged tight to her curves and brought out the bright golden hue of her brown skin. “You have a good eye. Yes, I’m a size twenty, sometimes up to a twenty-four. It just depends.”
“I got you, and of course since I do the ordering, most of the best clothes are in my size. You know, just in case I want to borrow something.” She winked. “And all the skinny bitches have plenty of options. We need witchy cute shit too, ya know?”
I couldn’t help but smile. “I really appreciate your help. I’m totally lost and don’t want to look like an idiot.”
“Honey, with your ass? You couldn’t look like an idiot if you tried. You look a little . . . alternative. Is goth your vibe?”
A chuckle escaped my throat at her directness. Despite being on the run and having a yearly shower pass at truck stops, I did make an attempt at personal style. I’d always leaned toward blacks and fishnets and anything a little rock and roll. Black and red chipped polish adorned my chewed nails, and before I’d left this morning, I’d done a pretty good cat eye with charcoal liner.
“You guessed right again.” I grinned. “I love anything weird. I guess it’s why I like it here.”
She clapped her hands together like a delighted child. “I knew it. You’re going to be perfect for A—” she cut off, her eyes widening. “I mean, you’re going to love Hallows Fest,” she amended before scurrying away.
Feeling lighter, I ran a finger over the shelf lined with glittering crystal balls and onto the boxes of holographic tarot cards. Yesenia buzzed around me, grabbing garment after garment. “Oh,” I realized, embarrassed. “I don’t have a lot of money so if you have any clearance items maybe—”
“No worries, it’s all taken care of. You’re going home with a lot of shit today.”
My brows furrowed in confusion. “What? You really don’t need to do that.”
“I didn’t. It’s been paid for. The town’s tourism board gives us a set amount every year we give away for free, you know, to encourage tourists to come and stay and spend money everywhere in October. I haven’t gotten a newbie in years. So it’s your lucky day, Blythe.”
“Oh,” I mumbled, registering the information. It made sense, I guessed, for such a weird place, at least. “That’s amazing. Thank you.”
Immediately I was shoved into a fitting room and ordered to show her each thing I tried on. Yesenia may have been the scariest thing I’d encountered in this town. I smiled to myself, and I peeled off my shirt. Full length mirrors were scarce in my day-to-day life. A wince scrunched my face as I caught sight of myself in the mirror. The bruises along the soft flesh of my ribs were transforming into a muddy green color. With how fair skinned I was I’d stay marked forever. Lovely. But at least I was alive. For now. Live each day like it’s your last took on a whole new meaning when someone was literally trying to kill you. Unfortunately, what they didn’t tell you about those last days was they were either incredibly tense or incredibly boring. Except today. Today had been special. And it was all thanks to Dr. Cove. My heart fluttered at the thought. I imagined him sipping tea at that moment, smiling and nodding with his next patient. I imagined he got off work and did all of the sexy ordinary things a grown man would do. I bet he went to the grocery store and bought organic vegetables to cook in his three-story home. My heart dropped at the thought of him opening the door to a wife and dog. He seemed like a dog guy. Instead of dwelling on the jealousy I felt for this hypothetical lucky bitch who nabbed him, I fantasized that instead it was me who opened the front door. Wearing a black, frilly apron, I clutch a cherry pie. Dr. Cove wraps his arms around my waist with that smirk of his. He then sticks his finger right into the pie. I hit him playfully, laughing as he brings the sticky red filling to his lips and sucks. My pussy clenched at the image. Then his lips lower to mine as his hands softly untie the strings of my apron . . .
“Blythe! I’m dying out here. Show me something, woman!” a voice demanded from outside the curtain, jolting me from my daydream. Swallowing, I ignored my arousal and vowed to store that fantasy away for later that night.
Quickly yanking an orange leotard off its hanger, I shimmied it over my hips, stuffing my boobs into the fitted corset top. Something fluffy fell between the back of my thighs. “Yesenia, you’ve got to be kidding me with this one.” I groaned.
“Show me, show me!”
Sighing, I stepped out, feeling naked and exposed. She squealed. A good squeal, I thought? “You’re the sexiest fox I’ve ever seen. If I weren’t married with like, a horde of kids, I’d do you. Now spin,” she ordered, walking up to inspect me. “You’re getting this one for sure.”