I Kissed A Ghoul by Kat Baxter
Chapter 3
Ainsley
“Nope.”
I turn again, looking at how the slinky black dress molds to every bump and curve in my plus sized body.
“Nope. Nope. Nope. All the nopes that ever lived in Nopeville.”
I make sure ear buds are in place before I press call.
“Hey Peach, what’s up?” Reid says.
“That’s not a proper way to answer the phone.”
He chuckles and my nipples tighten. Traitorous body.
“What’s the matter?” he asks.
“I’m at the costume shop.”
“I told you I would have picked yours up when I grabbed mine.”
“No. I knew I needed to try it on first.” Something a professional athlete with a perfect body would not understand. Okay, that’s probably not true because his thighs are massive. But whatever. “This isn’t the right costume, Reid.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“But we agreed to re-do what would have been our last high school costume if you hadn’t gotten sick.” Panic is eating at the edges of my voice and I know I’m getting shrill.
“Okay, listen, Peach, here’s the thing. They don’t make grown-up Pugsly costumes. Nor should they. Which would have left us with you being a sexy Wednesday and me being Gomez or Fester and I’m not fucking shaving my head.”
“Wednesday doesn’t have to be sexy. In fact she is most assuredly NOT sexy which was part of the appeal.”
“That is the only option for an adult. And sexy Wednesday with her father is just fucking creepy. And not in a good Addams Family way. In a gross creepy way. Besides, you’ll make a smokin’ Morticia.”
“Uh-huh.” I stare back at my reflection not believing his words for a minute.
“I’m serious, babe.” He pauses for a few beats. “Does it not fit?”
“No, it fits, it’s just very tight.” I turn again and wince at the way the black material cups my full ass.
He chuckles again. “It’s supposed to be tight. You’re gonna look great. No worries. Hey, I gotta get to practice. I’ll talk to you later?”
“Yeah, sure.”
I hang up without giving him a proper goodbye.
Dammit. This changes everything. Because not only does it mean he’s going as my date, but we’re wearing a couples costume. Not two weird kids from a sixties tv show, but a hot, romantic couple. Ugh. I needed him to be Puglsy. Even though he still would have been hot, it would have helped to remind me that he’s off limits. That we’re just friends. Those knee socks alone would have done it, not to mention all the grey. Now he’ll look like a sexy beast in a suit.
I take a quick mirror selfie and send it to Fiona, my best female friend. While she is much shorter than me—she refers to herself as a chubby elf—we get each other on being a little self-conscious about our extra weight.
Me: This is what Reid picked out! How is this Wednesday Addams?
Fiona: Hello, sexy mama! You look HAWT!
Me: I’m being serious right now, Fiona. This is not at all what I planned. It’s too tight. You can SEE all of my bumps and rolls.
Fiona: No, beautiful, you can see all your phenomenal curves. Further proof that I think Reid wants you.
I roll my eyes. Yes, he’s an incorrigible flirt, but he doesn’t have romantic interest in me.
Me: Reid does not want me.
Fiona: I’ve never even been in the same room as the man and I can see that he does.
Me: We’ll have to agree to disagree.
Me: Seriously, though, I can’t wear this to the party.
Fiona: If I can wear a cartoon princess costume, you can wear that. You look hot. I look ridiculous.
Me: Doubtful.
