Page 93 of The Toy Maker

“The assignment was to look like a slutty bimbo, right?” There was a notecard left with the outfit, and I was only following directions.

“I resent that.” Sarah smacked my ass out of nowhere. “We weren’t all bimbos in high school.”

“Notice how she doesn’t deny being a slut,” Jade cackled as she carefully lined her eyes.

“Fuck off,” Sarah giggled, tossing her pigtails over her shoulders. While the rest of us had gone all out, Sarah barely wore any makeup. Just a hint of blush, with freckles still visible beneath the light dusting of powder. It suited her.

I took one last glance at my reflection. The girl staring back barely resembled me. My ass was on display beneath the checkered mini-skirt, and the cardigan was buttoned once beneath my breasts. They threatened to spill out of the see-through bra with every move, but I figured that was part of the appeal.

“So, what’s it going to take for you to tell us about your surprise date?” Jade directed the conversation to the one topic I had been avoiding.

“I hate surprises.” I didn’t mean for my voice to sound as grumpy as it did.

Jade rolled her eyes. “Well, I think they’re sexy.”

“Oh please.” Sarah snorted. “You just think he’s a fine piece of ass.”

“Can you blame me?”

Sarah laughed, “One thing is certain, though, if a handsome millionaire came to see me, I would be down on one knee.”

“More like two.” Jade winked at Sarah’s reddening face and blew a kiss her way.

I furrowed my eyebrows. “Who are we talking about?” There was no mention of him ever being a millionaire in my book.

“Ethan,” they both answered together before a jinx battle began.

Once I got their attention back, I asked them what they meant by him being a millionaire.

“He is the CEO of his own company. Real stiff-neck career type, but he makes a bundle,” Sarah explained. “Didn’t you already know that?”

I blinked, feeling incredibly stupid.

I shook my head and tried to come up with a defense. I never asked what Ethan did for a living. I never even thought to ask because I had been too distracted by Jason.

“Girl, he tipped you one hundred dollars on the first night you met,” Jade said.

She was right. And suddenly, I felt even dumber. How much did I really know about Ethan? I couldn’t trust him if I knew nothing about him.

Then again, Jason was just as much of a mystery. Before I could spiral too deep into my thoughts, the dressing room door slammed open. Kitty stormed in, eyes narrowed, clipboard in hand, and not an ounce of patience in sight.

By the way Jade and Sarah immediately tensed, I could tell this wasn’t the first time she’d been like this, and it wasn’t going to be pretty.

She began barking orders, commanding Cherries to move faster, to get their asses on stage.

I could’ve sworn she was a drill sergeant in another life.

“And you three,”—she pointed her sharpened finger at us like it was a loaded weapon—“you’re leading today, so be ready.”

She didn’t wait for a response.

She just marched right back out, slamming the door behind her.

“Don’t let the door hit you where mother nature split you,” Jade joked when she thought it was clear.

Kitty’s voiced echoed from the other room, “I heard that, bitch!”

Jade grinned. “Love you!”