Page 38 of The Toy Maker (The Pink Cherrie #1)

THIRTY-THREE

I’ve never been one to listen to gossip. People lie all the time. Whether it’s out of anger, jealousy, or just plain bitchiness, someone’s pants were always on fire.

It was a truth I had long accepted, so when I got back from my rendezvous with Ethan, I had no idea what to believe anymore.

“Tara,” Kitty snapped me back to reality. Her light pink hair was pulled into a messy ponytail, and a Queenwood University t-shirt swallowed her figure. “I’ve been waiting for you.”

Her tone set alarm bells off in my head; the usual chipper southern accent seemed cold and distant. I approached the table where she was signing papers and waited for her to address me.

A flicker of unease crawled down my spine.

After a moment of uncomfortable silence, she looked up at me. “Your shift started half an hour ago.”

I blinked, glancing around as if hidden cameras were going to pop out at any second. Was this a prank? Kitty was never the type to reprimand us for running late, especially me. “I’m sorry, I jus?—”

“Did I ask where you were?” Kitty snapped. I pulled away from the desk and tried not to wear my heart on my sleeve.

“Is this because I left you guys last night?”

“No, it’s because you’re late.”

I shook my head in disbelief. “Sarah was two hours late last week, and it didn’t bother you then.”

“Sarah had her reasons.”

I frowned. “So do I.”

Kitty scoffed, like I was just some inconvenience she was being forced to deal with. “Whatever. Just don’t let it happen again.”

“Kitty, I?—”

“Just go change. Rehearsals start in ten.” She waved me off.

I hesitated, waiting for her to drop whatever this was, to flash a smile and tell me she was messing with me. But she didn’t.

I turned away, walking toward the dressing rooms with a weight settling in my chest. I had never been good at friendships, and moments like this reminded me why.

I debated quitting and finding a job in my actual field.

This had always been Jason’s world, and I was starting to feel like I was losing myself in it.

But then I thought about Jade and Sarah, and the way they made me feel like I belonged with them. I didn’t want to give that up.

Besides, I wasn’t sure I even had to. Ethan could have been trying to scare me.

Why? I didn’t know. And as for everyone else acting weird, I considered the possibility of a toxic poison seeping into Jason and Kitty’s brains from the Pink Cherrie pipes, but with no evidence, I couldn’t come to a conclusion.

I grabbed the cheerleader outfit off my vanity and got dressed for the big number.

The other Cherries bustled around me, painting themselves into different versions of who they had to be for the night.

I did the same, dusting my cheekbones with highlighter until they gleamed and swiping on a shade of red lipstick so bold it barely looked like me.

Jade snorted as she took one look at me. “Carried away much?”

“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!”

No response.

My shoulders finally relaxed. “What’s up with her?” I kept my voice low; the last thing I needed was to be on her hit list.

Jade shrugged. “She’s just in a mood.”

Sarah nodded. “It’ll pass once she works it off,” she reassured.

I prayed they were right. Because whatever this was, it was starting to feel personal.

After we reported to the stage like good little soldiers, Kitty seemed to ease up. Her sharp tone softened, her tense shoulders relaxed, and for the first time since I arrived, I thought her rage was over.

That was until Jason decided to watch our rehearsal.

Kitty’s entire body stiffened. And when she turned to face him, her voice was like ice. “What do you want?” Kitty snarled.

Jason didn’t even flinch. “I want to see the progress of the main event,” he explained.

This was a very different Jason than the one I had been with just a little while earlier, eating pizza and shopping for future rendezvous.

Now, he was acting cold, distant, and calculated in a way I hadn’t missed.

Kitty scoffed. “Don’t you have some dildos to make?”

A collective hush fell over the Cherries. Damn. Our eyes widened with astonishment.

He chuckled, unbothered and ignoring our shock. “Don’t you have a dick to choke on?”

More gasps echoed through the group.

Kitty clenched her jaw so hard I thought she might actually lunge at him. But instead, she turned on her heel and barked at us to start the routine.

The music kicked in, and we moved into position.

I tried to focus. But several times during the risqué dance, I found my gaze wandering over to where Jason stood. It seemed that whenever I would, he was always fascinated with a girl in the other direction.

Until I had the first of many wardrobe malfunctions.

“Tara, please try to keep your tits in your bra until after the show?” Kitty’s voice rang through the speakers, sending giggles rippling across the room. Heat flooded my cheeks.

Before I could rebutton my top, Jason spoke.

“I like it,” he mused, loud enough for everyone to hear. “It gives the show what it’s been lacking.”

Kitty turned to him, unimpressed. “And what exactly is it lacking?”

His eyes met mine. “Excitement.” Something flickered across his face. Something that made my heart skip .

There was no way to respond to Jason’s sudden passion for our performance or an explanation for what Kitty said next.

“Then you get up here and dance with us.”

My heart was in my throat as I watched him consider the offer and then strut onto the stage.

Kitty tried to give him the rundown of the steps, but he cut her off, “I’ve got this.”

My mind raced as the intro to the music started; Jason had taken a place next to Wendy, the redhaired, long-legged goddess.

Within a few moments, Jason pulled Wendy away from the group and started his very own performance in front of us, in front of me.

My stomach twisted with dread, and my eyes followed every fluid movement of his muscles as he wrapped his arm around her waist.

He pulled her into his chest, and my heart nearly burst inside of mine.

Then he pulled her closer, and my blood ran hot. She wrapped a leg around his waist, moaning as he kissed her neck.

The seconds ticked by in slow motion. I told myself to look away, but my eyes were glued to the scene of the crime. It was then that I realized that everyone else had stopped to witness Jason in action.

What was the point? To prove that he could have chosen anyone else to test his projects?

His lips traveled lower, brushing over her collarbone, her chest?—

I stopped breathing.

It wasn’t a dance anymore.

It was a message. Ethan was right, I was disposable to Jason, and he had just proved it.

I heard Jade’s voice next to me, but everything sounded muffled, like I was underwater.