Page 8 of I Think We’re Alone Now

Travis

Shit. Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit.

“Elle?” Bryan’s voice called out again.

I reached down and yanked Elle up off her knees—which was the exact opposite of what I wanted to do. What I wanted was to continue to gaze down at her and watch my cock disappear between those beautiful lips. God, what a sight that had been. But now, that image was a distant memory.

“One sec!” Elle said in return.

Shoving myself back into my pants and zipping up, I nodded sharply at her as she stepped out of view from the changing room door, allowing me to slip out.

“Travis?” my best friend asked. He was looking at me like he’d seen a ghost, which made sense, since I was probably the last person he expected to step out of that little room right now. “What the fuck?”

“Long story, but I’m Elle’s temporary bodyguard for the day.”

“How did they even find you?”

“It was my shift at the mall. Right place, right time, I guess,” I answered.

“I didn’t realize your security gig was at Pine Grove Galleria,” he said. “Don’t know where I thought it was, but it wasn’t the mall.” He paused, laughing at himself over not connecting the dots. “Wait, what were you doing in the dressing room with her?”

“The zipper on her dress got stuck,” I said, hoping I sounded convincing.

“So first you’re roped into babysitting and then you have to play wardrobe assistant? Boy, I bet you’re glad you came to work today!” he joked.

“Shut up, Bryan!” Elle’s voice carried over the divider.

Bryan rolled his eyes, shaking his head in the same way we always had when it came to his sister. I returned the laugh, but this time it wasn’t as sincere—she wasn’t just some annoying little girl tagging along anymore. Now she was someone I wanted to hang out with, and not just because of the extracurriculars that had been interrupted. Elle was smart, funny, and just a blast to be with. I couldn’t remember the last time I enjoyed someone else’s company this much. Plus, she was seriously hot and one hell of a kisser. Not that I was going to admit any of this to her brother.

“It’s been an interesting day. Speaking of which, you didn’t tell me she was fucking Glitter!”

“Sure I did.”

“Nope, you left that part out.”

“Sorry, man.”

I opened my mouth to respond, but was cut off by the squeak of the dressing room door opening. We both turned to see Elle walk out, all done up in her costume. Fuck me, I thought. That sundress had nothing on the formfitting outfit that was now clinging to the curves that I had caressed just moments ago. To say she was hot wouldn’t be doing her justice—she was absolutely gorgeous.

“Mom and Dad here yet?” she asked, skipping the standard greeting.

“Haven’t seen them, but that doesn’t mean anything. They might be getting food or something.”

“Okay. Well, time for hair and makeup. Think you two can entertain yourselves while I get prettied up?”

“We’re coming with. Not letting you out of my sight, remember?”

“Something happen?” Bryan asked, suddenly looking concerned.

“No,” she snarked back. “But Travis here seems to feel the need to take his job extra super serious.”

“As he should!” Bryan remarked. “You’re lucky they found someone legit on such short notice.”

“Ugh,” she groaned, feigning annoyance. But I could tell by the little pull at the corner of her lip that she was enjoying this. It was fun for her to try and play like she was annoyed that it was me who was tagging after her for once, and I was more than happy to let her play it up.

Elle made her way back over to the chair she’d sat in not long ago, and a whole new set of people swarmed her. This time though, they painted her face with all sorts of stuff, transforming her into her alter ego.

“So, heard from the police academy yet?” Bryan asked as we sat and watched everyone flit around Elle.