Page 14 of Cosplay & Consequences

Jess

The warm glow from last night was still with me when I woke up this morning. It had been a long time since I threw caution to the wind, and for once it had paid off handsomely. I spent the first few minutes of the morning luxuriating in the memories of last night before I texted Brayonna about what had happened. Two seconds later my phone rang. I didn’t even get a greeting out before Bray began screaming at me with glee.

“No! No! You did not! With him? The god of a cosplayer I told you about? Are you sure? Are you lying to me right now? Because if you are lying, I’m hauling my ass down there, and pummeling you.”

Apparently, my laughter was all Bray needed as she continued the conversation without me.

“You did! Oh my god. You. You had a hookup. You who can’t pick a pair of shoes without reading every customer review, doing a cost analysis, and making a flowchart.”

“I never did that with shoes,” I protested, “and you just made my sex life sound non-existent.”

“I live vicariously through you, and you have been in a drought,” Bray lectured me. “You are the most boring, vicarious life someone could ever live through.”

I rolled my eyes and pulled out the ironing board from the closet, so I could press my outfit for the interview today. “It hasn’t been that long.”

“Mmm-hmm. Do you even remember the last time?”

I plugged in the iron, and pulled out my clothes. And that’s when my brain froze.

“You don’t even remember, do you?”

“Okay, I feel like I’m being judged right now.”

“Ha! You should feel judged, because it was post break up with Seth.”

Seth. A name I had done my best to keep out of my head for the last nine months. My right arm began to itch, and I immediately scratched at it. “Oh, my God. Are you keeping notes on my sex life?”

Brayonna let out a snort of derision. “Considering your shoe-buying practices, I’m surprised you aren’t. Complete with a cost analysis and a flowchart.”

“Okay, there’s nothing wrong with being picky,” I protested. “I like testing the waters. I want to feel a connection with someone before I just… you know.”

“So, there was a connection with this cosplayer god?” I could hear the teasing and the warmth in Bray’s voice.

My mind went back to the moment he pulled me up into his arms, and carried me to the elevator.

I’ve seen a lot of Fionas today. You are by far the most beautiful one.

A quiet, contented sigh slipped out as that delicious ache took hold in my chest, last night still fresh in my mind.

“Sounds like someone dove in without testing the waters first,” Bray teased.

“More like a cannonball,” I admitted.

“That’s my girl! So proud of you. Are you seeing him again?”

I paused, and Bray took it as a confirmation.

“You are?!”

“I don’t know.” I blushed furiously as I tried to get my words out. “I did give him my number.”

Brayonna cackled, and that’s when I heard another person groaning over the line.

“Bray, it’s not even 6:30. Hi, Jess.” It was Bennet, Bray’s loving, and adoring husband.

And with his comment I groaned.

“Oh, my God. You have me on speakerphone?”