Page 13 of Below The Surface
“That’s such a shame,” Hayden says, and it takes everything in me not to roll my eyes at him.
I yelp when Kay leans towards me and grabs my hand at the same time Ken does the same to Hayden. Someone must have pressed a button because the clamshell spins and I fall right into Kay’s lap.
“Shit. Sorry!” I readjust my ball cap as I push to my feet.
“Not a hardship to have a sexy man in my lap.” Kay smirks and gives me a wink.
Kay and Ken both shimmy off their tails to reveal they’re both in shorts. Aquarium employees work to remove the stands holding the curtains on either side of the clamshell as Kay and Ken lead us to the room they’d gotten ready in.
It’s not much, just a back room hidden from view.
Ken cocks a brow and spins a finger. “A little privacy, boys?”
“Sorry,” I say.
Hayden and I turn to face the wall.
Kay snickers. “I wouldn’t have minded giving them a show. You know I like eyes on me.”
Ken snorts. “I am aware.”
There’s the rustling of clothes. A kiss and goodbye. The door opens and closes.
“You can turn around now,” Kay says. He’s in a crop top and skinny jeans. The wig is gone, and it’s just his bright red-orange hair and the pops of color on his face.
Hayden swallows. “You still good to do the swim segment?”
“Oh yeah. I’ve got my swim trunks packed and this tail.” He waves to the massive tail on the table. “So whatever you wanna shoot is fine with me. I might need to touch up the makeup, but I’ll be good to go. Meet you there?”
I nod, and Kay grins.
“Oh, how about Dallas rides with me and he can give me an idea of what to expect?” Kay grabs my arm and pulls me towards him.
Hayden nods. I toss him the keys to the truck. “I’m trusting you,” I mouth, which makes him grin wider.
Kay gives me a look. “I think you’ll fit in my car. Ken’s date picked her up.”
“I usually fit in cars?”
He nods and I follow him out the door and through a hallway. It’s like a labyrinth the way he takes me.
“So, you’ll be at Influencer Con, too,” Kay says.
“Yeah. Did you know who I was this entire time?”
“Nope, not a clue. Looked you up this morning because I remembered there was some guy named after a city in Texas that’ll be there. Dallas fit the bill.”
I snort. “Yeah, my parents weren’t the most creative with naming their kids. My sister was named Addison, which was where she was born.”
“And you were born in Dallas.” Kay bobs his head as if thinking. “Cute.”
“You look so different without the costume,” I say.
Kay turns to give me a look that basically says, of course I look totally different, ya weirdo. His perfectly shaped brow cocks before he turns and pushes the exit open. The sun blinds us both and we squint.
“I’m over here.” He waves me to a red car and pops the trunk to stuff his tail in. there’s a lining, and he’s gentle with the prop. Then he’s shoving his makeup kit and wig in the backseat.
I climb into the passenger seat. What the hell am I doing? Not that I think anything strange is going to happen. We both have reputations to keep squeaky clean.
