3. Kat
three
Kat
Shopping for underwear with Jude is more fun than I thought it would be. Watching his face turn red with every barely there pair of panties I hold up to get his opinion is the best entertainment ever. It’s really taking my mind off the break-in and my lost underwear.
I try to be conservative with my spending since Jude had already threatened me after I told him I was going to buy my own underwear. But every time I glance at something I like, Jude instructs the store clerk to add it to my ever-growing pile of undergarments.
His eyes almost pop out of their sockets when I pick up a sheer pink babydoll nightie and robe set, then hang it back up. Out of the corner of my eye, I see him pick it up, along with a matching black set, and hand it to the clerk. For a bodyguard, he’s acting more like a boyfriend.
“Oh, my God! It really is you, A New Kat-itude.” Two teenage girls rush over to me, using my online nickname.
“Hi. Yes, it’s really me. I’m in town to post about all of Sunbreak Harbor’s best features.”
“That is so cool.” One of the girls says just as the other asks, “Is he your boyfriend?” Pointing at Jude.
Before I can answer, Jude wraps his arm around me, pulls me close, and whispers in my ear, “Just go with it.” He then turns to the girls. “Yes, I am.”
“Can we get our picture taken with you?” The first girl asks, both of them shoving their phones at Jude like he’s their personal photographer.
Without saying anything, he takes their phones but looks at me for approval before snapping any pictures.
“Sure.” I smile and motion for the girls to stand on each side of me.
Jude snaps a few pictures with each phone before handing them back to the girls. “Thank you so much. Melinda is going to die when she sees them.” With a wave, the girls rush off.
“Does that happen a lot?” Jude nods towards the girls.
“It happens enough.” I shrug.
“Doesn’t it bother you that your private life has become so public?”
It’s hard to explain, but I do my best. “Without them and the rest of my followers, I wouldn’t be where I am.
Even though I don’t make a ton of money, a lot of doors have opened up for me—something I never thought would happen.
” I go back to looking at the lingerie, hoping to distract Jude. But no such luck.
“You didn’t answer my question.” Jude lightly grips my arm and turns me to face him.
“I don’t know—you tell me, boyfriend. Are you bothered by strangers coming up to me to ask for a picture?”
Jude drops his hand from my arm and runs his fingers through his hair. “It seems like a good cover. I wasn’t sure if you wanted your followers to know you had a bodyguard. Normally I just blend into the background, but since we were shopping together, it just made sense.”
Jude is so different from what I imagine a bodyguard to be. Having him near me makes me feel safe—having him as a fake boyfriend gives me the perfect opportunity to touch him in public. Which might finally help me lose my pesky virginity.
“You’re right. It’s the perfect cover story and won’t affect my ability to do my job promoting the town—I mean, I don’t think it will look good for the town I’m trying to attract tourists to if I have to have a bodyguard following me around all the time.
” I loop my arm through his. “Alright, boyfriend, let's buy this stuff and get checked into the cottage—it’s food truck Friday night, and I’m starving. ”