Cold Hands

An excerpt of my novel.

“See your hands are much warmer than mine, even though you’re half-naked.”

“I’m not half-naked.”

“Yes. You are.” He took a step back and gave me a look. “No, you’re right. You’re a teensy bit more than half-naked.” He gave me a wink with both eyes. It was more like a squint.

“I’ll wear whatever I want.” I said while tensing my jaw.

“Ay, I’m not saying it’s a bad thing.”

“Well I don’t like the attention you’re giving it. It’s like you think I’m a tramp. And I really don’t like being looked at like that.” I relaxed my face. “Like at all.”

He got serious. “Well I never thought of you that way and I don’t right now. If you were a real s**t your pants would’ve been off months ago, along with a whole lot of other clothes. I’m just teasing you, but I won’t because I can see that it’s a sensitive subject.”

I gave him one of my meek smiles. “Thank you. I sit through that s**t all day at the shop. I mean, I get paid to dress like a s**t so these f*****g guys can come in and give me looks like the one you just gave me now. It wouldn’t bother me if I didn’t care.”

It felt good to say that last part.