The One After [SHAWN MENDES]

Chapter 38

When Shawn arrived at my apartment door at four, I was surprised to find him in costume.

"Wow!" I exclaimed as I looked him up and down. He had on a long platinum curly wig, sunglasses, tight acid washed jeans, a t-shirt with the arms rolled up, and leopard print suspenders.

"I'm a guy from an 80's hair band," he declared proudly, though I'd figured that out on my own.

"Cool. I'll be your groupie. Let me just grab my jacket."

"Not so fast, Lucy! I got stuff for you to wear, too." He handed me a bag from a costume store.

"I have cat ears I can put on."

Shawn shook his head. "Look in the bag. You might need some of your own clothing, but you're gonna look awesome. While you get ready, I'm going to blow up my inflatable guitar."

"Couldn't you use a real one? You've got a bunch, right?" I asked.

A look of horror filled his face. "I wouldn't risk taking one of mine outside. It could rain."

I went to my room and dumped the contents of the bag on my bed. There was a pink wig, a mesh top, a bunch of black rubber bracelets, and a neon green pair of sunglasses. Even if I hadn't planned on getting dressed up, my mind went into gear and I starting thinking about how I could make this work.

It was chilly, so I grabbed a body-hugging black long sleeved shirt to put under the boxy mesh off-the shoulder top. I found a pair of faded baggy boyfriend jeans, which I put on with a wide black belt before rolling them up. My yellow high top Converse from high school paired well with my ensemble. After pinning my hair up, I put on the wig and teased the bangs before lightly spraying them with hairspray. I slid the bracelets on my wrists and placed the sunglasses on top of my head. The final touch was using several purple eyeshadows from a vibrant palette on my lids and under my eyes. I definitely looked 80's.

Shawn looked up at me and grinned when I walked into the living area. "Damn, baby. You look sexy as hell!"

"Thanks. I feel kinda cute, to be honest." I got my jean jacket from the entry closet. The crystal cat pin was still on the lapel, which made me smile. "Do you have something to put on? We're going to be outside."

"Fuck. I didn't think of that."

"I bet my dad has some hideous retro jacket in his closet that would be perfect. That man never throws anything out."

Shawn drove to my childhood neighborhood and parked on the street in front of the old townhouse my dad still lived in even though it was too big for one person. He took my hand as we walked up the steps, and I opened the front door.

"Dad! We're here!" I called out.

"I'm in the kitchen, Lucy-goosey."

"Goosey?" Shawn mouthed.

"Don't you dare start calling me that," I warned him as I pulled him to the back of the house.

"Hello! Good to see you again, Shawn!" my father said cheerfully. "I'm ordering a couple pizzas. What do you two want?"

"Get one regular with whatever you want, and then get a gluten free vegan with all the veggie toppings for Shawn because he went off the rails yesterday and paid dearly for it. I'll eat both," I told him.

"Got it," Dad said. "Maybe I'll try your pizza. I'm up for something new."

"It's not bad, except for the cheese," I told him.

Shawn interjected, "I'm cool with real cheese, Mr. Atwood. It's the gluten that messed me up last night."

"Call me Bobby. If you're fine with cheese then I'll get that."