Tabbs

Chapter 14

"I still can't believe you did that shit," Valentina said, draping a tired pair of jeans over the stall door.

"Oh my God, Val." Tabbs cupped her face in her hands while sitting on the world's must uncomfortable plastic chair. "I asked you not to bring it up!" Her muffled voice bounced off the bare walls of the changing room.

"It's just... you? Stealing a freaking car?"

"Not so loud!" Tabbs snapped. Not that they were at any particular risk of anyone overhearing. The place was unsurprisingly abandoned for a Wednesday afternoon. Even the employee who was tasked with maintaining the stalls disappeared over an hour ago, practically giving the two the run of the women's clothing section. If Tabbs was a few years younger, she would have taken the opportunity for a few five finger discounts. It was how she got her beloved thermos after all. God knows her mother wouldn't have spent fifteen whole dollars for her to get it.

There were a few clinks and ruffles behind the door as Valentina tried her fiftieth pair of jeans for the hundredth time. "Should have known. It's always the quiet ones," she tutted.

"Please. I feel bad enough about it. It was so, so stupid to do."

"Don't get me wrong, I think its freaking badass! The whole time this guy is talking down to you when he's not talking over you. Puffing up his sad little life like anyone cares. To hell with that asshole."

Tabbs ran her hands through her hair. "Thank god he's not pressing charges."

"Yeah. I wanted to ask what was going on with that. Do you need help? My cousin is a lawyer. A good one, too. Bet if he was old enough at the time he would have gotten OJ on his shit." Another pair of jeans were tossed on the divider.

"I don't think so. I left the truck outside his workplace. All I wanted was to be able to get to my own car so I could leave. Though... I couldn't really find a way to park the huge thing, so I kinda left it in a fire lane..."

Valentina snorted. "Did he get a ticket?"

"I think so, yeah. He blew up my phone for so long with calls and messages it was hard to sort through all of it. All I know is it ended off with essentially, 'I won't press charges as long as you never contact me again.'"

"Cool friend." More rustling behind the divider.

"He wasn't always like that," Tabbs sighed. "I don't know what happened. To him or to Dave."

"The other ass you tried this with, right?"

Tabbs ran her nail along the length of the empty foam cup that used to hold her iced tea. She jumped when the stall door suddenly swung open and Valentina emerged wearing a form-fitting pair of black jeans that hugged her generous curves, and a new red crop top that framed her flawless, olive-skinned abdomen perfectly. She fluttered her lashes and struck a pose. "Like?"

"Damn," Tabbs said, gawking like someone who had never seen another person before.

"Damn straight!" Valentina ran hands along her figure in a way that made Tabbs' skin pimple. Valentina stood in front of Tabbs and brushed the hair from her face. "When was the last time you updated your wardrobe?"

"Wardrobe?" Tabbs echoed mindlessly, mind still caught up in Valentina's soft fingertips brushing her face.

"I'm serious. I mean- I'm sorry, but look at you. Baggy shirt, over-sized pants, and... are those nurse's shoes?"

"They're comfortable," Tabbs shrugged. "I mean, as long as its not raining. I ran a hole in the bottom of these."

Valentina propped her hands on her hips. "Tabbs, when was the last time you wore something that made you feel sexy?"