of those DNA tests, I think they’d find a little of literally everything.”
“I hear ya. My family is the same way. Here. This should fit. We can adjust the laces in the back.” She handed over a patent leather corset, complete with black lace that covered the cleavage area and ended as a high ruff around the neck.
“I don’t know. Why—”
“If you’re not dressed right, you ain’t gettin’ in the door.”
“Okay. Well.” Hara held the corset up to her long frame. “Victorian meets steam punk meets S and M. How do I even put it on?”
The process of getting it over her head took both girls, and nearly scraping off Hara’s nipples as they yanked it down. Once the piece was relaced, it was surprisingly comfortable and appealing. The boning held up her breasts and, while the corset was cut low, the lace was fairly thick enough to keep her from pole-dancer status. The smooth, shiny leather came to a point over her clingy, almost knee-length skirt, creating an hourglass. She couldn’t stop looking at herself in the mirror.
“Where is this from? Is it Vera Wang?” she asked, as if she knew what a Vera Wang corset would look like.
“No! I made it.” Naomi pointed to a sewing machine in the corner. “I bought a cheap corset off eBay, covered the boning with patent leather, and added the neck ruff. What do you think?”
“This is amazing. I’ll get it back to you, I promise.”
Naomi sighed. “Don’t worry about it. My boobs are too big.”
“You could sell this for a ton of money!”
“That’s how I got started—someone needed a seamstress. Now, I have an online business. I’ll show you sometime.” Naomi handed her a bundle of red metal bracelets and dangling red earrings. “There. Matches your heels and your bag.”
“That’s a lot of red.”
Naomi snorted, sitting on the edge of an overstuffed chair, reapplying red lipstick. “Whatever. Own it. Red is a power color. Be powerful.” She leaned toward her and dabbed some of the red on Hara’s lips. “You look phenomenal in red. It’s the perfect color for your perfect skin. With your height and unique look, you could easily be a model.”
“My mom would love it if I’d try modeling.” Hara rubbed in the lipstick and then pushed up her glasses. “Ain’t gonna happen. I’m too clumsy and I like to eat.”
Naomi tilted her head to the side, squinting at Hara. “Do you have to wear those glasses?”
“Yes.” The young reporter touched the frame. “Though I obviously need to get them tightened. They keep sliding down and it’s driving me crazy.”
“At least keep them off the tip of your nose. No offense. How about that bun?”
Hara shrugged, pulled the fasteners free, and shook out her hair until the shiny black locks waved down between her shoulder blades. She sighed in relief, rubbing her scalp.
“Ahhh. So much body.” Naomi fluffed Hara’s hair with her fingers, then twisted a few strands of her bangs. “Your hair is almost as big as mine.”
“I wish. Instead, it’s this half-assed mess, curly in some spots and flat in others.”
Naomi, running her fingers through her own fluffed-out, kinky hair, said, “Girl, with that beautiful skin and those crazy blue eyes, you all Vanessa Williams. You know, wall-poster Vanessa, from back in the day. Maybe a blend of Vanessa and Zooey Deschanel, sporting those cute bangs and trendy glasses. Don’t even pretend you don’t know how striking you are.”
“Psht. Right. Come on, let’s go if we’re going to do this.” Hara slid on her jacket over the corset. “I think this looks all right.”
“The point is to show off your figure, not hide it. Never mind, they have a coat check.”
* * *
Tunnel turned out to be a narrow underground dance club with soft overhead blue and lavender lights pulsing on a seething wall of bodies. Sofa benches lined the walls, and VIP sections were roped off in the back. Hara had been allowed in because Naomi was on a first-name basis with the bouncer. The hard, hip-hop beat reverberated in Hara’s chest as she followed her new acquaintance into the crowded room.
She tugged on the top of the corset nervously. She kept thinking of the story about the country mouse in the big city. It took every last drop of her willpower not to shrink into the shadows. She refused to allow herself to give in to insecurities and fear, not now. I’m going to party with the Fishers and I’m going to like it,