Invisibility Cloak

by Jill Elaine Prim

  “Whatever.” Nick was engrossed in all the intricate instruments in the car again.

  Kelsey’s little black Volkswagen Beetle was parked in front of her house when they pulled into the driveway and she groaned.

  “I hope poor Kelsey hasn’t been waiting too long.”

  “Thanks, Jeremy. I owe ya one.” Ryder got out of the car, waited for Sammie to get out then closed the door.

  “Anytime, buddy,” Detective Coolman said through his rolled-down window. “I’ll do a check on all the Intel I got from you and we’ll get back with you.”

  “Got it.” Ryder waved at him as he herded Amanda and her kids up to the front door.

  “Ryder,” Amanda said as she stepped away from him. “My friend, Kelsey―” She pressed her lips together and pointed to Kelsey’s car.

  “Amanda!” Her friend hollered and waved from the street where she’d parked. “I’ll need some help here, hon.”

  “Be right there, we have lots of hands to help, Kels.” Amanda looked at her two children. “Stop right there, you two.” She crooked her finger to Ryder. “You too, ex-Army Ranger, I bet you could carry all the dresses in by yourself.”

  Ryder moaned.

  “Honestly, you are a big baby.” Amanda turned and walked toward Kelsey. “Move it, people.”

  Nickel whined, “Ah, Mom. Do we have too?”

  “Move it.” She yelled behind her to the stragglers, just as she reached Kelsey’s car.

  “So, who is that big hunk, Amy?” Kelsey bobbed her eyebrows, looking at Ryder as he approached.

  “He is a hunk, isn’t he?”

  “Ah, yeah.” Kelsey grinned at her and said under her breath, “Can I have him?”

  Amanda laughed softly as she watched him walk up. Man, he was a good-looking guy, if you liked the big, tall, dark and brooding type.

  “What needs to get taken up to the house, Amanda?” Ryder asked after she introduced them.

  “Oh, they’re hung up in the back seat.” Kelsey opened the door. “I grabbed a few extras for you to try on.” Kelsey winked at her.

  He bent down to look at what she was pointing at and scowled.

  “Dresses?” Ryder stood with his legs apart and his arms crossed over his chest.

  “Yes, and no one can let the bottom touch the ground, swing the hem over your arm,” Kelsey ordered.

  “Ah, man,” Nickel scoffed as he bent down to see what was in Kelsey’s back seat. “Girlie stuff?”

  “C’mon kids,” Ryder said after he looked at Nick’s sour expression. “We have to think of this like a mission. Not one fraction of the material can be compromised, got it Nickel?”

  “Yeah, whatever.”

  “Hey, Sammie, take this bag in, will you?” Ryder handed Sammie a small tapestry bag. “Nick and I will get the dresses.”

  “Got it.” Sammie stood up straighter, clicking her heels together and saluted Ryder. “Yes sir!”

  “Good girl,” Ryder murmured handing Nick one of the dresses. “I’m right behind you, men.” Then he collected the last three.

  “Nice to meet you ma’am,” Ryder said to Kelsey before he walked to the house. After a few paces, he stopped and turned around. “Amanda, I’ll meet you in the house.”

  Amanda mimicking her daughter; saluted and clicked her heels together. “Aye, Aye, captain.”

  Ryder lowered his brows. “Ha, ha very funny.” Then he hiked up the rest of the dresses on his arms and followed the kids into the house, but not before saying, “Two minutes, ladies.”

  “Ooh-la-la, honey.” Kelsey breathed out as they both watched Ryder jog to catch up with the kids.

  “Yeah,” Amanda said dreamily. “Hey, are you coming in?”

  “Sure, I got about thirty minutes, but then I have to run.”

  “Why don’t you stay for dinner?”

  “Wish I could, hon.” Kelsey grabbed her purse from the backseat and locked the car. “My mom’s expecting me tonight for dinner. How about another time, maybe next week?”

  “Absolutely, let’s go. I’ll get you tipsy while you watch me try on your dresses.” Amanda linked her arm into Kelsey’s. “Now, no laughing at me, Kels.”

  “You know I’d never do that, Amy,” Kelsey said as they walked into the house.

  Ryder stood by the front door. “I put the dresses on top of your bedroom door, Amanda and I ordered a pizza.” He glanced down at his wrist. “I’m taking Nick in about twenty minutes to pick it up. We should be home in no time.”

  “Okay. Thank you, Ryder.”

  “Go on up Kels, I’ll just be a few minutes. White or red?”

  “Whatever you’re having is fine with me. I’ll get everything ready for you to try on.” Kelsey looked around. “Sammie? Hey, where are you?”

  Sammie’s muffled answer came from the second floor.

  “We girls will get everything ready.” Kelsey smiled then hurried up the stairs.

  She turned to thank Ryder but he’d already left. Lordy. That man was quiet. She already had some pinot grigio opened and pulled out the wine bottle and set in on the shelf. Since she’d kept the wine goblets on the third shelf next to the sink, she rose up on her tiptoes to grab three glasses. Sammie would love a wine glass too, but filled with lemonade. If she put a few sliced strawberries in the glass, it would make it look pretty. Reaching her right hand up, her fingertips brushed the stem of the glass. The goblets were just too far back. She’d have to get a stool. But before she could turn around to go get something to stand on, Ryder’s solid body was pressing against her backside.

  “Need some help?” His deep voice rumbled near her ear. She shivered.

  “Well, since I can’t move . . .” Amanda wiggled her rump around a few times.

  “Woman―,” Ryder began to say, but then stopped.

  “I’m ready whenever you are Ryder.” Nickel walked into the kitchen.

  “Here you go, Amanda.” He set down two glasses.

  “Um, I need one more.” She grinned at him. “Sammie’s getting lemonade in a wine glass, so she can be one of the girls.”

  Ryder grunted and grabbed one more glass. “C’mon Nick. Lock the doors, Amanda. We’ll be right back.”

  “Yeah, Mom,” Nick said, then followed Ryder.

  Her heart raced as she watched Nickel follow Ryder out. Nick loved having another guy around, she could tell. She hoped her son wouldn’t get too attached to Ryder, because she didn’t know how much longer he’d be hanging around. He was just staying close to her and her kids because of that guy breaking into the house.

  After throwing a few ice cubes in each glass, she poured healthy amounts of white wine in two of the glasses and lemonade in the third. Plucking a few strawberries out of her salad bin, she sliced them up and tossed them in all three glasses.

  “Hey, Mom,” Sammie said coming around the corner. “Kelsey sent me down to help you carry up the drinks.”

  “Oh, thanks.” Amanda gave her two glasses.

  “Cool! I get wine too?”

  “No. That’s lemonade, dear.”

  “Oh, man.” Sammie walked ahead of her. “Hurry up, Mom! Wait until you see what Kelsey brought you to try on!”

  Amanda swallowed a few times while she walked up the stairs. Kelsey was smaller than her, and she silently prayed that something would fit. Her close friend went to a lot more fancy parties than she ever had, so she had plenty of dresses to choose from. Amanda didn’t want to go out and buy something that she’d never wear again.

  “Mom!” Sammie had already bounded up the stairs and was standing in front of her bedroom door.

  “All right, all right.” As soon as her toe touched the landing to the upstairs, Kelsey appeared. “I’ll take that, my dear.” She slipped her fingers u
nder Amanda’s and took her goblet out of her hand. “You get undressed in the bathroom and we’ll have the dresses a-waiting, my lady.”

  “Wow, I feel like a princess.” Amanda stepped into her bedroom and noted the formals hanging up on the top of the door.

  Kelsey shoved the wine glass back into her hand and gave her a little push into her bathroom. “Strip.”

  “Princess Fiona, that is.” Amanda smirked at herself in her bathroom mirror. After setting her wine glass on the counter, she undressed.

  “Put on the little black number that’s hanging on the towel rack,” Kelsey said as she cracked open the door.

  Amanda pulled it over her head. She let out a breath of relief. “It fits!” She stared at her reflection. It had a halter top and slim bodice. Amanda stepped closer to her mirror. Her left leg jutted out. Dang it! It had a huge slit on the left side of the dress. No way could she wear this, her brace would stick out like a sore thumb. “Next.”

  “Why, what’s wrong?” Kelsey said through the door slit again.

  “Oh, just come on in.” Amanda said in exasperation. “Both of you.”

  Kelsey pushed opened the door and walked in, with Sammie behind her.

  “I can’t have any slits on the dress.” Amanda pointed to her left leg. “See!” She fought back tears. She would not get upset in front of her daughter, she just couldn’t.

  “Oops.” Kelsey was behind her in a flash. “No problem, senorita.” She unzipped the black dress. “Try on the green; it will look fantastic with your eyes.”

  “Give me another sip of wine first.” Kelsey held out her glass and Amanda took another sip. “Okay, ready for the next one.”

  “Here, hon, just step into it.” Kelsey held the green dress up and Amanda stepped into it. “Give me your arms.” Kelsey tried cramming her arms through the thin fabric.

  “No, Kels!” Amanda jerked her arms back. “I’m going to tear the dress! It’s too small.”

  Kelsey huffed out a breath.

  “Oh crap! What if I can’t fit into anything?”

  “Try on the blue one. I just bought it.” Kelsey gestured off-handedly to the dresses Amanda had already tried on. “I shouldn’t have even brought the others. Here try this.”

  Blue? Amanda wasn’t sure if she’d look good in blue with her complexion. But she’d try anything. She lifted her arms up and Kelsey slipped it over her head. It glided over her body like water. Amanda shimmied a few times and it floated past her hips and the hem skimmed onto her toes. “This feels good, Kels.”

  “Mom! It really does make you look like a princess.” Sammie jumped up and down as she walked around her.

  “Oh, it’s not even zipped up yet!” Amanda sucked in her stomach. “Hurry, Kels. Zip it up.”

  “Amy, the zipper’s already up.” Kelsey smiled. “Wow. You look a lot better than I ever did in this one.”

  “It feels good. Like a second skin.” Amanda blinked at her image in her bathroom mirror. “Not bad.” She smoothed her hands over the front of her dress. The waist of the dress tapered in, showing off her flat belly. She wouldn’t be able to eat normally until this event was over or else she’d have a little bulge right there. She patted her lower abdomen. It was a little snug in the chest, but all the deep V neckline did was flatter her. “Ohmygod, I have cleavage.” Amanda pressed her elbows together and watched as her breasts looked better than ever. They hadn’t looked this robust since she was pregnant! She lowered her gaze to her covered legs. The dress narrowed down and flared out around her knees. No slits. She flung her arms up and traipsed around the bathroom until her left toe caught a wrinkle in the rug in front of her sink. “I love it.” She caught herself from landing on the floor by bracing both hands on the sink.

  “Turn around, hon.” Kelsey twirled her index finger at her.

  Amanda immediately pivoted.

  “Gah!” Kelsey said dramatically. “Sammie get me the bag you brought in.”

  Sammie handed Kelsey her small tapestry bag.

  “You need to wear this.” Kelsey took a nice sip of wine. “It is a must. You have gargantuan panty lines.” After rummaging around for a second or two, Kelsey held up a flimsy scrap of material. “You must wear this. Or you’ll simply ruin the entire look.” Kelsey thrust her arm out toward Amanda. “A thong. You must wear a thong.” Kelsey embellished the word thong and started giggling.

  “Zoe has these!” Sammie squealed. “I want one too, Mom.”

  Amanda rolled her eyes and grabbed it from Kelsey’s hand.

  “Come on Sammie, let’s leave your mom alone so she can try it on.” Kelsey pulled Sammie out of the bathroom. “Try it on. It’s yours. I bought it for you. I knew somehow you’d never buy one for yourself.”

  Amanda plopped down on her vanity seat and stripped off her underwear, cursing the white cotton bikinis the whole while. Why? Because they showed a line, that’s why! She grabbed her wine glass and took a big sip. After throwing her bikinis in her dirty clothes hamper, she vowed she’d never wear them again and pulled on the flimsy scraps of silk Kelsey handed her moments ago up her legs.

  Jumping up to her feet, she yanked the skimpy material all the way up. She’d never worn these before and wasn’t sure where to put the slim material. Around her butt cheek? Under her cheek? She turned and studied herself and then asked loudly, “Kelsey, I ah, need some help here.”

  “It goes in the crack.” Kelsey instructed her as she leaned against the doorway sipping from her wine glass.

  What? Amanda adjusted the thong as her friend directed. It was not comfortable at all and she scrunched up her nose. “This doesn’t feel natural.”

  “Oh hell, can you at least go braless? Because there is no way you can get away with wearing a bra with this dress.”

  “I can do that.” Amanda adjusted the thong. “But this is just wrong. And extremely uncomfortable. Do you really wear these?”

  Kelsey laughed and nodded her head. “Honey, half the women in America wear those.”

  “This feels like dental floss up my rear end!”

  “Amy, if you have a panty line it will totally ruin the look.” Kelsey gave her a grim look.

  “I do love the dress.” Amanda reached over to hug her. “Thank you, Kels.”

  “Just keep the thong on tonight so you get used to it, all right? It really is a matter of getting used to it.”

  “All right, I’ll give it a try.”

  “And for the record, I never looked that good in it. You look fab-u-lous, Amy. Remember practice the thong. I do need to go or my mom will kill me.”

  “Thanks again.” Amanda put her hand on Kelsey’s sleeve. “Just unzip me, please?” She noticed her daughter wasn’t around anymore. She must’ve found something more interesting to do than hang around a bunch of middle-aged women.

  “Come here.” Kelsey pulled the zipper down and Amanda stepped out of the gown. As Kelsey hung it back up on a hanger, she asked, “Walk me down?”

  “Of course, but let me get dressed real fast.” Amanda pulled on her jeans and the T-shirt she had on earlier, constantly adjusting the thong as she walked Kelsey to the door.

  “Call me Wednesday morning. I want to hear all about it!” Kelsey hugged her.

  “Will do.” Just as Amanda was closing the front door, Ryder’s car headlights swung into her driveway. Feeling goofy, she walked back upstairs to get Sammie and adjusted her butt at the same time. She had to get used to this thing.

  Oops, it’s not a thing, it’s a thong. She laughed.

  Thong. Thingthong.

  Didn’t way back, they used to call sandals thongs? Man, she was more ‘out of it’ than she thought with the latest trends and fashion.

  She took another sip of her wine and went to go tell her daughter that dinner had arrived.


  Just as she rounded the corner of her daughter’s room she heard her talking on the phone.

  “My mom has a thong, Zoe!” Sammie let out a tiny squeal. “And I’m going to get one now, too.”

  Oh dear. Amanda adjusted the piece of dental floss in her butt crack once more.

  Chapter 10

  “Ready to eat, Nick?” Ryder glanced over at the fifteen-year-old.

  “Yeah, starving.” Nick shifted his legs that balanced the two large pizza boxes. “Hopefully the women are done doing their girlie things.”

  “Looks like it.” He noticed Amanda’s friend, Kelsey take off in her little black Volkswagen as he pulled down the street a few minutes ago.

  “Let’s help your Mom out. “

  Nick scrunched up his face. “Huh?”

  “You know, like get out plates and cups and napkins.” His Jeep lights swiped along Amanda’s house as he pulled in their driveway.

  “I guess.” Nick readied to open the car. “But after dinner I’ll be studying for my last set of finals.”

  “I got the clean-up, dude.” Ryder clarified as he shut off the car. “Thanks for going with me, Nickel.”

  “You got it, Ryder. We guys have to band together.”

  “Hearing ya, bro.” Ryder jumped out of the car and reached in the backseat to get the last bag that held the two large Greek salads.

  The guys walked into the house and found silence. Amanda and Sammie must still be upstairs, he guessed as they set the Pizza Palace packages on the kitchen counter. Nick got plates out and helped Ryder set the table.

  “Salad bowls up here?” Ryder asked Nick after he set the twelve pack of Budweiser on the counter. Nick nodded, so Ryder flung open the cupboard and grabbed four bowls. After plucking two cans of beer out of the twelve pack, he snapped open the lid of one and set the second one in the kitchen refrigerator.