She looks back

Stopping just before she reached the counter to purchase the dress and newly acquired thong, Nicole let out a long, slow sigh. The underwear had literally just been on the floor. Now it was suddenly gone. If Erica didn't take it that meant someone else did. Or maybe, just maybe, someone might have kicked it walking past and sent them into a corner?

"Fuck it," she whispered and turned around. Inside the dressing room wait area she noticed a man looking in her direction. She quickly looked down at the floor and scanned for the lost underwear and still saw nothing. Shaking her head, she offered herself a meager shrug. Looking back up to the man he offered her a small smile. He looked to be in his late thirties perhaps with a fauxhawk, a black hoodie and a pair of jeans. She returned the smile but it faded when he pulled out something small from his hoodie pocket. She narrowed her eyes a bit to try and see what he held but couldn't make any details out until the material fell away revealing a pair of white panties.

Nicole gasped and quickly turned away from him and quickly moved to the counter to pay for her items. Erica had finished checking out already and was texting someone on her phone as Nicole finalized her purchase. As the pair exited the store and returned to the strip, Erica made small talk. Nicole wasn't really listening.

"Hey, I just texted Yasmin, she is gonna pick me up. That cool? There is something else I gotta do before I head to Jennifer's and Yasmin lives a bit closer to me." Erica narrowed her eyes a bit. "Earth to Nicole, come in Nicole?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah. That's fine. I'll uh, well, I'll see you at Jennifer's then." She offered a small smile and Erica just nodded slowly.

"You good?" Erica asked in a hushed voice and lightly grabbed Nicole's left arm. "You are acting a little skittish."

Nodding rapidly with a half laugh, Nicole cleared her throat. "I'm fine. Just a little tired. It's been a long day. Don't worry though, I'll still be there at Jennifer's, okay?"

"Right, okay... If you say so. Well, splash some water on your face in the restroom or something. I'll see you soon, Nik." Erica leaned in and gave her a hug which was returned, albeit weakly. Pulling out her phone again, she began texting a mile a minute as she began to head down the strip leaving Nicole to her thoughts.

It took her a minute or two before she finally came to.

Just go.

It was as if her body was slow to respond but she did start moving. Maybe it was a good idea. Maybe a little water would do her good. However, she wasn't wearing any underwear right now. Maybe a safer bet would be just to head home and get changed for the party.