To Charm a Tiger

Donna Granger blinked at her reflection in the mirror, pouting her swollen, gloss-smeared lips.

Yikes.

Her mascara had smudged, her lipstick was halfway to her chin, and her cheeks were flushed the colour of a cartoon heart. But oh, she loved it. She loved the way she looked—kissed stupid, lit up from the inside. And she really loved the way Joey had kissed her. So greedy. So hungry. So manly. Her baby boy was a man, and she was the luckiest girl in the world to be his.

She giggled softly, then swiped a tissue under her eyes to clean up the raccoon effect.

As much as she wanted to climb right back into his lap—ugh, so badly—she knew better. A lookout like this was just begging for a cop to swing by. And sure, she could probably cry her way out of a ticket, but Joey didn't need that kind of trouble. Not on her watch.

No, it was time to be responsible.

"I need to change before we go see the Patels," she said brightly, twisting in her seat. Her voice dropped back into the bubblegum bimbo persona she'd been using all afternoon. "Like, oh my gawd, I don't think Indira's mommy wants to meet Glitter Slut Barbie tonight, right?"

She laughed at herself and tossed her compact back into her purse.

The outfit really was obscene—mesh pink crop top, vinyl micro-miniskirt, stockings, glitter. Possibly the sluttiest thing she had ever worn. Perfectly chosen for Joey's eyes, to get him to remember what he was getting with her, how far she was willing to go, what she was willing to become in order to be with him.

She unbuckled her seatbelt and grinned at Joey. "You're driving, babe. I'm gonna, like, go in the back and wiggle into something less likely to get us arrested."

Joey stared at her, wide-eyed, clearly trying not to explode. She gave him a kiss on the cheek, then climbed between the seats, making sure to let her skirt ride way up in the process. She could feel his eyes on her bare thighs the whole time.

Backseat Donna wriggled free of her heels and tugged out the garment bag she'd stashed earlier. Navy blue power suit, silky white blouse, matching heels. The grown-up armor. But she wasn't done having fun just yet.

She stripped off her mesh top slowly, making sure to stretch in a way that gave Joey a clear view in the rearview mirror. The car swerved. Good.

"Soooooo," she said, voice syrupy sweet as she unzipped the skirt, "what are we even gonna say to Indira's mom? Like, 'Hi, we're your daughter's cult leaders, and she's in loooove with the cutest boy in the world?' Think that'll go over well?"

The skirt hit the floor. She was naked now, her bra and panties having been foregone in her previous outfit. She would be quick to dress. The last thing she needed was someone driving by and seeing her in that state, calling in a report of indecent exposure. Quickly she pulled on her lingerie - lacy black bra and matching thong. She leaned forward to grab her blouse, practically pressing her chest against the back of Joey's seat.

"I mean, she was soooo upset this morning," she cooed, slipping the blouse over her arms. "Poor Mrs. Patel. And she, like, doesn't even know about you, unless Indira's told her. She thinks that Juniper's her friend, and doesn't even know about the total snack of a man living down the hall from her. She probably thinks we're turning her daughter into, like, a sex fiend or something." She giggled.

She struggled with the buttons as the car bounced slightly on the road. Getting changed in a moving car—gawd, she hadn't done this since college. She kinda loved it. And Joey clearly loved it too.

"I think we need to, like, make her feel safe," she said, voice still syrupy and fake, but her mind laser-focused. "Not judged. Not threatened. Like, 'Hey, it's okay if your daughter's turning into a hottie who worships my boyfriend. That’s actually, like, a good thing!'" She gasped dramatically. "Ooooh, what if we brought cookies?"

She bent over to wriggle into her navy skirt. The mirror showed Joey trying so, so hard to focus on the road. He was such a good boy. She loved driving him wild.

Button. Zip. Belt. Jacket.

By the time she sat back and slipped on her heels, she looked like a completely different woman—cool, confident, all grown up. But her smile was still ditzy. She stayed in character, because she wasn't ready to let go of it yet.

"Okay, like, turn right here? Then it's, like, three blocks up and we'll be at the Patels' place. I hope she's not still mad, that would be, like, so awkward."

She twirled a strand of hair and kicked her foot gently.

As they turned onto Indira's street, Donna looked out the window and felt a tiny knot tighten in her stomach. This part wouldn't be fun. But it mattered. Indira mattered.

She was glad Joey was there. Even if they weren't successful, Indira needed to see that he cared enough to show up. Indira would love Joey for a long time. Hot girls have always wanted him, and always would. And Indira was turning out to be quite the hottie.

She just hoped Mrs. Patel would listen.

Joey pulled up to Indira's curb. Donna adjusted her jacket and gave her reflection one last check in the mirror. Then she leaned forward, pecked Joey on the cheek, and whispered, "Let's go charm a tiger mama."