Why do I get the feeling Caila has just railroaded me down another crooked path that I’ll forever wish to forget?
Okay, the first thing anybody who wishes to part ways with their pubes should know isouch, and the second isooh! It turns out that pubic hair has a very valuable function after all, which is to keep your body in check from demanding to have orgasms each time you sit, stand, walk, bend, or pull up your panties. This is total feel-good nonsense. I’m already chaffing in delicate places, and it’s been less than twenty-four hours since Jet Madden sheared my hedges—dear God, I can’t even think about it.
I’m just about to run into Hallowed Grounds for a quick cup of coffee before heading home to get ready for my Geisha Grill debut when my phone buzzes.
A text from Mom.Just received a note from the school about parents’ weekend. I’m afraid your father and I aren’t available. I’m sure you’re quite embarrassed by how everything has played out. Just come home. There’s a job somewhere for you at the plant. Haven’t you done enough damage?
My heart sinks as I stare at my mother’s words. My parents aren’t exactly my biggest cheerleaders when it comes to this small-town girl earning her degree. Not only did they think school was a waste before, but I’m sure now they see it as another damning decision of mine. Not that any of my previous decisions have ever been so damning. And why is the fact I want to further my education such a mental hurdle for them? Both of their sons are attorneys. Why can’t their daughter be one, too? I wish they’d get their heads out of their 1950s mentality.
I shoot a text right back.School is fine. No need to save me a job at the plant! Law school waits for me.
She texts back a moment later.Law school can be tough to get into for a dancer like you. By the way, your father has doubled up on his anxiety medication. Please do find another means to support yourself. I’ll speak to your brothers and see if there’s anything we can do to help.
I’m sickened. The thought of my father trying to control his anxiety with medication because of what I’ve done tears me to pieces. I’m sure when he saw those pictures, read about my budding career, he about vomited up his own heart.
No need to pass the hat on my account. I promise I’ve found another job to see me through. I got this!
“I so do notgotthis,” I whisper.
“Don’t got what?”
I spin around to find a smiling Scarlett and nearly choke her with a hearty embrace.
“Everything’s gone to shit.”
“Let’s get some coffee, and you can tell me all about it.” The wind picks up and blows her hair over her head like a flame, and we laugh as we make our way inside. Fall has hit Hollow Brook like a hammer, and we’ve traded short sleeves for down jackets.
Scarlett and I put in our orders and collect our drinks.
“You ready for the game this Friday?” I ask, leading us to the dismal back of the establishment. No use in ruining Scarlett’s reputation anymore than I already may have. I’m a social plague of my own making. Not even my own parents want anything to do with me—at least not on campus.
“Are you kidding?” Her cheeks flush just thinking about her star quarterback boy toy. “I’m totally psyched. How are things going with you? How did the melter work out?” She wrinkles her nose because deep down she knows it was a very bad idea.
“It sucked big ones.” I sink my face into my palms. “Actually, it did its job, but I managed to botch up the entire event and turn it into a quasi-triage situation like I do everything else. Jet had to bust the door down and ended up cutting me lose from about a thousand foreign objects I managed to adhere to myself. It was so humiliating I couldn’t look at him this morning.” Nor did I pay him my routine nightly visit. I’m sure he feels like he got the short end of the waxing stick. Certainly had I not scalded and attempted to scalp my fun zone, he would have been rewarded handsomely for doing seemingly nothing.
I glance up to find Scarlett’s lips frozen in a silent open-mouthed scream.
“You let him do what?”
“Don’t judge. I was in a waxed pickle. It was scary as hell thinking I’d have to go to the ER. I had no faith in getting that sludge off me on my own. Not to mention the more frightened I became the more I needed to use the bathroom. Just knowing that the facilities were welded shut sent me into a tailspin. Besides, it was all sort of clinical for him. He went on and on about how he pierces girls’ privates for a living. He’s seen more labia than we will penises.”
“Speak for yourself.”
“We’re talking variety here.”
Scarlett only has one penis in mind, but in this case semantics can be damning.
“So, what’s on the board for tonight? Can we see a movie? Rex has a workout, and I’m itching to get out of Cutler for a few hours.”
“No can do.” I duck a little. “I’ve got a new job—sort of.” I wince because I can feel the truth wanting to bubble up out of me. I can’t help it, though. Scarlett has been my go-to girl for just about everything this past year, and now that I’m out in the boonies with Jet, it feels a bit lonely—well, emotionally so. Jet and I don’t verbalize as much as we grunt.
“Spill.” Her jade eyes sharpen over mine.
So I do just that. I spill every strange deranged detail about my new employment opportunity and accidentally on purpose out Caila as my capitalistic organizer.
Scarlett’s jaw rests soundly on the table. “God, she’s like your pimp.” Her eyes widen with the epiphany. “Hey! She’s the one who set you up with what’s his face!” She hisses it out so fast and acrid you’d think she just discovered a serial killer.
Crap. I glance around. The last person I want listening in on this confessional of a conversation is Cassidy. I promised Caila I wouldn’t drag her into this.
