“I like warm beds, and, actually, I can lie.” She ducks her face behind her hands a moment. “You see, remember that last trip I came back from? The corporate excursion to Hawaii? I sort of gotfired.”
“What?” My voice razes theceiling.
“And my roommate sort of took off so I couldn’t make the rent on my apartment. You have no idea how expensive a penthouse is in downtownJepson.”
“And I couldn’t care either.” I grab her by the shoulders and march her straight for thedoor.
“But I can be your roommate! I can split the rent and the utilities, and I’ll even scrub the toilets with my toothbrush if you want. I just can’t tell my family until after the wedding.” I push her closer to the exit with each frantic word that expels from her lips. “Wait! Stop.” She writhes and she turns her head to avoid looking at the door readying to meet her fate. “Don’t do it for me. Do it forLow.”
I open the door and give her a generous shove, but she’s dug her heels in, and if I move her one more inch I risk having my hardwood permanently marred by her nastyhoofprints.
“Okay,” I hear myself say. Clearly, I’m going to have to disown my vocal cords after what they’ve done to me tonight and sell them on the black market. “But I’m only doing it for Low.” And my mortgage payment. And maybe for the sheer entertainment value, too. “Under one condition.” I loosen my grip on her shoulders, and she sags into me, her perky little face filled withrelief.
“Anything, I swear it. Just say the word and it’syours!”
“The next time Mustache Lady and her handler bring the pooping pop star to my front lawn you’ll chase them away with astick.”
“Deal.” She offers my hand a quick shake without hesitating. “And you’ll do something for me inexchange.”
“I’m already doing something for you, you nitwit! That’s how having the upper hand works.” My God, Low’s little bestie is dumb as abrick.
“You’ll do something for me.” Her voice drops to her lower register as she leans in just enough. “You’ll tell me what that rat bastard Axel Collins did to you six long yearsago.”
“Why would I tell youanything?”
“Because maybe once you let it all out you’ll stop lighting the world on fire, and you might even start to breathe again. What you need, Lex, is a good old-fashioned best friend. And lucky for you, one just took up residence in yourhome.”
I stare out at the void Axel left in his wake, at the dense nothingness of a moonless Hollow Brook night. It did feel good letting out the truth of myself imposed celibacy. It felt more than good, and for the life of me, I can’t understandwhy.
I look back at Raven and frown. “Best friend.” I scoff at the idea. “I don’t remember putting out a castingcall.”
“That’s because you’ve built your walls up so high, not even you can see what you need anymore. Now get back in here before you catch your death.” She scoots me in and shuts the door. “It’s time to clean up this mess before we hit the pillow. I don’t get to bed until the house looks unlived in. I’m a neat freak thatway.”
“Unlived in? I make it look as if it’s never made contact with a human before.” My eyes shine with a hint ofpride.
And I find it hard to believe that Raven is a self-proclaimed neat freak. Go figure. Who knows? We might just get alongyet.
But I seriously doubtit.
