“There are a few tournaments near home I’m considering entering,” I tell her, deciding not to bring up the droid news until after Samantha has her first appointment.
Momma begins talking again about Pedro Pascal in ways that are entirely inappropriate for a mom to say to her son, which is, in a word, disgusting. But I nod and smile, saying, “Can’t wait to meet my new stepdad,” which tickles her.
As we’re talking, Bianca comes into the video, looming just over my shoulder. I squint, curious, but it isn’t until my momma gasps and rushes out, “Why is that woman flashing her ta-tas?” that I realize what she’s up to.
Hot fury storms my blood.
I leap from my seat and snarl out, “What the fuck are you doing?”
Bianca’s jaw drops like she’s somehow surprised by my anger.
“You think you’re funny!” It’s hard not to gawk at her exposed breast, which is offensive in a way a breast never has been before, because how fucking dare she flash my mom.
She drops her shirt and sputters something, but I’m too fucking heated to listen.
“What the hell is wrong with you? My momma just had heart surgery, and you’re over here flashing your tits over my shoulder like you’re drunk! Are you drunk?”
“That was not my intention,” she blurts.
“That’s a damn lie! I saw you—my momma saw you—and the sweet lord, baby Jesus saw you too!”
Vanessa’s door swings open. “Why the hell are you shouting? I’m trying to sleep.”
“It was a mistake,” Bianca mumbles.
“How do you accidentally flash your ta-tas when I’m video chatting my momma?”
Vanessa giggles as she lingers in the doorway.
“I’m down for some ta-tas,” Jacek says from behind me.
“I’m sorry, Toxic,” Bianca says, her voice fraught with fear. “I know this is hard to believe, but it really was an accident.”
My heart rate slowly returns to normal, knowing that it was just an accident.
“Just be careful where you flash those things from now on.”
She nods. “Yes, I totally will.”
Again, I wonder how the fuck does Samantha knows her? I’m tempted to text her and ask, but she hasn’t mentioned that she knows Bianca is staying on the bus, which means they may have had a falling out, and the last thing I want to do is bring up a sensitive subject that could cause Samantha to have negative emotions.
A text pings on my phone.
Momma:time for Pedro
Toxic:love ya, momma
Toxic
Two hours later, I’m still tucked away in the booth, filling out the questionnaire Samantha left in the Cunnilingus Corolla.
Kilo climbs the stairs, looking groggy. Sleeping on the bus typically isn’t bad, but some nights it’s unbearable.
He slides into the booth across from me.
“What are you doing up?” I ask.
“Prince and Bianca were messing around and I can’t get back to sleep.”
