“You going to scrub that desk to death or what?” Maya asked from the doorway, startling a small scream from her.
“Don’tdothat.”
“I’ll wear a bell next time,” Maya drawled. “So Riley and I haven’t talked to you in a while.” Three days to be exact. “What’s up?”
Ann cleared her throat. “Um, nothing.”
“Yeah? Then why are you talking to yourself? Why are your cheeks so red?” Maya frowned. “Why does that look like a hickey on your neck?”
Ann slapped a hand over her neck, mortified. “Seriously?”
“No, but the fact you thought there might be one answers one question. You are vaginally compromised.”
Ann gaped at her friend and hurriedly dragged her into the classroom. “Keep your voice down. I teach small children here.”
“Who were all housed in a woman’s body at one time or another. Vaginas are not strangers to them.”
“Would you stop saying ‘vagina’?”
“How about va-jay-jay? Better?”
Ann groaned then gave into the madness and laughed. “Why are you here harassing me?”
“We miss you. That and I have a bet going on with Riley that you’ll cave to the wonder dick and drop your vendetta. She says you’ll cave. I’m hoping you’ll do me proud.” Maya shrugged. “That or you’ll end up having so much sex you start walking bowlegged. Then the school will find out what a ho you really are, fire you, and you’ll take up hooking down on Wall Street. Sadly, Riley and I will have to pretend we’ve never met you, and you’ll die lonely and alone with only your johns for company.”
Ann blinked. “All that from not talking to me for three days?”
“What can I say? I’m in a creative mood. Just finished four new pieces for an upcoming art show.”
Ann chuckled. “You artists and your weird senses of humor. Now help me tidy up here and we’ll walk back to my place.”
After cleaning the room, they left together, thankfully passing no one she knew who might overhear Maya’s R-rated mouth. The woman liked to talk at ten decibels above normal whenever it had to do with an embarrassing topic. Namely, Ann’s new sex life.
“He’s good,” Maya said. “I can tell. You actually are a little bowlegged.”
“Would you shut up?”
Maya laughed.
“He’s great. Awesome. Huge. Happy now?”
“Not as happy as you apparently.”
“Well, something you might be interested in, he met with the Blacks on Sunday. One great big happy family of blackmailers and cheats watching football together.”
“Figures the snakes would find each other and coil up into a nest.” Maya frowned. “So why haven’t you been talking to us? Tell me.”
“I’ve been busy.” She glanced around. Seeing no one near, she shared with Maya a few details about her weekend.
Maya whistled. “I am now officially jealous. He might be a snake, but he sure seems to know how to do the mambo mattress dance.”
Ann laughed and would have replied when she saw Julie and Josh walking together down the street.
Maya followed her gaze as the pair turned the corner. “Guess Julie and Dan are back. Jack still staying at their place?”
“How—?”
“Small town. Besides, I have my feelers out about our sly adversaries. The enemy is tricky.Dickytoo.”
