“Why?” I question, not liking how they’re talking about Rich.
“Because of his scars. That’s why he’s always hiding them. He’s self-conscious.”
“That’s kinda mean, don’t you think?”
“Sure it is. But the Annies here don’t care about being nice. If you want to make it around here, Mindy, you’ll end up getting in touch with your inner mean streak too.”
Taking a step back, I drop her hand, wiping the seasoning dust off on my pants. “I don’t think I have one of those. I’m not a mean person,” I whisper shout, unable to hear myself over the noise going on in the background.
Autumn only smiles. “I wasn’t one either until I started dating Phantom. If you’re not careful, a bitch will slide in and try to take your man. They think they own the guys, but none of the Annies have been able to convince the men here to make them their Ol’ Lady. Not like me and Amber.”
“Ol’ Lady?”
Amber proudly shows off her ring. “It’s basically the biker term for wife, though it doesn’t always have to mean marriage.” She shoots Autumn a look of pity, which Autumn immediately brushes off.
“Hey now, Phantom and I haven’t been together very long. I’m not ready to be anyone’s wife. I’m perfectly happy with just being his Ol’ Lady for now.”
Amber giggles. “Girl, I think one day soon you’ll be changing your mind. I see the way you and phantom are with each other.That’s real love there. Anyway, enough about us. Tell us about you, Mindy. What’s going on between you and Krampus?”
Nervously, I push a piece of hair behind my ear, wondering if they already know. “I like him. Like a lot, but sometimes he can be…”
“Cranky?” Amber questions.
“Cantankerous?” Autumn adds.
Another girl walks by and laughs. “If you guys are talking about Krampus, he’s definitely crotchety for someone so young. It’s a pity. He’d be kind of handsome if his face wasn’t so fucked up.” She giggles again, but this time no one is laughing, they’re too focused on the man standing in the doorway with raging eyes.
Before anyone can say anything, he abruptly turns and leaves the room.
“Jesus, Tiffany, could you be any more of a bitch? Rich is one of the nicest guys I know. I know he can be a bit of an asshole sometimes, but he’d do anything for someone he cares about,” Amber scolds her.
“Like I care what you think, Amber.” Tiffany’s eyes roll wildly before turning to me. “So, you must be thebaker?” She says it like it’s the most awful thing in the world, glaring at me like I just became her mortal enemy for no reason.
“Um, yeah, I guess so.”
“So, why are you here?”
Autumn jumps in. “She was invited, Tiffany. Back the fuck off.”
Tiffany just sneers. “I was just trying to figure out how a semi-pretty girl could possibly be interested in someone like him?”
Before Amber or Autumn can jump to his defense, I pipe in. “Look, lady, I don’t know who you are, but how dare you come in here and try to analyze and judge me for who I enjoy beingaround. Unlike you, I judge people for who they are, not what they look like. And to me, Rich is pretty fudging amazing. So, do me a favor and take your nasty attitude somewhere else. It’s Thanksgiving and you can take that hatefulness elsewhere.”
“Fudging? Gross. Please tell me you aren’t one ofthosegirls. The kind that doesn’t cuss and thinks she’s better than everyone else.”
“From where I’m standing, honey,” I say sweetly, holding my head up high. “It doesn’t take much to be better than you, and besides, I hope you know that cussing doesn’t make you tough, it just makes you loud and ugly.”
A few of the girls snort, as Tiffany loses her smile, her mouth opening like she wants to snap back, but before she can, Amber claps her hands loudly.
“Alright,” she says, her voice commanding the room. “That’s enough. It’s Thanksgiving, not an episode ofGirls Gone Wild. If you’re hungry, grab a plate. If you’re not, grab an attitude adjustment, especially you, Tiffany.”
Tiffany flips her blonde locks before obnoxiously stomping away.
Autumn grins, clearly enjoying the show.
“And this, Mindy, is why I love Amber so damn much.”
Tiffany’s departure reawakens everyone.
