“It’s in a drawer.”
“Yes?” she replies expectantly.
“In my desk.”
“For fuck’s sake, Tris, this is like pulling teeth.”
“At the mortuary.” I wince as she fixes me with a flat stare.
“Urgh.” She rolls her eyes. “Of course, it bloody is.”
“Sorry, I meant to bring it home, but I just forgot about it. How was I supposed to know I’d need it to perform a body swap?” I reply.
“Come on, then.” Dusty swaggers toward the door. “Chan, are you coming?”
“Where?” She looks up from scowling at her phone.
“We have to go to the mortuary where Tristan works.”
“As creepy and not fun as that sounds,” she pouts, “I’m afraid I’m gonna have to take a rain check. Ginger is having a crisis. Honestly, I don’t know what’s got her dick in a knot, but you’d think she was pregnant by the way she’s carrying on. It’s always drama with that one.”
“That’s why she’s such a great drag queen.” Dusty smiles fondly. “She really nailed that Shirley Bassey number in the end.”
“She did,” Chan says quietly as she approaches Dusty. “Look, I just want to say now, in case you figure out a way to switch bodies back, which I’m absolutely supporting, by the way. It’s not fair for Tris to be kicked out of his own digs, but I wanted to say… no matter what happens, I’m so glad we had this time together. That yesterday we got to say all the things left unsaid when you died.”
I watch as Dusty cups Chan’s face and I can feel the love between them. I wish there was some way for them to have this without involving my body, but I can’t come up with anything. If only Chan could see spirits too. Okay, she wouldn’t be able to touch Dusty, but she could at least talk to her.
“Love you, princess.” Dusty wraps her arms around Chan.
“Love you too, Dusty Bun.” Chan smiles as she squeezes tightly.
“Urgh.” Dusty rolls her eyes, pulling back with a smile. “I knew I should never have let Tristan make you watchStranger Things.”
“I could singNever Ending Storyfor you if you like.” Chan grins.
“I love you more than anything, princess, but we both know you’re better off lip-syncing.”
Chan laughs even though her eyes are wet. “Saying goodbye a second time is harder than I thought.”
“Then don’t say goodbye.” Dusty wipes away the tear sliding down Chan’s cheek. “We’ll always find each other. We’re forever, never forget that.”
Chan steps back and nods. “I’ll see you soon, Tristan,” she says to the air, not sure where I’m standing.
I don’t answer, there’s no point, but even if I did, there’s nothing I can say that will make her feel better. I watch as she lets herself out of the shop, leaving the door open, and disappears down the alley.
“Poor dear,” Evangeline says as she concentrates on her knitting. “But it will work itself out, these things often do.”
“What do you mean?” Dusty stares at her intently.
“Close the door on your way out, dearie, you’re letting in a draught,” she says calmly and disappears in the blink of an eye.
“I hate it when she does that cryptic shit.” Dusty huffs out a frustrated breath. “Come on, let’s get out of here before Bruce appears and I have to explain why I’m wearing you like a masquerade costume.”
We step out onto the street and the door slams behind us in a loud jarring ring. Mrs Abernathy links her arm in mine and the three of us head down the alley together.
“Dusty?” I say after a moment's contemplative silence. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
