Dear Mr. Baptiste…
Jerkface…
To whom it mayconcern…
Ezra,
Thanks for getting the happy couple toLilou.I really appreciate everything you’re doing for the party. I’m sure yourflorist knows exactly what she’s doing. She can just do her thing. If she’staking it over, I don’t think I need to be involved with that part. As for thewine, I have zero thoughts. I’ll defer to your expertise. Unless you don’t havetime. Then we can just make Wyatt do it.
See you Friday.
MM.
Also, in case you’re interested, I’m wearing a blousetomorrow. And a pencil skirt. But no plans for a coat so far.
I pressed sendbefore I could overthink it. Although in hindsight, I probably could have comeup with something way wittier had I given it a few more minutes.
Refusing to dwellon it, I turned off my phone and shut off my lamp. Of course, it took meanother hour and a half to fall asleep. And when I finally did, I dreamed of astrong jaw and a better brush that would get the arc of his eyebrows right andthe curve of his barely there smile. I dreamed of dark, dark eyes and a weird fascinationwith my coat.
I woke upregretting my late-night email and wishing I cared about wine, and flowers, andBlack Soul Records.
I also woke to asimple, concise, infuriating email.
From: [email protected]
Date: February 21, 2017 01:19:38 EST
Subject: Re: Friday Night Affirmation
Stubborn woman.
Chapter Four
“You’re officiallydead to me.”
Vera collapsedagainst the wall gasping for breath. “I’m officially dead,” she panted.
I wiped my sweatyforehead with the back of my hand and glared at her. “I can’t feel my legs.”
“I can’t feel mybutt,” she countered.
“I can feel mineway too much. After what I just went through I’m pretty sure that machine owesme dinner.”
Vera giggled, butit was weak and breathless. We’d walked out of spin class like pros,high-fiving random strangers on the way, and sipping from our water bottleslike we could care less about hydration.
But once we’dturned the corner, we’d let our true colors shine. I couldn’t suck down mywater fast enough, and someone had crawled inside my body and lit my lungs onfire.Owie.
“Maybe spin classwas a bad idea,” Vera relented. “We should have at least started in thebeginner’s class.”
My eyes bulged.“That wasn’t the beginner’s class?”
“Does that make itbetter or worse?”
I glared at her.“Vera, I can’t move my body. My muscles have gone on strike.” Demonstrating mypoint, I waved my foot around weakly before dropping it back to the ground.“You could have at least warned me that I was facing an expert level class.”
“What would thathave mattered?” she laughed.
