I’m looking in the refrigerator when I hear a knock on the door.
“It’s me,” Erin sings. Another knock. “Juju?” She manages to sound amused and threatening all at once. Only Erin. “You alive, or are the chickens running the cafe now?
I open the door wide.
“Hi,” I say, cheerful and breathless. “I’m alive.”
Erin looks me over and inhales and exhales in pure exasperation. “You did not do the deed.”
“Well, not yet.” I hold up a finger. “But something did happen.”
Her mouth drops and her eyes light up. “Do tell.”
“Let’s just say Camden knows what he is doing.” I try to hold back my grin, but it doesn’t work.
“Girl, you are not going to leave me hanging there! I assume I won’t have to tell him how to find the important parts then? I mean, he looks like he would be capable, but often the prettiest ones aren’t.”
“He said he and my clit were going to be best friends.” I cover my face and peek out, my face flaming. “And I have to say, they’re already getting alongreallywell.”
“Ahhhh,” she yells. “Attaboy, Camden! This is making mylife. And this must be why you’re here, right? To rail him against every surface?”
“Well, one can hope…but I’m just gonna make him some food, and we’re going to hang out.”
She waves me off. “None of that blasphemy.” She winks. “This is exactly why you need this dress. It is foolproof, I swear.”
“What did you bring? You were supposed to just bring that dress I left at your house…and a new razor.” I laugh.
“I did you one better. I brought this pretty black dressandthis phenomenal underwear. Thank me and Scarlett Landmark tomorrow after you ride him like your favorite horse.”
“But I don’t really like riding horses,” I start.
“Work with me here!” she cries.
I laugh. It’s so fun to provoke her.
“This dress isn’t too much during the day?”
“That dress is never too much. It will be smoking with your blonde hair.” She puts her fingers to her lips and kisses them. “Mwah.” And then she leans into the doorjamb, eyes glittering. “Saw a very tall man in a not-so-subtle hat escaping from the alley not too long ago.”
“Lots of tall men,” I say. “Lots of hats.”
“Uh-huh,” she says, grinning. “Listen, if you need someone to create a diversion for any reason, text me an eggplant and three water drops.”
I press a hand to my chest. “What would I do without you?”
“You’d be lost without me.Lost!”
“Yes, I would.”
She hugs me, and as she’s backing away, she says, “And tell Mr. Hat, if he breaks your heart, I’ll take all of his knives and scrape them over a sidewalk.”
“I’ll be sure to pass that along,” I say.
She grins and jogs down the stairs.
I take a quick shower and get ready, feeling better already. Erin was right about the dress. It’s the sexiest dress I’ve ever worn, and it fits perfectly.
As I start working on a late lunch, I hear three knocks on the door.
