“Well, that’s why I wanna go to this thing. I’ve been using her oils, and theywork. Kyle is frisky as he’s ever been. But Abigail told Monica that she wants to introduce even more stuff, something called a jade egg—”
In that instant, Paula Abdul’s video ends, and the wordsyonieggring out across the room, prompting stares.
“That’s so fucking gross.”
“No it’s not. And she’s gonna go into all the Kegel stuff, how to make your, you know”—Kathleen motions down to her pelvic area—“tighten back up after childbirth.”
“You’re gonna make me choke to death on my daiquiri if you keep this nasty talk up.”
“Don’t act like you’re above it, Charleigh. We all need to do what we can to keep our men happy. And this goes beyond our men. She’s promising to wake the divine feminine in all of us.”
“What does that evenmean?” Charleigh howls.
This clearly stumps Kathleen. She gazes down in her glass, stirs her straw through her frozen drink. “I don’t know,” she says, her voice small. “But I’m going to find out.”
36
Jane
I twist in my sheets, can’t get comfortable. We got to the river early today—Luke, Julia, and I—before everyone else showed up, and after being out there for so long, the sun torched my skin.
I’m pink all over, hot but covered with chills at the same time, and a little steamed inside.
Luke. Mom.
At least my sunburn’s bad enough that I told him not to expect me in his shed tonight.
I get the whole free-spirit thing. AndI’ma free spirit, too, but he got a little too close to Blair for my comfort. Or rather, he letherget a little too close to him.
How would he feel if I let Tommy or one of the other boys creep on me like that?
I’m mad at Blair, too, which is irrational because she doesn’t know we’re really together.
And I’m pissed about that, pissed that we have to keep thisa secret.
But we do.
From Mom, from Julia.
Of course, Julia wanted to join us again today. I swear she somehow figured out that Luke and I are in love, and of course, she wants to tear that down, so there we were, Julia riding shotgun, me squeezed in the back, hot wind lashing my hair as we weaved through the backcountry roads.
When we got to the swimming hole, I dove in first, the icy water jolting me out of my heat stupor.
Julia just sat on the banks, watching me and Luke swim. He was real careful not to get near me, acting instead like we’re brother and sister, or best buds, when all I wanted to do was wrap my legs around his waist, have him devour me.
Then the rest of the teens trickled in, bringing a boom box and a cooler full of beer. Tommy even brought his bong, the sides of the glass thick with resin.
I could have ignored Julia, pretended she wasn’t watching—and grading my every move. Like how when Blair removed her bikini top, I did as well, flinging it on the deck while Tommy hooted at us.
The boys shimmied out of their bottoms, letting their parts dangle in front of us like it was no big deal. Luke took his trunks off, too, but stayed in the water. I prolly woulda strangled him if he had actually shown himself like that to Blair.
Boobs are one thing, in my mind, but private parts are a whole other.
All the more reason that I got so angry when I saw how closehe was letting Blair get to him, her tits on full display, inches from him.
I hate that this is making me feel like one of those possessive girls. We might have to sayfuck itand just be together, let everyone know.
But I know what a bad idea that is.
