Crystal looks at it and says, “Um, how about a filter. That zit on my chin is…”
“Nope. This is Project Honesty. I’m changing my life completely. No filters. No lies.”
Finally getting some new clothes. Good-bye yellow dress!
Max likes that one right away.
He’s thinking about me. He’s following along.
Crystal rolls her eyes. “You’ve got it bad, girl.”
“Tell me about it.”
This shopping experience is much better than our last. Crystal doesn’t storm out of the dressing room and put her Walmart uniform back on. “I’m glad to be rid of the damn thing!” she says.
“What store is the most me?” I ask Crystal. “I want to start life over as my true self.”
“I liked that yellow dress. At least, I did a week ago.’ ”
“You’re right. I’ll just get a new one. It’ll be my uniform, like I’m an adult Dora the Explorer.”
Forever 21 turns out to be the ticket. They’re all knockoff red carpet looks at a fraction of the price. What can I say, I might be real, but I’m a knockoff of the original.
I look for something similar to my beloved yellow Prada gown that falls somewhere between prom and sundress. I buy a whole bag of dresses, T-shirts, and jeans. I take a dressing room selfie.Finally changed clothes! Smell and look better.
Max likes it.
Crystal only buys clothes that go with four-inch heels and false eyelashes because that’s the real her.
Standing in the middle of the mall, next to an obligatory fountain, I look into Crystal’s eyes, madman-level intense—I can feel it. This is myyippee ki-yay, motherfuckermoment. My voice cold as steel, I say, “This shopping spree ain’t over yet, baby.”
Her expression saysduh!“Obviously. We haven’t gotten shoes yet.”
“True. We need shoes, but I’m thinking of something else. Something big.” Nakatomi Tower big, and I am John McClane. “Jingle Bells” is playing in the background.
I text JP:I know things are weird between us, but I have a business proposition.
??
At least he’s talking to me.
I respond.I’d like to make an offer on GoldRush. The building and the business.
I show Crystal the text and wait for her to get excited. Instead, she says, “Girl, are you nuts?”
“Maybe. It’s a good idea, though. For one, JP can’t sue us for stealing his intellectual property and all that. Two, it can be our GoldRush headquarters. We can have desks and fresh flowers and a coffee pot—it’ll be our office. I’m thinking that we can phase out the stripping.”
She laughs. “Phase out the stripping? How does that work? Like we move in some desks and a copy machine and only have stripping a couple of hours a day?”
“I don’t know. We can work out the details later. And maybe that’s a bad idea. You are reeeeaaaally good at it.”
I already offered you the club. It’s yours.
I like the price, but what strings are attached to that deal?
I want to buy it. You already gave me enough.
Haven’t bought the yacht…yet.
