“He left me to die in a fire.”
“He…what?”
“The breakroom caught fire while I was naked on the table and he ran away.”
“That rat bastard. I’ll kill him myself. Oh, wait, I can’t because you told me I’m already a dead woman.”
Wren grinned. “You know what? I’ll let you live long enough to kill Serge.”
“You are such a kind person.”
“Ha! That’s what someone else told me recently.” Her lady bits suddenly reminded Wren that she was the dumbest woman alive.
“That someone sounds like a guy.”
“How can you tell?”
“Spill, sister,” Barbie demanded.
“Where are you?”
“Spill, sister. Stop changing the subject. I’m in Aspen.”
“I love Aspen.”
“So help me God, I will charter a plane straight into Longmont if you don’t. Spill. The. Tea.”
Wren laughed. “If I’m not killing you outright now, I at least get to torture you a bit. Hang on.” She started her car, hoping Elias wouldn’t hear. Her phone connected to the speakers. Barbie’s impatient huffs now filled the interior. “I’m hesitating because I also kind of owe you because of Serge.”
“Oh? Ooohh. Yeah. Firemen, am I right?”
“Almost right. In this case, it was a paramedic.”
Barbie paused. “Wait, did you get hurt for real? Wren, are you okay? Are you in the hospital? I can be right there.” The genuine concern in her friend’s voice touched Wren.
“No, I’m fine, I’m fine. I promise. I’ve already left the scene of the crime.” Wren blushed as heat rose from her chest. The chorus kicked in twice as loudly:
I’ve lost my mind, I’ve lost my mind, I’vecompletelylost my mind.
“Scene of the crime?” Barbie’s voice went up an octave. “What is going on? Is there a policeman?”
Wren laughed. “Sorry, no. I need more coffee before I try to communicate this early. I’m leaving the paramedic’s house right now.”
Barbie paused. “Lyons is in the same time zone as Aspen right?”
“Last time I checked.”
“Are you sure you’re not an hour ahead of me? Because if you are, you’re leaving really, really early in the morning. Like, it’s not even morning yet, actually.”
“It appears so. Hey, then why areyoucalling me this early?”
“Don’t change the subject. Would you by chance be sneaking away?”
“Maybe?”
“You know, it’s a real pain in the ass trying to get anything out of you,” Barbie huffed. “Are you leaving this early because he’s a bad lay? Or did he kick you out without breakfast? Because if he did, I’ll kill him right after Serge.”
That’s my Barbie. Rabidly loyal.
