“Fuck, you’re cool, Betty.” It’s supposed to be an inside thought, but it slips out. Betty laughs, and I feel my cheeks burn.
“Maybe I should get more tattoos,” I say to no one.
Davis grunts. “You don’t need more tattoos to be cool.”
“Easy for you to say. You have tons of them.”
“I’m not cool.”
“I think you are.” Once again, the words are out before I can stop them. But instead of running away, Davis smiles softly.
“I think you’re cool, too, Cece.”
The wall I’ve constructed between us since the moment we met seems to shimmer and melt away, leaving me exposed and trembling in a crowded room. My nipples tighten and I fold an arm across my chest. I really wish Mrs. Muldoon wasn’t sitting right next to me. “Um, thanks….”
My horny inappropriate focus is broken by Colin slapping his knees and standing in the time-honoured tradition of a Kiwi male leaving a room. “I’d better go. I’ve gotta take my kid to his basketball game. But I’ll come pick you up at eleven, JGH?”
“No problem,” Jake says. “That good with you, Betty?”
“Perfect.” Betty shuts her laptop. “Anyone need anything else from me?”
Ada shakes her head. “You’re a fuckinglegend. I’m glad you’re on our side.”
Betty’s grin is black cat evil. “Right back atcha. I’m gonna go, too. Give Vanessa a call. Come on, Mum.”
Mrs. Muldoon struggles to her feet, then looks around at us. “Well… I won’t say it’s been a lovely conversation, but ithasbeen nice to see you all again.”
“Thanks,” I say as Ada presses a palm to her heart. Jake’s grip around her tightens.
Everyone trails out until it’s just the four of us: Jake, Ada, Davis, and me. There’s more room on the couch, but I stay exactly where I am, squashed up against Davis and looking at anything but him.
“What can I do to help?” Davis asks, and Ada’s gaze flicks from me and back to Davis. A sly smile spreads across her face, and pressure squeezes my chest.
What do you want?I remember his asking me, and suddenly I wanted to suggest he help by coming back to my hotel room for yet another shower. A much nicer shower.
But Jake beats me to the punch. “My nan’s been on me for ages about getting her gutters cleaned. You and I can get that done before I head over to Bryan’s?”
“Sure.” Davis stands, taking his heat with him.
I stay frozen, looking up as he plucks a baseball cap from the small dining table and puts it on. Backwards. My ovaries deliver a standing ovation.
“I’ll see you later, I guess,” Davis mutters to me.
“Bye.” My own voice is hoarse.
Ada waves. “Later, boyfriend. Later, Mall Pig.”
Jake kisses her goodbye, then he and Davis leave. Now it’s just me and my best friend, alone again.
“Heavy,” I say.
“Yeah.” Ada chews her lower lip. “Jake and Betty still want to go to the reunion, and I wanna do what you want to do. Think we should go?”
I roll the idea around in my mind. There are plenty of reasons for us to avoid the impending shitshow, but knowing Ada, Jake, and Bettywould be by my side is enough to give me the strength to see this weekend through.
“I think so,” I say. “Besides… it would be a shame to let the gold dress go to waste.”
Ada smiles. “Definitely.”
