“Yup.”
“Excellent choice.”
I’d lost Toni, so I turned to Jet.“What’s happening?”
She smiled her dazzling smile and urged, “Don’t fight it.Tod’s crazy, but he’s really good at it.He won’t do that first thing you don’twant.And swear to God, he works his ass off so all you have to do is show up,get your hair done, your face done, put your dress on, drink champagne, marryyour guy and be happy.He’s a miracle worker.”
“But Darius and I aren’t engaged,” I pointed out.
“Excuse me,” Tod called me.
I looked to him.
“It’s been what?Three years?Not even that.Two and a half,at most,” he said then pointed at Indy.“Married and pregnant.”He pointed atJules.“Married and has a kid.”His finger bopped between Roxie and Ava.“Married.Married.”Then to Sadie.“Engaged.”Then another bop between Stellaand Ally.“Shacked up.”Then Jet.“Married, new baby.”He looked at me.“Anyquestions?”
“Holy crap,” I whispered.
“Yeah, strap in, sister.The Hot Bunch don’t fuck around.Comprende?” Daisy declared.
“The Hot Bunch?”I asked.
“Lee, and Eddie, and Vance, Hank, Luke, Hector, Mace, RenandDarius,” she explained.“The Hot Bunch.”
Oh man.
But, I was seeing this.
And there was me, packing my own damned bags, doubling up ontoiletries and essentially moving myself inbefore day three.
“Holy crap,” I repeated.
Tod waved his hands beside his head.“I can’t work likethis.I need a season.What’s it gonna be?Spring?Summer?Winter?Fall?Idon’t see you as a fall.Maybe a summer.So?What’s it going to be?”hedemanded of me.
“I’m not sure what you’re talking about,” I admitted.
“The season you’re going to get married,” he explained.
“Again, I’m not engaged.”
“Leave it to me, my man,” Toni told him.“I’ll get you whatyou need.Give me a day or two.”
What?
“Are you free Tuesday?”Tod asked Toni.
“I can be,” Toni answered.
“Martinis at the Cruise Room.Stevie and my treat.Get aseason.And thoughts on venue.And a theme.I’ll bring swatches.”
“You got it, brother,” she said, clicking her teeth,squinting her eye and pointing at him.
Tod snatched up the scrapbook and turned to his partner.“Come on, honey.We gotta go get some swatches.”
And with that, he swanned out, the bell ringing his exit.
“’Bye, girlies,” Stevie called, all smiles, clearly used tothis crazy.“Lovely to not quite meet you Malia and Toni,” he finished as hefollowed.
The bell rang again, and Stevie was gone.
