“After.Ellis accidentally got me in the face.”
Cath and Zeke’s bathroom was cluttered with varieties of scented soap and lotions; towels hung everywhere, not to mention bits of hand-washing.It was messy, but comforting.
“Oh, God.”Catherine rolled her eyes.“Ellis popped you on the nose and Del saw it?”
“He might have.”Rowan dabbed a little harder.Another tear trickled down her cheek, eyes watering from the stinging.“My nose isn’t broken though, just bloody.Thanks for asking.”
“What did he do?Is Ellis in the infirmary?How many hits?”Catherine’s mohawk nodded cheerfully as she eyed the pile of cotton balls.
“He didn’t do anything to Ellis, he just sparred with me—ran me ragged.Then he set me to the heavy bag.I think I lost my temper.”
“So whathappened?God, talking to you is like pulling teeth.”Cath rolled her eyes again dramatically, doing her best to look like a sarcastic teenager—and succeeding pretty well, since she was just barely over twenty and her tone was heavily weighted with irony.
“If you’d quit interrupting, I could tell you.”Rowan finished cleaning her knuckles.“There, that’s the best I can do for right now.Anyway, I kicked the heavy bag, shouted something not very nice, and left.”
“That’s it?”Cath’s jaw dropped.“That’s all?You didn’t throw anything?Zap him?Anything?”
“I kind of doubt ‘zapping’ Justin would be a good idea.I did shock him while we were sparring, though.”Rowan’s tone was dry and unamused.“I need some advice here, Cath, and I have to admit I’m not getting any.”You’re as bad as Hilary.She stopped, waiting for the burst of pain.
It arrived, but strangely muted.
“Personally I think you’re crazy for dating him anyway, but that’s just me.”Cath popped her gum afresh.
Rowan swept the bloody cotton balls together, tossed them into the trash.Bandaging would do no good.She’d heal quickly anyway; she always did.
“Why does everyone assume I’m dating him?”She capped the antiseptic, hauled herself up off the toilet lid to put the bottle away in the mirrored cabinet.The bathroom was also, of course, decorated with a lava lamp and a print of Frankenstein.Half-empty bottles of nail polish in different shades scattered over the counter, and an ammo belt hung by the door.
“Maybe because you’re sleeping with him?”Cath said sweetly.
“Oh, for God’s sake.”Rowan sighed.“When did everyone get so interested in my life?”
“You’re a very interesting girl, sweetie.Here’s a shirt.”Catherine held up a green-and-white lump of material.“Need some pants?”
“No, there’s not much blood on these, I’ll wear them.I’m starving.”Rowan examined her sports bra in the mirror—one or two spots, that was all.She took the shirt and held it up.“Good God.Where did you get a Lucky Care Bear T-shirt?”
“Oh, around and about.Let’s see how it looks.”Catherine’s eyes were sparkling under their heavy coat of eyeliner.“Yum.Makes your tits look cute and perky.”
“It’s too small,” Rowan complained, then had to grab at the counter as a wave of dizziness swept over her.
“You okay?”The younger woman’s voice sounded very far away.“Ro?”
“I’m fine,” Rowan said dreamily.“I promise.Just tired and hungry, that’s all.”
Catherine examined her, eyes narrowed and cherry-painted mouth pursed.“You look like you’ve just seen a ghost.And believe me, I should know.”
Rowan shrugged.Cath and Zeke’s suite had two rooms, a long brown velvet couch, and psychedelic posters on each wall.No plants except for a cactus on Zeke’s bedside table.Magazines and dirty clothes were scattered everywhere.A stick of strawberry incense fumed in a holder on Catherine’s worktable.
For someone with such a precise, detail-oriented mind, she certainly is messy.Rowan caught herself smiling.It was full of life and the stamp of Cath’s personality.“I suppose I’m just a little surprised.I didn’t expect Justin to act that way.”
“What way?Like a jerk with a jealous streak?”Cath rested one hand on a cocked hip and regarded Rowan with a very adult and bitter half-smile.
“Jealous?”Rowan touched her nose delicately with her fingertips.It wasn’t swelling much.Cath had insisted on applying ice and ibuprofen.“I don’t think he’s ever?—”
“Come on, Price, he doesn’t let you goanywherealone.I’m surprised you can visit the bathroom by yourself.Del probably saw Ellis getting sweaty with you and went into he-man mode.It happens.”
“I’m sure it does.”Rowan pulled the hem of the T-shirt down and gave herself a final once-over in the full-length mirror Catherine had draped a black feather boa over.“I just don’t see him as the jealous type.”
“You’re dense.”Catherine padded over to the unmade king-size bed, dropped down, and began working her feet into her boots.
