Abigail shakes herself and holds out her hand. “Hey, hi. Wow! You’re just…stunning. I thought I
was into guys, but you’re seriously making me rethink that. I mean,” she waves her hand in the air in a
vague hourglass shape, “wowza.”
Cara stares at her, face flat for a minute, then slowly, a grin takes over her face. The laughter
follows soon after. “Jesus, you’re something else. Nice to meet you. Killer hair, by the way.”
Abigail flushes and pats her pink hair, tumbled around her shoulders like raspberry cotton candy.
“Thank you, I just broke up with my guy, and I needed a change, desperately.”
Cara hums and taps her hand on her thigh. Her nails are a dark, nearly midnight blue. I tip
sideways to look past her, giving Janey a little wave as she stops at the doorway. I introduce her to
Abigail, and she works her magic in minutes, getting Abigail’s entire life story and offering a
sympathetic ear as she spills the details of her betrayal.
“I’m so sorry that happened to you,” Janey says, pressing her hands on her chest. She looks
heartbroken on Abigail’s behalf.
“I am too,” Cara murmurs. “But my sister gave me some advice once that I think is appropriate in
this situation.”
“Lay it on me,” Abigail says with a wave of her hand.
“It was something to the effect of ‘when you fall off the horse, get out there and ride a cowboy.’ I
don’t know. I didn’t take it at the time, but I think it’s pretty solid advice.”
Abigail cackles and claps her hands. “Well, I think it’s spectacular advice. I think I need to head
out and pick up some men. Any idea where I could go?”
Cara just smiles like the cat that ate the canary. “Oh, I have some ideas.”
35
MAYA
“I s it always this loud?” I yell in Janey’s direction.
She smiles, wincing as she gets bumped into. Again. We tried to stick to the corner, but
Abigail is bouncing around like an overeager puppy, and I’m afraid we’ll lose her. “I think so. I don’t
really go out much, but…Keith took me to a couple of clubs, and yeah, they’re pretty loud.” The
hesitation in her voice before she says his name is weird, but I’m too distracted to question it.
“It’s so loud,” I yell again. I want to cover my ears, but I’m also completely fascinated by the
mass of humanity around me.
