Page 31 of Coming Clean

Oh dear God, what have Igotten myself into?

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“This outfit isridiculous. I look like—”

“A sexy poet,” Davidsaid.

Jeremy looked in the mirroragain and shook his head in disgust. “No one dresses like this. Notpoets, not anybody.”

“I beg to differ. Haven’tyou looked around at all those readings and lectures you’vedragged— I mean, takenme to.”

Jeremy tried to protest butDavid talked over him. “What about that little waif at thatatrocious student thing I went to last month?”

“That kid was fifteen or soand I don’t think he’d eaten in weeks. I do not want to look like astarving teenager.”

David squinted and studiedJeremy. “You look artistic, not starved.”

“I look like anidiot.”

“These are your clothes,”David pointed out.

“This shirt is from apirate costume. Costume as in Halloween party, not intended forcasually dropping by a friend’s apartment.”

“Pirates are hot though,right?”

“In movies.” The shirt wasbillowy and ridiculous. Instead of buttons it had a leather tie atthe neckline. David insisted on pairing it with black jeans and ared belt that must have been stuck into Jeremy’s wardrobe by avicious enemy, or else it had belonged to Silas theAsshole.

David had also pulled outblack boots Jeremy had purchased on a dare in college and worn onlyonce in recent years—with the pirate costume to a Halloween party.Jeremy supposed he should be glad David hadn’t found the scarf andfake earrings.

Jeremy looked in the mirrorand shuddered. “I look like an aging rent boy going to a costumeparty.”

David ignored him as herooted through Jeremy’s bathroom drawers. “Don’t you have anyeyeliner in here?”

What thefuck? “Have you ever seen me weareyeliner?”

“No, but—”

“If you say something aboutgays and guyliner I swear—”

David dismissed him with awave. “Don’t bitch. I was just hopeful.”

“I’m not wearing eyelineror this get-up.”

“Fine. Take off the shirtand just wear something tight.” He pulled out another relic fromJeremy’s closet, a t-shirt that said “What, with my tongue in yourtail?” from when he was in a production of Taming of the Shrew in college.Connor would love it.

“Okay, I’ll wear that,”Jeremy said as he bent down to pull off the boots.

“No, the bootsstay.”

Jeremy glanced in themirror. “I don’t even look like myself.”

“You look hot.”

Jeremy sighed. Did he? Hewasn’t sure anymore. Hot or ridiculous? Where was the line? “Fine.You win.”

“Damn right.” David eyedJeremy’s hair critically.

“No.” Connor liked Jeremy’shair just like it was. “This is as far as I’m going with costume.What I need to know now is what the hell to do when I getthere.”