Page 39 of Beg, Borrow, or Steal

Jack (11:00 AM):Umm…there seem to be about ten different whole pies on my porch…is there a pie fairy in this town I don’t know about?

Emily (11:15 AM):Yes—but this time it was me. They’re “I’m sorry for snotting on your shirt” pies.

Jack (11:16 AM):That’s a very specific pie name. You didn’t have to buy me the entire display case, though.

Emily (11:17 AM):Well, as an official member of Rome, Kentucky, now, it’s important you know your favorite type of pie from the Pie Shop. Think of this as your inauguration into the community.

Jack (11:18 AM):Hey, so…I don’t think I ever said this last night, but…I think it’s incredible you wrote a book. I hope you’re proud. You should be.

Emily (11:20 AM):You haven’t read it. You might be taking that back if you found out how terrible it is.

Jack (11:21 AM):Nah. You did the hardest part. Putting words on the paper. Well done. What made you start writing?

Emily (11:25 AM):The simple reason: I’ve always wanted to try it. The complicated reason: Because real life started hurting too much.

Jack (11:27 AM):I’m sorry life has hurt.

Jack (11:28 AM):I never thought my leaving would cause you so much pain

Emily (11:29 AM):Go eat your pie.

Chapter Twelve

Emily

“Where are your boobs?” asks Amelia.

“How rude! They’re right here!” Annie states, pointing to her chest, hiding somewhere behind the cotton-candy-pink, A-line dress. It has a delicate fabric belt in the same color as the dress, with a cute little bow on the front and white lace trimming on the bottom hem. It’s one from my grandma’s old wardrobe that we found while going through her closet after she died. It was in a little box in the bottom. A treasure trove of vintage dresses from what looks like the ’50s.

My heart squeezes that I never knew these existed. That she never pulled them out for us to play dress-up in where she could see us laughing and enjoying each other’s company. My grandma was a very private lady. Kind and sweet—but reserved. The only person who likely knew all her secrets was Mabel—her best friend. Maybe she was open with her husband, but he had died before I was born, so I don’t know what sort of relationship they had.

I guess she and I were alike in the fact that we prefer to keep our business to ourselves.

“How did she walk in these things?” Annie asks, stumbling through the living room in the matching pink pumps.

Amelia is losing it laughing. “Annie—I mean this in the best way, you look like a ten-year-old playing dress-up in that outfit.”

It’s true. The chest is like three sizes too big, and the lower hem sits closer to Annie’s ankles than her knees. “Okay, well let’s see how well you pull these off!”

She throws a lime-green version of a similar-style dress to Amelia. “Yes, please! Now I truly can live out my fantasy of being Audrey Hepburn.” Amelia is well and truly obsessed with the iconic actress. Well, we all are now, but Amelia is the one who introduced us to her through the movieRoman Holiday.We watched it together during our very first girls’ night before she and Noah were officially together and she was still just a pop star hiding out in our small town for a breather.

Amelia stands with a sassy smile, slips out of her jeans and tee, and steps into the dress. She turns to me and lifts her dark brown hair out of the way so I can zip it for her.

Annie immediately dies laughing. Amelia frowns. “Good god. How did I manage to lose all my shape?”

“Your skin looks like a cadaver!” Annie howls.

Amelia frowns at her. “You’ve changed. I miss my sweet Anna-banana.”

Annie tries to subdue her smile. “I’m sorry. A very, verybeautifulcadaver. Your turn, Em.”

I’m hit in the face with a wad of red fabric. I roll my eyes and follow Amelia’s lead, stripping down in the living room.

Amelia points in the general vicinity of my ass. “That’s not fair. You can’t wear sexy panties on a random Tuesday night.”

Annie laughs. “You still don’t know Emily very well, then. She’s all about luxury lingerie whether it’s Monday or Sunday.”

Amelia frowns. “You’re really not planning on meeting a datelater tonight? You just wear stuff like that on the regular?” No one would believe the world-famous pop star Rae Rose was askingmethat question. Everyone would expect her to be the glamorous, high-maintenance one. But I’ve found she’s the most down-to-earth normal gal on the planet.

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