Page 19 of Driftwood Daffodil

Like the delight he’d get out of a good game of dress up. Or his need to religiously watch project makeover, and there were the posters of Jensen Ackles plastered all over his room. I’d seen that man’s abs more than any other man on the planet. Not that I was complaining.

Memphis shrugged. “It’s not my fault they didn’t have better uniforms.”

“And how long did it take you to get ready this morning?” I asked while rolling my eyes over his crisp and clean black t-shirt and unwrinkled jeans.

“There’s nothing wrong with looking good. You should try it sometime.”

Ugh, no thanks. “I prefer the extra sleep, thank you very much.”

Memphis cocked a brow at my Elmo shorts. “Did you raid Knox’s closet?”

“Hey, Elmo is the in thing in some circles.”

He huffed and crossed his arms. “Preschool playgroups don’t count as circles.”

“I happen to think Elmo is cute.” Maw Maw said from inside.

A smug grin spread across my face. “See.”

I could practically hear my best friend’s thoughts when he shot me a look. He was wondering if god was punishing him. Though I would argue that without me he wouldn’t know how to duct tape a muffler back on a truck.

Speaking of which, I should probably apply a couple more strips. I wasn’t exactly paying attention when I picked Veda up, but I was pretty sure I heard something scrape.

“Well, I’ll leave you two alone.” Maw Maw paused before walking away. “Remember young lady, this is a God fearing Christian house.”

“Okay Maw Maw.” I sang back.

“What did you do?” Memphis cocked a brow and climbed the stairs to join me on the deck. “She doesn’t give you the god fearing Christian house speech unless you really messed up.”

He wasn’t wrong. Usually those lectures are reserved for when I argued the materialistic value of holidays like Easter and Christmas. Or when Maw Maw felt one of us needed to cleanse our sins, which lately was every other day. And by one of us I meant me. My sister’s idea of rebellion was saying damn instead of gosh darn.

Once upon a time Veda was normal. One night was all it took to blow up our entire world. We were doing fine until then. Kato worked hard to provide for us. Both Veda and I were doing well in school. Now my sister was a single mom, caring for the product of her attack, and we were living with our grandmother.

Maw Maw said this was just one of life’s steps down. Sure, if that step down was off a thousand foot cliff.

I waved my hand through the air, “she’s just mad because she lost at golf.”

Maw Maw took golf seriously. A little too seriously if you asked me.

“Did she manage to keep all her clubs in one piece this time?” Memphis asked while taking the wicker chair next to mine.

Last time Maw Maw lost she broke her nine iron.

“I think so.” I gave him a quick point of my finger, “but her bag has seen better days.”

Lighting bugs flew around the yard while we sat there quietly watching Knox. He was happy as a clam sitting in the grass in his own Elmo outfit, with the tip of a ceramic hat in his mouth. As calm and normal as this was, I knew what was coming.

The party last night was at Memphis’s boyfriend’s house. The last thing I wanted to do was talk about my failed relationship with someone who had the perfect one. It was sickening how in love Memphis and Chuck were. I wanted to throw up every time I was around them. There was such a thing as too much public affection.

“So?”

Here we go.

“Last night happened?”

“Which part of last night are you referring to? My amazing consumption of alcohol or finding Simon in a room with Cindy?”

“Actually I was referring to the bathing suit fashion show you gave everyone… Wait…” Memphis tipped his head my way. “Simon cheated on you with Cindy.”

---