Page 38 of Pen Me

“Yeeeah.” She stretched the word, causing me to look back at her all scandalized.

That bitch snapped the picture, too!

My jaw dropped and I whirled on her, grabbing my side.

“You just flashed my whole ass to the camera!” I laughed, still stunned by the encounter.

“Are you okay?”

“Wha–? Yeah, I’m okay. I’m fucking mortified. I can’t send him that!”

She looked down at the camera and then up at me before slowly turning it. My ass would never be defined as wide, but damned if her maneuvering hadn’t produced a nice little bubble.

“How the fuck did you manage that illusion?” I asked, moving back to the mirror and trying to recreate the look for myself.

She snorted and stole her camera back, before I had a chance to drop it.

“Bitch, I’m serious. Do you see my ass in that picture? I ain’t got no ass like that.”

Maelyn was cackling. “You do in them boots. They’re yours. Wear them on the visiting day when lockdown is over. You can pick these up then and take them up there.”

“You have lost your ever-loving mind. I am not about to personally take my ass up there with those things in hand!”

Maelyn had tears by the time I was done protesting and her laughter turned to short howls, “So, your boyfriend is in there forattempted murder, but you’re afraid of a little hand to hand, is that what you’re tellin’ me?”

I instantly sobered, which only sent her deeper into her giggle fits. “Stop. Stop it, your face.”

“Fuck you!” I spat out before laughing with her.

It felt good to spend the day with her.

We stopped for pizza on the way home. I’d been so lost in our laughter and conversation when we arrived, that I hadn’t realized where we were until we walked out, and I was confronted with the row of bikes.

“Jesus.” I hurried toward her car. “Come on.”

“What?” She ran toward the car and hopped in.

“Why didn’t you tell me this place was across from the Dirty Savage’s club house? What if my dad would have showed up?”

“What do you–? Are you still not talking to him?” Her eyes bugged.

I groaned and rubbed my face.

“Just get us out of here, okay,” I whispered.

She cleared her throat and started the ignition, offering me a soft, apologetic smile as we turned onto the boulevard.

“Sorry,” she whispered, pulling up in front of my house.

“No worries. You didn’t know any better.” I reached around her neck and drew her in for a hug. “Thanks for everything. I needed today!”

She squeezed me back and kissed my cheek.

“I missed you. I’m glad to see you relaxing and fitting back in.”

I nodded. “I’m getting there. Day by day.”

“Well, tomorrow swing by. You can come get your pictures… then get your man.”

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