Page 96 of Look at Her and Die

“Well,” she said, “I’m not letting you go alone.”

I winked. “I like you a lot, Searcy.”

She stuck out her tongue. “Just like?”

My eyes moved to hers, and I studied her for a long moment before I admitted, “Not just like.”

Eyes twinkling, she said, “It’s for my sparkling personality, isn’t it?”

“Of course.” I picked her up and threw her over my shoulder.

Then I took her to my office so we could christen that space, too.

Twenty-Six

One day, I’m gonna wake up and be productive. That’s probably not today.

—Searcy to Posy

SEARCY

What did one wear to a dinner party that not only were they not invited to, but also they weren’t wanted at?

Posy was no help.

Neither was Scottie, who was home for the weekend.

“Y’all are going to have to guess or something,” I said to the two girls with me. “I’m supposed to be there in four hours, and I still have to get home, do my hair, and be ready to go before six.”

Scottie and Calliope exchanged a look before Calliope said, “Simple and black would be my suggestion.”

“You have a banging body. I’d go with a short black dress. It’ll piss off the ’rents, and then you can drive my brother mad all night.” Scottie winked before searching through a rack of black dresses.

Scottie and Calliope had formed quite a pair.

I didn’t know when it happened, but at some point they’d started talking in text, and they’d continued to be friendly even when she was home.

It was the weirdest thing, seeing as I’d had to break their fight up months ago.

“This one,” Calliope declared.

I looked over to see her holding up a black dress.

“That’ll barely cover my vagina,” I retorted.

“It’ll cover everything,” she affirmed. “Try it out.”

I reluctantly grabbed the dress and hustled to the dressing room.

I shimmied my clothes off, then wiggled the dress on.

I stared at myself in the mirror for so long that the two girls knocked on the door.

“I can’t wear this,” I said when I opened the door.

Both girls stared at me, then immediately replied, “Oh, you’re wearing this one.”

By the time that I was coming out of the bathroom four hours later, my hair curled and my makeup just right, Posy was in the bedroom stripping naked to shower himself.

---