Page 71 of Strays
I get it. It’s the bunch-up. That weird urge to curl into a tight ball together, preferably somewhere hidden. It’s something my brothers and I used to do as kids when we were really scared, but we stopped when we were teenagers. I didn’t even know nyras felt the same thing.
We all respond, shifting in around her until we’re packed tight. It’s nice, being like this with her. But the mood’s awkward now, heavy, and it doesn’t take long for us to become the center of attention.
Alice calls out from the other side of the yard. “Reminder: this is a family barbecue. Save the bonding stuff for after dessert.”
Jo lets out a half laugh and starts to move, so we shift to give her space again. A little later, the conversations pick up, and I’m grateful to Alice for breaking the tension. When we finally eat Sônia’s dessert, it’s so good that Jo asks her for the recipe.
In the end, it really is a good afternoon.
Just as the sky starts turning purple, Kacy arrives, and she brings her boyfriend.
I catch the scent before they even step into the yard: cocaine. Unmistakable. I look at Shane and Jay, and both of them have gone still, smelling the drug too.
After the introductions, we pull Jo inside the house.
“Luc — the guy your friend brought,” Shane says. “He’s carrying.”
She glances back toward the yard, then looks at us. “Are you sure?”
“Yes,” I say.
She bites her lip. “It’s not our problem; it’s Kacy’s. I’ll talk to her about it later, make sure she knows what she’s dealing with.”
We don’t say anything, but she sees it in our faces. She lets out a slow breath. “You’re not cops today. You’re my husbands at our first barbecue. Let it go.”
We do. But the guy is hard to ignore.
Within half an hour, he drinks more than everyone else combined: beer, Jo’s fruity cocktail, even Kate’s juice boxes. We all just watch as he pulls them out of the cooler one by one, stabbing the straws in. Kacy doesn’t seem to mind. She laughs, saying he’s “such a kid.”
By eight, Alice and Jayme say goodbye and take Kate home. Alice hugs Jo tightly and even gives us a wave. It feels like progress.
And it’s a good thing they leave early, because not long after, Luc opens his mouth. “Hey!” he shouts across the yard. “How’s it when she goes in heat, huh? I hear nyras get crazy horny.”
The rage hits like a wave. But we stay still, so does everyone else.
“Oh my god, Luc! What the hell?” Kacy snaps.
He turns to her with glassy eyes. “What? I’m just asking. You said you wouldn’t ask, so I’m asking. Nothing wrong with being curious.”
Mike tries to speak, trying to drag the conversation back to neutral, but it doesn’t matter. Luc keeps going. “I just wanna know what it’s like,” he slurs. “I mean, I’ve fucked plenty of women, but I ain’t never banged a nyra.”
We stand.
Kacy hesitates, glancing between us, Jo, and Luc. But Luc doesn’t stop. “I heard nyra’s pussy juice keeps a man hard for days when they’re in heat. If that’s true, I could use some!”
“Get out,” Shane growls, voice sharp. Then to Kacy: “Both of you. Now.”
They don’t move. My foot hits the grass, jaw clenched, ready to get him out of my yard.
Kacy finally steps forward. “Hey! Hey, it’s okay. We’re going. I’m taking him.”
I wouldn’t have stopped, but Jo rushes in and plants herself in front of me, palms on my chest. “Let her handle it,” she says.
Luc keeps whining that we’re overreacting, that he just wants a taste. It takes a while, but Kacy finally gets him moving toward the front of the house.
Even then, he doesn’t shut up. “If you hadn’t freaked out, they would have given us a little, Kay. They don’t feel shame like we do. They’re more like… like dogs or something. They act angry, but you just gotta make them trust you. Then they’ll give you anything.”
My vision whites out. But I breathe. Lock it down. Force calming pheromones into the air, thick and heavy, to keep Shane still. To keep myself still.
