Page 117 of Road Queens
“Aw, good for you, Cass. I mean, I sell books every day, but you go right ahead and feel proud of yourself.”
“No, jerkass, I wrote a book, and it’s being published.”
“Hey, that’s great!” Sidney said. “Good for you.”
“I didn’t know you even finished it! You’ve been working on that book since graduation.”Also, I thought you gave up that dream when you gave up on us.
She would have said that out loud earlier in the week. How odd and wonderful that such changes could be wrought in a few days.
“I got the news a couple of weeks ago, but I couldn’t ... whenever anything good happens to me, I want to tell you guys. And when something bad happens, I want your advice.” She paused. “My own fault I couldn’t, though.”
“Yep!” From (who else?) Sidney.
“And then when I saw you at the police station, it seemed stupid and vain to greet you with ‘Hey, great to see you, I sold a book! And someone was murdered or whatever.’”
“Super-duperstupid and vain.”
“Amanda, give her a break.”
“I’m sorry I ran away from you guys.” Cass took a breath, let it out slowly. “I was chickenshit. I thought I was protecting you, but ... well. Everyone in this room knows who I was really protecting.” She glanced at Sean. “Maybe not everyone.”
“No, it seemed pretty obvious you were thinking mostly of yourself,” Sean teased. Then: “Ow,” as he got a pinch for his pains.
“Did you tell Iris? I bet she flipped right out,” Sidney asked.
Cass ducked her head and smiled. “She was really happy for me.”
“Is that what she was whispering about when you and I left Stillwater the other day?”
“Yeah. She knew I hadn’t told you guys yet, so she was something you will never be, Sidney Derecho.”
“A murderous Virgo with a great haircut and a killer apple-pudding recipe?”
“Discreet.”
“Yeah, fuck off and tell your mom to fuck off. No, don’t do that last one. What’s the book about?”
“It’s a history of women bikers and motorcycle clubs. I’m basically turning all my articles into a book. Pub date next summer.”
“Yay!” Amanda jumped up from her stool. “We’ll have your first book signing here. Don’t worry, I won’t double-book you and Edward Gorey.”
“That comes as a great relief,” Cass replied, straight faced. “So what about you two? Still bangin’?”
“Clearly. Though we’re taking it to the next level by dating; pardon the overused phrase.”
“At least you’re not doing it totally backward or anything,” Sidney snarked.
“You remember you married a man you never met, right?”
“And pretty soon I’ll be divorcing him,” Sidney vowed. “I’ve just gotta find him first.”
“Road trip to Canada?” Amanda suggested. “I’ll make a rare exception and close the shop for a few days.”
“Your work ethic blows. How have you not starved to death?”
“Debbie Frank.”
“Oh. Yeah, makes sense. D’you know, I haven’t touched a penny of what she left me?” Cass said quietly.
