Page 187 of Rock Chick Rescue

I stopped digging through my closet and stared at her.

“How do you get over it?” I asked, then immediately started digging again. It was a nosy question and really wasn’t my business.

Then, I couldn’t help myself, I had to. I decided to share.

“I’m only asking because Eddie kinda scares me too. He’s a cop. He says something’s ‘going down’ tonight. I don’t know what, but it doesn’t sound good. It flips me out. How do you take the worry?”

Clearly not thinking I was nosy, she shrugged. “I love him.”

Simple as that.

Though, I guess that would do it.

We went to Eddie’s to dump my bag, Lee doing the walkthrough/all clear thing again.

I pulled out what I was going to wear that night and then we went to Indy and Lee’s.

Indy and I got dolled up together in their bedroom. Lee silently brought us a spiced rum and Diet Coke then disappeared. The way he did it, I was beginning to realize why she loved him, other than the fact he was hot. Not because he got her a drink (which was nice), but the way he got her a drink. He didn’t ask, he didn’t make a big deal about it, and it was a sweet thing to do. It was tremendously cool and deep down inside I hoped for something like that for myself one day. A lot closer to the surface, I liked Indy and I was glad she already had it.

While we got ready, we talked and giggled, and I swear, it felt like I was back in high school getting ready to go to a dance in the gym.

I didn’t have anything sparkly, so Indy loaned me some glitter dust to put on my collarbone and some cream that made my cheekbones glisten. It wasn’t a lot of sparkle, but it would have to do.

I wore a silky, deep-purply-gray tunic with a low slash at the throat, which if I turned right could give a hint of cleavage. Other than that, it was kind of demure (I bought it myself), with long sleeves that got fuller down the length. The thing that made it kind of demure, rather than totally demure, was that it had two slits at the sides which were about two inches higher than they really needed to be, and therefore, they showed some skin.

This topped jeans and black flats (just in case I had to make a run for it). I went heavy on the makeup—not exactly Smithie’s, but not my everyday look either—and I did the deep part, sultry-thing with my hair.

I thought I looked all right, though nothing to write home about. I felt safe in the jeans and hoped Daisy wouldn’t quibble.

See, jeans were multi-purpose in Denver. An invitation could say “semi-formal” and there would be people at the party wearing jeans. It was just the way of the Rockies. A true Denverite would wear jeans to meet the Queen of England and somehow pull it off.

Once we exited the bedroom, we found that Lee had not only disappeared, Lee haddisappeared, leaving a note. So we headed over to Tod and Stevie’s. Daisy was already there, having a cocktail, playing with Chowleena. You could only, just barely, see the black eye under her concealer.

More proof that Daisy was the shit. I’d never be able to conceal a black eye and still look as good as she did.

Stevie and Tod were both flight attendants and Stevie was out on a flight and not due back until the wee hours, which meant Tod was stag.

When I walked in, Tod’s eyes got huge. “Girlie, you are Queen Chameleon. Every time I see you, you look different.”

I smiled. “Is that good?”

“Fuck yeah, it’s good,” he replied. “You areworkin’that shirt and you’re only in my living room. The world will stop when you walk out the door.”

Daisy smiled at me. “See?” she asked, as if Tod’s approval proved a point.

“He’s gay,” I said.

Tod looked between me and Daisy.

“What’s my sexuality got to do with anything?” Tod asked.

Daisy turned to him. “She doesn’t think she’s all that. Thinks she’s plain Jane and boring.”

Tod swung his wide eyes to me. “Good. You’re workin’ that too and you don’t evenknowyou’re workin’ it.”

Daisy’s tinkly-bell laugh sounded. “Damn straight, sugar!”

Then they high-fived.

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