Damon
Damon:You would think the person who suggested a horror movie marathon could handle jump scares, LOL!
Shut up! I wasn’t scared of the jump scares!
Damon:Oh no?
Damon:Then who spilled all the popcorn when “Derpy Darth Maul” showed up behind PatrickWilson?
Damon sends a thinking emoji for good measure, and I roll my eyes before locking my phone. I didn’t spillallthe popcorn. Half at the most.
“What’s got you grinning like Julia Roberts in ‘Pretty Woman’?” Denise asks as she pulls up a chair next to me.
We just got news that the Brooklyn Academy of Music—BAM for short—has agreed to host Denise’s show, and decided to take a well-deserved break. It’s been days of calls, emails, and even knocking on doors to lock down the tailors and seamstresses needed to make the forty chosen looks.
“Did someone just buy you a diamond necklace?” She smirks. “Or maybe a pearl one?”
I throw a handful of Skinny Pop at her from the bowl sitting between us. She swats it away, and her cat, Clawdette, pounces on the offending kernels.
“You nasty!” I say with a giggle. “If you must know, I was texting with Damon. We went to Fright Fest in Chelsea over the weekend, and now he’s talking trash.”
Denise’s eyebrows shoot up her forehead, and I brace for the inevitable inquisition.
“Damon, huh? I wasn’t sure that was a thing after what happened at The Met event.”
I hide my wince. I don’t like to think about that night. Apparently, finding out your ex is marrying his sidepiece can make you do some crazy things. Hurt people who didn’t deserve it.
“We’renota thing. He and I are just friends. I had an extra ticket, and he was available. That’s all.”
Denise’s expression turns skeptical.
“I don’t know, Kendra. The look on your face said ‘sexting with my boo’, not ‘discussing film with my colleague’.”
She puts her pinky up and pretends to adjust glasses on her nose. I throw more popcorn, this time landing some in her cleavage.
“Well, I don’t know what to tell you. He and I are just kicking it. He’s got his hands full with his coaching job, and I’m focused on helping you with the line.”
Now it’s Denise’s turn to roll her eyes.
“As if there’s not time to get a little booty. Girl, I don’t keep you here twenty-four hours a day. Spill it.”
She puts her elbows on the table and bats her eyelashes, letting me know she won’t drop this until I come clean. I sigh.
“He and Iarejust friends,” I begin. She twirls her finger, urging me to go on. “But…we did hook up once.” Denise gasps, and I rush to add, “But it was a long time ago, and we both agreed not to take it any further!”
“Kendra!” she says with a playful glare. “How could you not tell me you’re dating my boyfriend’s brother? We see each other like five days a week!”
“OK, first,” I reply defensively, “I already told you we’re not dating. It was one time, and we didn’t even really do it.”
“What do you mean, you didn’t ‘really do it’?”
“Secondly,” I continue, ignoring her question, “didn’t you date your best friend’s husband’s brother formonthswithouttelling her? If I remember correctly, you and Cory were already official when she found out.”
Denise sits back in her chair, pouting.
“I knew I shouldn’t have told you that,” she grumbles. “I’m not judging; I’m just saying I would’ve liked to talk about it with you. We could’ve been going on double dates all this time. Damon’s a great guy.”
Her tone is more gentle now; she obviously didn’t mean to make me feel attacked. Working on this project together, she’s become one of my closest friends. I retract my claws.
