I pulled out my pencils and shading tools and set them to work. I had looked up the card Desi had shown me. It was from the common Rider-Waite deck. It showed a blindfolded man hanging upside down. I wanted to do my own spin on the character while holding true to the story it told.
“What you drawing?”
I looked up to see Una smiling down at me. I shrugged and closed the book. “Just doodling. What’s up?”
“Nothing. The new movie about the cop who goes undercover as a male stripper is coming out this week. Want to catch an early viewing with Aleida and me?”
No, not really.
I stared hard at her for a moment. She seemed genuine. What was her angle? Finally, I agreed. “Sure. Sounds fun. Tomorrow before the shift?”
“Perfect. Do you eat?”
I grimaced. “Just blood. Thanks.”
“Same here. Aleida’s the one who likes candy. It grosses me out. What’s your number? So we can text you.”
I was hesitant but offered her my phone number. She texted me quickly to trade contacts. When she was satisfied, she flashed her sharp smile and bounced out of the room.
That next day the three of us sat in the middle of an empty theater to watch the most anticipated chick flick of the year.
“So you used to date Arsenio? What’s that whole thing like?” Aleida waved around her crotch and wiggled her eyebrows. The pair giggled. I wasn’t entirely sure they hadn’t gotten a little tipsy before coming.
“We did. For two years on and off.”
“What happened? Who broke up with who? He seems smitten still.”
“What? No, he doesn’t. He technically ended it, but I wanted it to. We just weren’t a good fit.” I argued. The pair exchanged looks again. I frowned. “What?”
“Nothing,” Aleida said, smirking. “You both looked—very much in love the other night when he took you home. You sure he just dropped you off and nothing else?”
“Oh, don’t start rumors,” Una giggled. “You’ll make Desi jealous.”
“Please. Brothers don’t share.”
I furrowed my brows, confused. “Desi and Arsenio aren’t brothers.”
The two both raised their eyebrows and looked at each other again. I was starting to get annoyed fast at their constant unspoken conversations.
“So is Ludovica, their sister?”
“Who is Ludovica?” I asked. They both smirked, and it instantly pissed me off.
“I thought you and Desi were close. Shouldn’t you know these things by now?” Aleida laughed. “He must not trust you.”
“And you think they trust you?” I shot back. The girls laughed then. The movie started, and they turned to the screen. As soon as the hot cop walked onto the screen, all conversation about the outside stopped, and only catcalls, giggles, and vulgar comments were allowed. It was as if they hadn’t just been complete catty bitches to me only moments before.
I ended up leaving the movie after twenty minutes, which only made them laugh harder.
After the movie, our shift started, and Desi was in his office. I went in and shut the door.
“Hello, how are you?” he asked cautiously. My face must have revealed my anxiety.
“Why do the girls think you and Arsenio are brothers?” I crossed my arms and moved toward his desk. He’d been playing with his Tarot cards again. All of the ones facing up were numbered cards I wasn’t familiar with.
“Because we told them that.” He shrugged.
“Okay, who’s Ludovica? Is she your real sister?”
