“I’ll stay here and behave, or I’ll leave with Birdie,” I said, raising my middle finger. “Bitch’s honor.”
“I have no confidence in your vow.”
“Sounds like not my problem.”
Birdie bumped me with her elbow. “I have something we can do while he’s gone, but he needs to go first.”
I raised my hand and waggled my fingers. “Cheerio.”
“You need to cut him some slack,” Birdie said once he was gone.
“Why? We’re leaving the day after tomorrow. I’ve got to get my fun in while I can. Besides, I think he likes it.”
“Just be careful. These men aren’t like other men. They live by different rules.”
“I’ll try. Now, what is it that we can do?”
She glanced at her phone. “The sirens invited us to join them for a yoga and meditation class. It starts in fifteen minutes.”
“You got anything to smoke first?”
“Of course,” she laughed.
My inner peacewas interrupted when the officers loudly returned to the common room.
“Thanks, ladies. When is the next class?”
“We don’t have a schedule or anything,” Fallon said. “I was just trying to think of something to help pass the time. We can do it again whenever you want.”
“Thanks. How about later this evening? Maybe after dinner.”
“Sounds great.”
I was skeptical at first, because I’d done my fair share of guided meditation sessions over the years, and Fallon’s was the first one to have any effect. It was subtle, but I felt lighter, less tense.
“What was your meeting about?” I asked Sugar.
“Club business.”
“And just like that, a ripple appeared in my peace pond.”
“Some of it was about the weather.”
“Really? How disappointing. I assumed it was about me.”
“It wasn’t, but now I have some shit to do, so I need to take you back to my room.”
“I’ll stay with Birdie.”
Sugar pointed to the door where Birdie was exiting with Coochie.
“Fine. I’ll go back to your place.” I stomped toward the door but came to an abrupt halt and whirled around. “What do you have to do? Can I help?”
“No, you can’t help.”
“Please. I don’t want to get soaked again.”
“If you fuck this up, I will put you in the cell and leave you there until it’s time for you and Birdie to leave.”
