“I mean, I don’t know if it’sthatgood,” I said. “But Bush has vacated the White House.”
She gave me a look like,What is your damage then?
“It’s, uh…” I struggled for a reason. “It’s weird to go on a date on a Thursday.”
All three of them collectively groaned.
“It’sThursday,” Olly said. “So tomorrow isFriday.”
“One of these days your inability to remember the day of the week is going to get you into trouble,” Eames said.
“Now that we’re all on the same calendar,” my sister said, “I’m telling him tomorrow works.”
“No!” Lithie froze at my outburst, waiting. “I’m nervous…”
Lithie rolled her eyes. “So you’ll let a random fuck you in a graveyard?—”
“I didn’t fuck anyone?—”
“But getting drinks is just a steptoofar?”
I covered my face in my hands.I don’t know.
“There’s something wrong with me,” I groaned into my hands.
“You’re going out,” Olly said. “Lithie, tell him yes.”
“No!” I pulled my head out of my hands and reached for the phone. She rolled her eyes and, ignoring my outstretched hand, stood up.
I followed her, scrambling to my feet. I reached for the phone but my five-foot-four couldn’t match her five-foot-eight”. The last time Lithie pulled this bullshit, I was ten and she was twelve, keeping the remote away from me.
“There, sent,” she said, handing me the phone.
“Bitch,” I grumbled.
Lithie smiled saccharine. “You’re welcome.”
A moment later,Cresponded, sending an address for a restaurant downtown.
chapter
seventeen
SHAY
The next day I sat on my sister’s vintage pink stool while Eames did my hair and Olly did my makeup. My sister threw outfits on a bed.
It felt like I was getting ready for prom. Or what I imagine it would have felt like, if I’d gone.
“Can we turn down the lights?” I asked. Olly had placed a big ring light directly in my face. Combined with the angry girl pop my sister had blaring, it was so overstimulating.
Lithie came out of the closet with two dresses. She held them to me and then nodded to herself, setting one on the bed, before turning her attention back to me.
“Okay, time for sister advice.”
“Sister advice?” I asked.
“Rule number one: we don’t take drugs or alcohol from men we just met.”
