Page 3 of The Viper's Wife

Zeke from Minnesota was tall and handsome in a punk skater kind of way, but he had chatted my ear off about antique car restoration for an entire hour until I finally broke, asked him if he wanted to fuck, and then sent him on his way at his request toget to know each other a little better first.

It was a pretty sentiment, but I’m not in that sort of mood tonight.

Lacey stabs her pinky nail into my belly again.

I swat her hand away. “You know that’s where all my organs are.”

“They’re gonna be strung from the ceiling fan if you don’t go dance or go talk to someone. I didn’t come to my ex’sparty just to see you nurse jello shots in the kitchen all night.”

“I thought you came to your ex’s party because you were still desperately in love with her.”

Lacey looks around to see if anyone heard me. Shiny black balloons and bloodred heart garlands drip from the ceiling while clusters of people flow around the kitchen island like schools of fish, but no one’s listening to us as they take drinks or snacks back to the dance floor in Mei’s living room. The theme—Meilovesa good theme—is supposed to be Anti-Valentine’s Day, which everyone is blatantly ignoring in favor of immediate and intense pairings, and it’s ruining my plans for a quick lay.

Lacey knocks my knees together. It never stops beingimpressive how much rage she can pack into her tiny body. “Don’t say that. I’mnotin love with her.”

“Did you get rid of her old T-shirt then?”

“She might want it back!”

Mei refuses to tell her parents the truth—that Lacey and she are strippers. And my beautiful friend, who crawled out from under her dad’s thumb and swore to live her truth, promptly broke up with Mei and has been mooning after her ever since. Lacey refuses to even look at another man or woman, waiting for a change that will never happen.

“Anyway, I came over to harass you, not the other way around.” She throws her fists on her hips. “Are you coming to dance? You’re bumming everyone out.”

“That’s just because I have resting bitch face.”

“Don’t say that!” Lacey pinches my cheek before I slap her arm away. “You have resting beautiful face, and they’re all just intimidated. That’s why you need to come dance and grace us mere mortals with your presence.”

“One more jello shot, a quick lap to see if anyone tall, dark, and mysterious has arrived, and then I’ll come dance, promise.”

“In the meantime, short, pale, and annoying will be waiting for you.” Lacey blows me a kiss, swipes a beer, and heads back to the dance floor.

The second Mei enters her vision, she’ll forget about me for another hour, but annoyingly, she’s right. I can’t just sit here all night and ruminate on my personal horrors—well, I can, but that’s not why I’m here tonight.

I down another jello shot, shiver at the sensation, and hop off the kitchen counter.

Mei has made use of every square inch of her ninth floor, open-concept apartment. Coolers overflowing with beers arestuffed in every corner and full-spectrum speakers gush out the dance music from her live DJ. On top of her salary as a dancer, her parents give her a living allowance—part of why I know she won’t change for Lacey. A professional party girl like Mei isn’t giving up her silver spoon lifestyle anytime soon.

I nod politely at some of the other dancers I recognize from the few times I’ve stripped with Mei and Lacey, usually at the end of my school semesters when I’ve been really strapped for cash. The one bright patch of this entire year so far is that I’ve graduated. No more studying, no more school, and no more saving every penny that comes my way.

I don’t stop to make conversation with anyone. None of the men here interest me, and I have Lacey if I want to chat. The possibility of enduring another hour-long monologue about rust removal makes me want to bang my head against the wall.

Maybe Lacey’s right, and I should just lose myself on the dance floor.

I float into the living room, drawn like a curious bug by the harsh red lights and throbbing music. Heat rolls off the mass of bodies grinding and writhing on the dance floor in sweltering waves. I skirt the edges, peering over everyone’s head for a small, blonde one.

She’s in the very center, her forehead pressed against Mei’s as they dance together.

I frown. Mei better not break my friend’s heart again. Lacey’s been through enough.

I’m tempted to intervene, but a bead of sweat trickles down the back of my neck, and I shuffle through the crowd instead, heading for the back door that leads to the balcony. Lacey is a grown woman. If she wants to get her heart broken, that’s what ice cream and horror movies with your best friend are for.

Some guy is outside already, smoking a cigarette and leaning against the railing, but he seems innocent enough as I snag one of Mei’s winter coats off a rack and step into the cold.

A rush of icy air wraps around me like a plunge into a lake on a hot, summer day, and once the balcony door shuts out most of the music, I can almost hear my own thoughts again.

The man outside with me doesn’t turn. His only movement is to bring the cigarette to his mouth and exhale a great, white plume of smoke.

Everyone’s got their own problems, I guess.