Page 64 of Pierced

I breathe in long and hard, let it out through my nose. Contort my mouth. “Dunno. Go upstairs and find out what happens next, I guess.”

“What do you mean?”

“She told me when I see her at work today she’s going to test me, and if I pass, I get a reward tonight.”

“Really? What test? What reward?”

“Gee, And, I don’t fuckin’ know. Maybe that’s part of what’s got me all twisted up.”

“OK. OK. Sorry. And you haven’t seen her yet?”

“No. Not yet.”

“It’s three o’clock. How’ve you avoided her all day?”

“I’ve been down here, trying to go up for six hours.”

“Here, in the parking garage? All day?”

“I wandered over and talked to that woman at the dry cleaners for a while.”

“Svetlana?”

“Dude, I don’t know. I asked her how to get candle wax residue out of the lining of suit pants.”

“Why did you have…” I shoot him a look. “Oooooooohhhhhhh.”

I shake my head. “OK. I gotta… I gotta go figure out whatever.” I open the door and step out. Andrew does the same. We meet at the trunk. I open it and hand him his phone back.

“Thanks, man,” I say, giving him a hug.

“I got you, man,” he says into my shoulder. “I mean, I wish I could be more helpful, but this is maybe just one of those things that…”

“No, I know. It’s cool. I appreciate you letting me Deep Throat you, anyway.”

And no sooner is that out of my mouth than Andrew’s cell rings. He answers it on speaker.

“Yeah, Dev?”

“Uh… boss…? We’ve got that call with… I’m sorry to… I mean if you’re busy doing stuff… then…”

“Aha! I knew it!” I shout.

Fuckin’ Declan.

CHAPTER NINETEEN - MYRTLE

I won.

End of story. We turned the last page and it’s time to close the book.

I just… won.

So I’m humming as I pretend to work. Been doing it all day. I cannot even remember the last time I felt this happy.

Well, no. Maybe that’s not true. That morning Pierce accused me of being the Sexpert I was pretty happy. I got a little rush as I took my seat with Eden and stared up at the stage where Pierce was standing. He of Chevalier royalty. Tapping the microphone with his finger, asking for our attention.

I was fixated on him. Ready for whatever words came out of his mouth. I wanted to stand up, clap my hands three times and say, “Your leader is speaking, subjects! Hush up!”