Page 44 of Malice in e minor

“Pretty sure you can get a new one off Temu for cheap.”

“I’ll look into it.”

“So, Harlowe, we’re officially in first date territory right now. I’m going to need frequent text updates throughout the day that you’re okay and not in the vicinity of a psychopath. If I call you and there’s not a sexy artist playing shadow, I’m getting on the train. My company has a generous PTO package, but I can terrorize some men into behaving before lunch.”

Ah, the buddy system. We did it even when we were several states away from each other. We could be thousands of miles from each other and still provide a phone call that Timmy was down the well and we needed to leave a creepy date early.

“Done. Get back to work and flirt with Davarius for me.”

“Yeah, you don’t have to tell me what twice.”

Yes, I did. He could be end game and she wasn’t taking what she wanted like. He could actually keep up with her big brain, unlike most of the guys she liked, so she was playing it super careful. Because she was a Virgo and she’d virtually strangle me if I pointed that out right now.

“Bye, JaToya.”

“I don’t see anyone in there with you. The buddy system is bigger than us. Get an escort if you leave.”

“Yes, mom.”

She was completely right. We exchanged numbers and emails when we all decided to work on the ballet. I didn’t particularly want to be out and about with Isobel on the loose, even with an escort. I had a program to compose in instead of having to handwrite the score and get everything transposed properly.

I was going to snuggle in my comfy bed and read everything Leif planned for his ballet until it was time for Nutcracker rehearsal.

We agreed to shifts. Topher could fuck right off, but I appreciated him warning us about Isobel and eyeballs. There was just something not right about that girl. I’ll bet she ate it after she plucked it out. She was probably fucked up enough to chew it. I was pretty sure eyeballs were like raw oysters and you just sucked it down.

Misha had to get to rehearsal early to stretch and Orion was on stalking Isobel duty since they were both in orchestra. That left me to walk Harlowe to rehearsal. I was only in one dance in the second act and I mostly just mugged on stilts.

I also had the most wonderful gossip to share. She said she was allergic to drama, but something told me she’d love drama if it didn’t involve her and shitty people got what was coming to them.

She only opened the door a crack when I knocked. Better safe than sorry. Harlowe opened it all the way and smiled when she saw it was me. I loved it when she was dressed up in the corsets and leather, but she was just as stunning in a giant hoodie and leggings with her raven hair in a messy bunch and not a stitch of makeup on. I wanted her to pose for me so badly. But not in my figure painting class because no one else was allowed to look at my muse.

“I hadn’t text for an escort yet but thanks. I’d gotten wrapped up in Leif’s notes I lost track of time.”

I offered her my arm because I was a fucking gentleman and I really liked her perfume. She slipped her arm into mine and we were off.

“You want to hear some absolutely amazing gossip?”

“Does it involve a trust fund kid and my eyeballs? Because that was kind of shitty.”

“It involves another shitty trust fund kid, but in a fun way that doesn’t involve anyone losing an eye. You’ll like it.”

I was practically vibrating to spit this out. I wanted to tell everyone, but there were a bunch of people here I didn’t want to be around. I didn’t even want to talk to them long enough to give them the joyous news.

“Well, I do need a little pick me up.”

“Belinda got expelled. I saw her dragging her bags out to catch a cab. I tripped her one last time, so she remembers me. I also gave her the painting I did of her in figure painting. I was going to keep it and mount it on the wall like a trophy, but I decided she needed to see how I saw her. I didn’t sign it, so she can’t do anything with it.”

Harlowe cocked an eyebrow at me and I wanted to lick it. Her eyebrow was probably delicious.

“How did you paint her?”

“You know how the sphinx is the body of a lion and the head of a beautiful woman?”

“Yeah?”

She sounded a little wary. She probably should be, but if I was painting her, I’d make her a queen.

“So, picture an anatomically correct platypus with her tits and face eating roaches.”