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“I don’t like your incredulous tone.”
“And I don’t like you thinking I’m stupid.”
Valerie sighed. “I don’t think you’re stupid. I think you’re just reading more into the situation than is actually happening.”
“I’m not reading more into it. You’re not readingenoughinto it, but I guess you wouldn’t because you don’t know all the backstory.”
“If it’s so important, then tell me.”
“No, ma’am,” Carine said. “I’m gonna keep you in the dark just like you kept me in the dark about your freak-nasty proclivities,nerd.”
Valerie groaned. “Get back to the subject at hand. Just disinvite Leah. Tell her she needs a special ticket. That’s true, right?”
Carine scoffed and finished fastening the last of the long row of dress buttons. With a chest as large as hers, she needed a bra, but Valerie probably didn’t need to tell her that.
“That would have normally been true, but sometimes, Clay does weird and unexpected things, and so does your sister, apparently.”
“What did she do? Actually”—Valerie threw her hands up—“I don’t want to know. I don’t want to knowshit.”
“I’m gonna tell you anyway, because that girl does what she wants, and you need to stay ahead of the wave she’s gonna make. I guess she took a page out of my book of tricks and friended Clay on Facebook.”
Valerie’s knees gave out from under her, but thankfully she had the bed right behind her to catch her ass. “No,” she said after picking up her jaw from the floor.
“Mm-hmm.” Carine fluffed her hair in the dresser’s mirror and perked up her boobs the best she could. “And I guess they started messaging each other because somehow homegirl got herself an open invitation. I bet she’ll be down here next week.”
“I’m running away.”
“Might not be such a bad idea. That girl is wild and you’re gonna have to keep on her ass like a probation officer on a two-time perpetrator.”
Valerie cringed, knowing full well the woman was right. “This is all your fault. You should have told me where you were taking me, and I would have lied my way out of it upfront.”
Carine gave Valerie a long blink and twined the end of her hair around her fingers. “One day, you’ll thank me.”
“For getting a salacious component of my former lifestyle exposed to my tight-ass employers who’ll then use my poor choices as a reason to not give me what I deserve? I don’t see that thank-you ever happening.”
“No, you’ll thank me for facilitating your introduction to Tim. You guys should date. Really.”
“That’s called commitment. We’ve already been through this and what a bad idea it is.”
“I think you need to get over yourself.”
Valerie headed for the stairs and her keys. “You know what, red lady? I changed my mind. I’m gonna drive you home.”
“Coward.”
“Fine. I’ll be that. The alternative is being miserable when opportunity passes me by yet again.”
“Relationships are opportunities, too, Valerie.” Carine followed her down the stairs.
“They’re either opportunities or distractions, and I don’t know yet which Tim is. But it doesn’t matter. I’m not going to be here. He knows that.”
“I think you’re squandering what could be a good match.”
“Noted.” Valerie jangled her keys. “Now. Are you going to be nice or am I driving you home to your momma?”
Carine rolled her eyes and sidled around her. “Shut up. I’m going to see if I can get Frank to bring us a pizza.”
