“Courteney…” Even across the room, I could see Angie’s eyes shining with tears. “I’m glad he did that for you.”
“He still does,” I confessed. “It was like I got struck by lightning the first time he kissed me. It scrambled my programming, and I can’t go back to what I was before.”
“He kissed you… when you were fourteen? Uh, how have I never heardthisstory?”
I shook my head. “He hugged me,” I said, remembering it like it was happening right now. I could still feel his warmth and his big, warm body wrapped around me. “When he said goodbye. When he went away with Steel Trap. He had me in his arms, and he kissed the top of my head. And it rewired my brain or something.”
Angie groaned. “Good lord, I know that feeling.”
“Why are men such gods?” I whispered.
“I think they’re just men,” she said, sighing. “The real question is, why do we worship them?”
“I used to worship him. Then I realized he was only human. It was supposed to make me hate him. But I think it made me like him even more.” I groaned. “Life is never more electric than when he’s in the room, Angie. I’m never more alive than when he looks me in the eyes and sees me.” I looked over at her again. “Is that terrible and pathetic?”
“It’s gorgeous and romantic,” she said. “And who cares if it’s terrible. If you want it, you want it.”
“I love you, Angeline Delacroix. Why can’t we just be lesbians?”
She sipped her coffee. “You know, I feel like life would be so much easier.”
“Me too.”
“But I just can’t. Ireallyneed the deep dicking.”
“Me too.”
She grinned at me.
“I mean, I know I haven’t had any yet,” I said. “But I really,reallyneed it. Don’t tell Shay. She bugs me about it enough.”
“Your secret’s safe with me.”
“Thanks.”
“Can you please get up now, and come have breakfast? You can’t solve these next-level man problems without caffeine and sugar.”
“Okay.”
She opened the door. “Take your time. But I’m just saying, the pancakes are getting cold.”
“I’m coming. I promise.”
“See you in the kitchen. I’ll have Mom make you a latte.”
I watched her go, the smell of freshly made pancakes and coffee and other amazing yummy things wafting in.
Then I stared at the ceiling above me. I was lying in a pink fluffy cloud of a bed, the morning sun glowing off the soft yellow walls, and I felt safe here, in this colorful room.
I glanced at the wall above the bed. Staring down at me was a giant, multicolored poster of Jimi Hendrix.
It wasn’t every day that I got to sleep in a rock star’s bed. Or… former bed. But here I was, lying in Elle Delacroix’s bed. At least, the one she slept in as a teenager.
Nowadays, Angie’s rock star sister lived in a mansion on the coast, about fifteen minutes away from here, in Lion’s Bay. With her rock star boyfriend, Seth Brothers, and their baby girl. Elle and Seth were both members of Dirty; super famous, super successful. I knew Angie often felt like she lived in her rock star sibling’s shadow; that was pretty much a requirement of Lil Brat Society membership.
But she and Elle were still close.
Way closer than me and Cary were.