“<span>Hey, so question—do you always twitch and fidget like a mouse on crack when you get your makeup done or are you a little nervous about tonight?”
Lennoxstops dabbing me with arge, round makeup brush that’s so soft it tickles.I’mbeing a terrible client right now and making her job difficult.She’shere to help me get ready for my photo shoot as a courtesy, andI’mdistracted as hell.Guilty-faced,Ilook up from my phone and hold it out to her.
“I’vebeen knee-deep in research for three days, andIjust have a weird hunch about something.Myobsessiveness is taking over, which is whyI’mantsy.Butit could possibly be the makeup…I’venever gotten it done before—<i ss="calibre2">professionally</i>.Therewere some sleepover mishaps in my younger years.”This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.
“Let’stake a break before we put on yourshes and do your hair,”Lennoxsays. “Howabout a drink?Doyou have anything good in the fridge?”
“Actually,<i ss="calibre2">yes</i>.Ipicked up some strawberry margarita mix with you in mind, my friend.Comeon,”Isay, hopping up from the chair we pulled into the master bathroom. “Dex’sfridge makes the best crushed ice.Perfectfor margs.”
LennoxandIhave been spending more time together.Moreurately, we’ve been attached at the hip ever since our girls’ day out shopping.Sheusually moseys over whenever she’s atFinn’sce, which is constantly.WhenI’mnot alone withFinnor working,I’mlettingLennoxteach me how to be a girl.Sheshows me makeup styles and is always texting me cute outfit ideas.I’mofficially her life-sizedBarbiedoll.
Thenew thingI’velearned this summer is that skinny girls have insecurities about their bodies too.Lennoxhas clothes she wishes she could wear, but she doesn’t have the chest or hips to fill them out.Instead, when she’s out thrifting or discount clothes shopping, she’ll pick out items she loves and bring them to me, all the while telling me how envious she is of my body.
I’veknown people to be considerate or polite about my plentiful curves, but never haveIhad people who celebrated my body…<i ss="calibre2">envied it, even.</i>It’sbizarre, and ifI’mtelling the truth, it feels really nice to be appreciated for whoIam, and not the beautyIcould potentially be ifIjust<i ss="calibre2">lost twenty or so pounds—</i>wordsIheard from my mother andPalmermy entire life.WordsI’msureMasonwould’ve liked to say, but sure as hell wasn’t daring enough.
Lennoxpasses me at the bottom of the stairs when something catches my eye andIbank right instead of heading toward the kitchen.Istare intoCherry’stank and notice a thick ck stripe across her side.Sheeven looks a little more translucent.<i ss="calibre2">Whatthe fuck?</i>
“Lennox,”Icall out, “you scuba dive, right?Isfish cancer…a thing?”
“Ithink so,” she replies absentmindedly, rummaging throughDex’sfridge for the loot. “Iknow sharks and whales can get cancerous tumors.”
“Thedoor,”Iinstruct her. “Iput the marg mix in the doorpartment.Butif a fish had cancer, what would you do…surely, you can’t<i ss="calibre2">operate</i>on a fish?Canyou?Orwould you just try treatment?Arethere fish oncologists?”IwatchCherryswim back and forth, not even close to her usual pace.It’sa leisurely stroll and far from her normally spazzy behavior.Idon’t understand.Thefish guy was just here yesterday.Itold himIwas concerned and he double-checked the pH levels, and the temperature of the water.Heeven ran a test for minerals and nutrients.Thetank is wless.Inhis own words, it’s the fish version of a luxury resort with an open bar.
“Didyou seriously just say fish oncologist?”Lennoxasks.WhenIlook toward the kitchen, she’s staring at me with a befuddled expression.
“I’ma little attached to thisCherryBarb.She’smy little buddy.Cherryhas been keeping mepany all summer.”Istroke the ss, careful not to tap, still worried from the inside of the tank it sounds like an earthquake. “I’mgoing to askDexif he’d let me keep her.ButIdon’t know how to take care of her if she’s really sick.”
Lennox’sjaw drops. “Youknow those probably cost about eight dors, right?Aboutthe cost of a ventiStarbucksdrink…Justsaying…”
Idrop my jaw and feign horror, but make another mental note to ask the aquarium guy next week what to make of all this.Athick ck stripe down the side of her body has to be an indication of something awry.IfCherryis getting sick, the other fish could be getting sick too.Therehas to be somethingI’mmissing.<i ss="calibre2">Whendid that stripe even develop?</i>Ididn’t notice it until now.
Albeitfor the past few days,I’vebeen working manically, reviewing investor rtions reports forLegacy’smajorpetitors for the past decade.I’vebeen studying what has been working for theirpetitors and what hasn’t to get as close as possible to a brand strategy guaranteed to put them at the top of their market.Noeasy feat.
Bythe timeItrudge into the kitchen, now doubly distracted,Lennoxhas filled two sses with the bright pink cocktail. “Cheers.”Weclink our sses together and take a small sip before she asks me, “What’syour hunch?”
“Huh?”Icrunch on a small piece of ice that slipped through my lips,pletely forgetting about my sensitive tooth.Ismack my palm against my cheek.<i ss="calibre2">“Ow, shit.</i>Sorry, what?”
“Earlierin the bathroom, you said you had a weird hunch.Iseverything okay with your project?”
Isquint one eye at her. “Yousure you want to know?I’vebeen toldIcan drone on about work.”
I’mactually dying to talk toMasonabout whatIfound, but right nowIdon’t feel likeIcan trust him.Fouryears in business together…and it’s the first timeIfeel like we’re working for different end goals.It’sunnerving andIhate it.
“Droneaway.I’mreally interested in your job.ThewayFinn’sstudio has been going,Imay need an extra job.CanIwork for you?”
“Seriously?”Iscrunch my face at her in surprise.
“Yeah,Imean,I’mdecent with graphic design, and there isn’t anythingIcan’t learn.EverythingIknow about photography,Finntaught me…so…”Sheshrugs. “I’mjust really impressed by you.I’vealways knownIwanted to go the entrepreneur path.Ijust wasn’t sure what to do or how to do it.”
<i ss="calibre2">Hm, interesting.</i>“Ifyou’re serious,Lennox,I’llhelp you.I’min between things right now, but as soon asIfigure out what’s going to happen withLegacyResorts…one way or the other<i ss="calibre2">,Iwill help you</i>.”
Sheshoots me a small smile. “Thankyou.Anyway, sorry to digress.Pleasecontinue…”
“Idug intoLegacyResorts’ financials, and they are doing fine.Arethey disgustingly profitable?No.Butthe business is far from failing, so why oh why would the board of directors be pushing to sell?Whatexactly is the problem that needs to be addressed?”
“Andyour hunch?”Lennoxasks, raising her brows to the point they disappear behind her straight-cut, long bangs.She’sdied her hair freshly purple again.It’ssuch a good look on her.Ilove the vibrancy.MaybeIshould consider a little color in my mousy brown locks.
“Thatthere’s something unsavory going on.Itseems like a decision in the best interest of a specific person versus thepany as a whole.CallmeMagnumPI, butI’vebeen looking up the entire board, individually.Ineed to get to the bottom of why these very well-off, business-savvy board members would want to let go of thousands of employees, screw over their shareholders, and basically bend over backward to their directpetition.Itmakes no sense unless thepany is secretly near bankrupt.ButIalready turned over that stone and found nothing.”
“Ifyou need help,”Lennoxsays with a sly smile, “social media stalking is kind of my specialty.”
Isnort. “Iwish it were that easy.Butthe stuffy middle-aged board members don’t seem to be active on socials.I’vebeen digging through public earning reports…it’s quite riveting,”Isay, emphasizing the sarcasm in my tone. “I’mactually grateful it’sFriday.Ineed a break and am due for some fun.”
Myreward for tireless, sleepless, thankless days of work for a contract or job offerIhaven’t even earned yet?<i ss="calibre2">Finn.</i>MotherfuckingFinnHarveyand his dirty words and rock-hard body…<i ss="calibre2">all night</i>.<i ss="calibre2"></i>AllIhave to do is get through this stupid photo shoot.
“Ah, speaking of fun…”Lennoxtakes another sip from her drink, enjoying the attention asIstare at her like a fish on a bait line.
“What?What’sfun?”
“YouknowRuby’s?”
“Thestrip—Imean<i ss="calibre2">gentleman’s</i>club?”
Lennoxnods. “Thebar manager,Cass, is a friend of mine.Shehosts her birthday there every year.Theyshut down the entire club for a night and throw a costume party.It’shuge.Allthe dancers, bouncers, close friends, and even a few celebrities usually make an appearance.It’snot just fun…it’s<i ss="calibre2">Vegas</i>fun.It’stheFridayafter next.Youshoulde.”
She’swearing that pleading lookPalmerwears when she wants me to change out of my sweatpants and go clubbing with her.Buta birthday bash at aVegasgentleman’s club seems a little out of my league. “Ifby<i ss="calibre2">costumes</i>you mean pasties andG-strings,I’mgoing to have to throw you a ‘no’ on that one.”
“<i ss="calibre2">Oh,e on</i>.”
Iquirk one brow. “SoI’mright about the costumes?”
“Mainly,” she mutters. “Butyou don’t have to get that intense.Andplus,Finn’sgoing.I’msure he’d love to show you off.”
<i ss="calibre2">Oh.Finn’sgoing?</i>“Hedidn’t mention it.”I’dmit that kind of hurts.It’syet another reminder thatFinnandIonly make sense in closed quarters.Iwouldn’t fit in with his normal friends. “I’msure he would’ve invited me if he wanted me there.Idon’t want to rain on your guys’ parade.”
“Firstof all,<i ss="calibre2">I</i>want you there, so you’re invited.Secondof all,Cassjust sent out the invites two days ago.Hehasn’t had a chance to ask you to go.You’vebeen pretty much unreachable holed up in here.”Sheswivels her finger in the air, gesturing to my prison—akaDex’sfour-thousand-square-foot luxury home. “Finneven told<i ss="calibre2">me</i>not to bother you while you were working.”
“Doesn’tyour boyfriend want to go?”
Sheshakes her head. “Nothis thing.”
“Idon’t have a costume.”
“I’llfind you one or make you one.”
Icringe at her response.
“We’llkeep it ssy.Sexy, so you fit in, but we’ll cover all your bits.”
Iroll my eyes. “Bybits,Ihope you mean all my wiggly parts.”Ipat my stomach, which admittedly is a little tter than normal.Idon’t thinkI’veeaten much over the past few days asIfrantically dove down theLegacyResortswormhole.
Lennoxlets out a frustrated grumble. “Isee whatFinnis talking about now,” she mumbles under her breath but doesn’t borate. “Okay, story for you—there’s a dancer atRuby’snamedBrielle.She’sthe most athletic, flexible, sexy piece of ass you’ve ever seen.She’sby far the most requested and highest-paid dancer there.Nobodyworks a pole or ap likeBrielle.”
“That’slovely,”Ideadpan.
“Mypoint is that she’s nearly twice your size.Andshe’s fucking beautiful.Ithink you see the world as very ck and white.Idon’t know what you think you know aboutLasVegasand beauty standards, butI’mwilling to bet you’re making wrong assumptions.”Shepresses her lips together like she’s nervous to continue. “Andit’s the same withFinn.He’snot patronizing you when he says he likes you,Avery.Hegenuinely thinks you are one of the most intriguing and stunning women he’s ever met.Themore you say that’s not true, the more you’re calling his opinion worthless.”
IknewLennoxwas sassy, butIhad no clue she was so deep. “Wow, just call me out, why don’t you?”
“I’mtrying to help you get out of your own way.”
“Isall this ttery just because you want a job?”
Shecroaks inughter. “No.YouandFinnare good together.He’srxed and smiley all the time.Hefinally stood up to his dad.Youdon’t understand the effect you have on him.He’sbeen my best friend since we were in diapers.Wewere raised together andIhave never seen him this<i ss="calibre2">happy</i>.Andyou seem…”Sheholds her palm to the ceiling and points at my chest.
“Happytoo,”Ifinish for her.
“Good.Sobe happy.It’sright in front of you.Stopthinking you don’t deserve it.”Lennoxwinks at me.
“Thankyou,Lennox.Youare a really good friend.”
“Okay,e on, let’s go finish your makeup and start your hair.AndIcan’t wait to show you the wardrobeFinnpicked out for you.”Shughs to herself as she points to the ck shopping bag on the living room coffee table that she brought over with her.It’stiny.Ihave a sneaking suspicion that the lingerie he picked out for me is wireless.<i ss="calibre2">Dammit.</i>Menjust don’t understand.Wiresupport under the girls is far more ttering.
“Hey, so…this costume party.Wecan pick anything we want to be?Thereare no specifications?”
“Yeah, anything.”
“AndifIhave an idea, you can help me?”
Shebeams at me. “Hellyeah.Whatdo you have in mind?”
Icover my eyes, embarrassed.Idon’t know why.It’snot likeLennoxwas on that burning ship in my dreams.Shehas no clue whatPirateFinndid to me on the deck before he saved my life and threw me back into the sea.
“Iwant to be a mermaid.”