Page 18 of Destiny

“Pffft. Wow, you’re so edgy.”

I scoff and then swallow the medication.

“What shade of green would you call that?” I inquire while simultaneously starting to open the store.

She runs her fingers through it and then ruffles it out so the sides are standing up wildly. “Fabulous, baby.”

“That’s one word for it. Don’t you ever worry it’s all just going to fall out with all of the dying you do?”

“No. Why don’t you say we should change your look? This bohemian thing is so last season.” She does her best to mimic Valley Girl as she says those last words.

“No way!”

“It doesn’t bother you that you’ve looked the same since high school—heck, middle school, even!”

“Some looks are just classic.”

“Whatever you say, Kat Stratford.”

“You keep saying I’m tired, yet you make old-ass references like that.”

“10 Things I Hate About You is a treasure.”

“That doesn’t change the fact that it came out almost twenty-five years ago.”

“Twenty-five years? Seriously?”

“I think so.” I went over the old rental VHS tapes we have, and I found it. “Yeah. 1999.”

“That makes me feel so old. Maybe I need to get an old dad like you. Then, I’d always be young by comparison.”

“Marco isn’t that old.”

“He has a mortgage, doesn’t he?”

“He does. But there are plenty of people our age who own houses.”

She pops her gum. “Name one.”

“Uh . . . Jessica Robertson.”

“That doesn’t count. She’s a trust fund baby.”

“Well? She still has a house.”

“And you could, too, if you ever faced your fear and sang in front of people. Imagine it! We could travel the world together—you’d be singing, and I could be your manager. Oh, I’d be so good at beating people away from your tour bus.” She mimics holding something and jabbing it at people.

I laugh. With her tiny frame, I highly doubt she’d intimidate anyone. “I don’t think that’s what managers do.”

“Well, I would.”

We continue to work on opening the store, and I don’t realize it until Micky points it out, but I’m singing.

“I’m serious, Bea. You’re depriving the world of your talent. Listen to you! You should like a freakin’ angel.”

“I’m sorry! I can’t do it. I’ve tried. Remember karaoke two years ago? I almost fainted.”

“Well, you sing in front of me all the time.”

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