Page 2 of Kiss and Make Love

That was another reason she enjoyed working with the dead. Their attitude matched hers more closely than most living people’s did.

But he was attractive, she’d give him that. Even if it was in a way she rarely went for. Blond, wavy hair. A crooked nose that added character to his face made his glasses sit askew. Thick eyebrows and a strong jaw strengthened his appeal. Some days, she thought heresembled a dog sticking his head out the car window—exhilarated, a bit mussed, but full of enthusiasm.

She’d look ridiculous next to him. He in his earth-toned sweater vests and her in her tight leather jacket. His wavy blond hair and fair skin, her giant black curls and umber complexion. His sensible loafers and her kick-ass platform sneakers.

Oil and water. Peanuts and gum. Spencer and Brett.

Not to mention, he was herprofessor. That’d be inappropriate. Some things were best left to the imagination.

“How’s Professor Smiley-Pants?” Becca wiggled her eyebrows up and down from the seat beside Spencer at Jack’s—their favourite bar.

“Oh my god, Becca. Could you make him sound more lame?” Spencer fussed, shoving Becca in the shoulder. Rebecca was her ride-or-die, one-and-only best friend. They dated for a while in a past life, but both decided they were better off friends. Becca was apparently the only one brave enough to tolerate her on a regular basis.

“Yes, Icanmake it more lame. Professor Nice Man, Professor Tweed, Professor Sunshine, Professor?—”

Spencer shot her a witheringglare, stopping her little tirade. “I get it, I get it. He’s not the typical person I would go for. I’m not going for him, anyway. He looks fuckable, that’s all.” She threw back another shot, her fourth of the night.

“Who are you trying to convince? Me or you?” Becca’s question came with a pointed stare from underneath her shaggy pink fringe. “Seems like you're drowning something out with all those shots.”

“Whoa, now. Is that judgment I hear in your tone?”

Becca plastered on herinnocent-little-me?face. “Simply an observation, that's all.”

“Well, less observing, more commiserating.”

“About…your sexy psychology professor?”

“No, Becca.” Spencer blew out a breath and rolled her eyes so far back in her head she was surprised they made it back around. “About Llewellyn! Every time I think he can’t get any weirder, he makes me eat my words.”

Becca leaned over the table between them and propped her chin on her hands. “Please tell me it’s not worse than when he dropped his cell phone into the casket during that old woman’s funeral.”

Spencer paused. The phone had gone off while the widower was giving the eulogy. Pretty terrible experience, honestly.

“Okay, it’s not worse than that, but it’s definitely more disgusting.”

A tiny squeal erupted from Becca’s lips. She lovedhearing about Llewellyn’s ridiculous antics. “Lay it on me!”

“Okay. You know how we’re not allowed food in the funeral home, and we have to eat in the building off the back?”

Becca nodded, clearly excited to hear the rest.

“Well…I cleaned last night and had to refill the toilet paper in the men’s room. I walked in, and Llewellyn was sitting on top of the sink with a bucket of fried chicken on his lap, tearing into a drumstick. Then he looks at me and whispers, ‘Do you want a piece?’”

Becca let out a wildly loud snort and almost fell off the barstool she was perched on, shaking with laughter.

“You’re lying! Llewellyn isn’t real,” she said between gasps. “He can’t be real. No actual person would do something like that.”

“Becca, half the timeIdon’t think Llewellyn’s real, and I’ve been in a practicum with him for almost a year,” Spencer said, taking another swig from her second drink of the night.

“Remember when he mixed up the outfits for Mr. Nelson and Mrs. Carlisle? What was it…a bright green dress and matching hat?”

Spencer groaned. “He said he thought the deceased was just an open-minded guy. Who was he to deny his wishes for his last outfit?”

Becca laughed. “Which is pretty forward-thinking of Llewellyn, so props to him, but I am so glad the director caught it before any of the family ended up seeing.”

Running her hand over her face, Spencer sighed. “I honestly don’t understand why he hasn’t been kicked out of practicum.”

“Isn’t everyone desperate for good embalmers?”

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