Page 58 of Text Appeal

“Plausible deniability. Always a good idea.” I delicately sniff the liquid. “It’s so sweet I can’t tell. Though arsenic has no actual taste or smell.”

“How the hell do you know that?”

“I’m a writer. We know things.”

Mari raises her glass of soda in toast to me. “I like this one. She’s fun.”

“I don’t know if I’d go that far,” mutters Ava.

“Thank you,” I say. “Well, this has been interesting. But I’m going to go read some slash fic in the corner.”

Ava groans. “Will you stay if I promise to be nice?”

“Are you sure you don’t want to go catch up with friends from back in the day?”

“You mean the local ladies at that table over there? They’re not her friends,” says Mari in a sober voice. She discreetly nods at the gathering of Ava’s buddies from the night before. The ones she’d said were discussing who’d banged the new ball coach. “They don’t even really like each other. You know how sometimes certain people just become a habit? That’s what you’re looking at there.”

Ava nods. “They’re stuck in the schoolyard forever.”

“Like you’re so open to change.” Mari raises a brow. “That’sexactly why you keep coming back. What do they say about doing the same thing and expecting a different outcome?”

Ava is unimpressed. Big time.

Poker Faceby Lady Gaga is replaced byHey Ya!by Outkast. Connor has recommenced communing with his football buddies. Hard not to note how much more relaxed he seems tonight. When he’s not worrying about me, of course. Smiles come more readily to his face. He even laughs now and then. It’s like he’s learning how to be a little happier each day. Without having to put on the Mr. Nice mask.

Meanwhile, I don’t know if I should walk away or stay. No. That’s a lie. I know I should go. But my curiosity has been awakened. I want to know what these two are going to say next. Dammit.

“Brandon got remarried,” says Mari, watching the crowd on the dance floor. “She seems nice. And about to give birth at any moment.”

Ava sips her wine. “That’ll make the dance floor slippery. The tattoo on Katy’s leg is great. I wonder where she got it done?”

“Apparently, she was over in Maine for a while, and dated some local tattoo artist.”

“Huh.”

“So, Riley, tell me about yourself,” says Mari.

The music comes to an abrupt stop as a man taps on a microphone. One turned up damn loud. Everybody winces and appears confused. Then the offending dude walks to the front of the stage with a scarily wide smile.

“Oh, good,” says Mari sarcastically. “It’s Brian.”

“Hey, everybody.” He’s well-built and has short blondhair. Someone could pull off the brown chinos and matching button-down and loafers combo. But it’s not him. “So great to see you all here. I’ve been asked to kick off the night, but first some housekeeping. No smoking or vaping on school grounds. That means keep your bong in your bag, Jordan. And security is around so no sneaking off to have sex in any of the bathrooms or classrooms, do you hear? So, no naked reunions in the supply closet, Zach and Tiffany. It was lovely to meet your new fiancée earlier, Zach. Just great. I wish you and Madelaine all the best!”

Some people laugh. More groan and grumble.

“What a shitshow,” says Ava.

“Now I have a couple of awards to give away. First, we have…stand up, Marcus. He’s in the running to be Port Stewart’s youngest mayor next year. Way to go, man.”

Everyone claps and cheers as a tall black man stands, gives a stiff nod, and sits back down again.

“Is Brian still in real estate?” asks Mari.

Ava shrugs. “Not a clue.”

“Twenty says he needs something from Marcus.”

“There’s no way I am taking that bet.”

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