Page 51 of When The Rain Falls

"Do what trick?" I ask. Vivian drops her sandwich and rolls her head back with a sigh. Like it's the stupidest question I've ever asked.

"Have you been living under a rock?" she asks me. "It's all she's been talking about all week."

"Vivian. Kill the sass and tell me." Before Vivian can answer, the bathroom door creaks.

When the door flies open, Julie comes out first. She's wearing a knee-length, navy blue dress with sequin accents and low black heels. Julie's a shy girl and seems embarrassed by hertransformation. She clutches an arm to her side. When I smile at her, she smiles awkwardly back.

Aimee steps out next. She's walking backwards, ass-first, on long legs as she continues to mess with Ruby's hair. When Ruby steps into the hallway, my world stands still. The air vanishes from my lungs. I can't breathe. She's wearing a deep green dress with tiny straps. The dress flows down her waist to her knees. Her legs end in nude-colored heels. Tresses of dark hair rest in beautiful loose curls at her shoulders. She's wearing fire-engine red lipstick and a thick layer of eyeliner. She's not a little girl. Not in the slightest. She looks like Laurel. I'm floored. Pressure begins to build up behind my eyeballs and they start to sting.

"Ta-da!" Aimee says proudly as she throws her hands towards the girls. She's smiling like she's the sun itself, radiating warmth and brightness. "They donotlook like hookers."

Unlike Julie, Ruby stands tall and confident. She raises her chin slightly as I take her in. When our eyes catch, I'm nearly at a loss for words.

"Beautiful," I manage to say around the thickness in my throat. I can't take my eyes off Ruby.That's my daughter? The same little girl who I used to swing from my arms?

"Wow, Ruby. You don't look like hot garbage," Vivian says. "Good job, Aimee."

"Thanks," Ruby says with biting sarcasm. "So,somuch."

"I was complimenting Aimee. Not you," Vivian clarifies.

Ruby pinches her face in annoyance.

"And don't forget The Moves," Aimee says, adjusting a strap on Ruby's dress. What is she even talking about? I doubt I want to know.

"Isn't that all a little overkill?" Ruby asks, crossing her arms and rolling her eyes. The three of them have meandered into the kitchen.

"What are you talking about?" I ask, propping my hands on my hips. But they keep talking like I'm not even here.

"Girl," Aimee sighs, "you can't just expect it to happen. You gotta lay the foundation. That's why you need The Moves."

I have this strange feeling. It's a sense of foreboding. Like I'm on a train that's barreling towards a brick wall and there's nothing I can do to stop the impact.

"Follow The Moves," Aimee says. "And when you're done, his lips will be all over yours before he even knows it." Did she saylips? I don’t like the sound of that. Not one bit.

"You do ninety percent of the work, and he'll do the last ten," Aimee adds.

"That doesn't make sense," whines Ruby.

"Try it without numbers," Vivian offers. "Math isn't her strength."

"Shut up." Ruby glares at Vivian. Ok. I guess it's just me that everyone's ignoring. I'm the biggest person here. That should count for something.

"Fine," Aimee says. "I'll just show you." She turns her head and looks straight at me. That crazy little devil is dancing in her eyes again. All the blood drains from my body and my bones turn to liquid. I think I know where this is going. And I don't like it.

"Ew. Not with him," Ruby says, twisting her face in disgust.

"Yeah," I tell her sternly, folding my arms across my chest. "Forget it. I'm not playing any part of this." Aimee's laugh is breezy and light, like my statement was some kind of hilarious joke.

"Relax. It's just a demonstration," she says. I remember our kiss last night. And I know if it happens again, I won’t be able to keep it short and sweet this time. Next time I kiss her, it’s going to be a real kiss. Open mouth. Tangling tongues. Fist in the hair. Her body against mine. Friction. Heat. All of it.

And I can’t do that here. Not with an audience. Especially when that audience is my children.

"First, get him alone. Then give him a compliment,” she continues. “Hey, bear, you have such thick strong arms." She leans in with a seductive smile and wraps a hand around my bicep. I have to admit, I like how thick my arms look in her delicate hand. I conjure every negative thought I've ever had in my life and channel it in her direction. "Tell me about your workout routine,” she continues.

"You already know my workout routine," I tell her, shrugging her off. "You've rudely interrupted it." Aimee snorts.

“The touch. That was the next move," she says, ignoring my comment and running a finger along my forearm. It takes everything I have to hold in the shiver threatening to break out across my flesh.

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