Page 393 of Dark Love

“Every man cares. Dahlia Prudence Fleur, you hang up this phone right now and go get presentable… Wear the green silk dress I got you with the black peep-toe heels… You know, the ones I’m talking about.”

Sadly, I do. They have four-inch heels and are torture to wear. “Max doesn’t care.”

“Trust me, he does. Max sounds like a very nice name.”

She wouldn’t think that if she knew his full name was Massimo Rage Vincenti. Who names their son Rage? Especially such a nice man. “He is.”

“Exactly. Now go get dressed.” Mom hangs up the phone.

This isn’t the end of it. Mom is going to call again just to ‘check’ to make sure I meet her standards. I guess I’m getting dressed and putting makeup on.

***

“Look at Prue.” Dylan whistles.

“Prue has a boyfriend. Prue has a boyfriend,” Junie sings.

“Why do you hide all that va-va-voom behind grandma cardigans?” Savie sets a skein of yarn on her lap.

“Because she doesn’t want the boys fighting over her.” Garnet lifts up her wine glass.

These video chats get wild sometimes, and Garnet usually instigates the mayhem.

“Hey everyone.” Fiona walks behind where Daria is sitting. Daria has been part of our group since day one, but none of us has heard her say a single word.

“Hey, Fea!” we all chorus.

“Are you all excited about the convention in two weeks? Daria finished packing two days ago.” Fea places a hand on the chair behind Daria.

“Do you want to pack for me, Daria? I haven’t even started digging clothes out of my closet.” Sheridan leans back on her couch that is piled high with half a dozen outfits of various colors.

“That’s because you’re a procrastinator.” Dylan grins. “If we all waited for you, we’d be late for everything.”

“Not everyone alphabetizes their lives like Prue.” Sheridan reaches for a mug in front of her. Who knows if it’s a two-day-old coffee or a fresh cup of tea?

“Hey now. Don’t bring me into your little squabble. My closets are pretty.” I sip my now cold tea in my living room. It hardly seemed right to sit in my comfy library chair while I’m wearing a dress like this. “And to answer your question, Fea, I can’t wait.” This convention is my favorite time of the year. It lets me pretend to be normal, even if it only lasts a week.

“Have we decided to go ride the roller coaster or not?” Garnet takes a sip of wine.

“Who cares about roller coasters? I want to know about Prue’s man.” Savie clicks her knitting needles together fast enough to make you dizzy.

“You’re seeing someone, Prue? That’s wonderful. Tell us all about him.” Fea perches on the edge of Daria’s chair. She usually doesn’t hang around much for our group meetings.

Do I tell them? Why not? It’s not like they’ll ever meet anyone I know. No one but Daria and Fea live in Urbium, and it’s not like they’ll ever meet Vex or Max. “My mother has been getting on my case to make friends again.”

“We’re your friends.” Concern has Junie’s brow wrinkling.

“I thought you moved to Urbium so your mother would get off your case about being a hermit. Which, if you ask me, is a perfectly valid hobby.” Dylan picks a sparkly pen up and jots something down in her notebook.

She never seems to be more than two feet away from one, but then I only see her when we meet like this or when we’re at a convention. “I’m actually trying to make friends.”

“Making friends takes time.” Junie is the kind one of the bunch.

“Who cares about friends? Tell me about the man. Is he sexy? Does he have tattoos and a beard? Or is he slightly nerdy? Nerdy men are hot. Not only can they talk to you outside of—"

“Savie!” Harper chimes in for the first time from the swing on her porch.

“What? It’s true.”

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