Page 46 of The Main Event

“Yeah, that was kind of funny.” Levi smiled at the memory. “She’s never had a strong tie to the truth. I don’t think it’s that she’s overtly lying either. She’s one of those people who convinces herself of something, to the point where she could pass a lie detector test. I mean … she still follows Pastor Gideon and swears that Tommy Jarvis really did want to be crucified.”

“Tommy Jarvis mainlined so much meth that I can’t help but wonder if she’s right,” I replied. “She lies, though. She’smanipulative. She hides behind religion. Actually, she’s the sort of person who gives religion a bad name. One of these days, she’s going to end up in a nuthouse because she’s going to do something weird.”

“Who are we talking about?” Tammy asked as she bellied up to the bar and shot her shining smile in multiple directions.

I could’ve lied. That would’ve been bad karma considering what I’d just said about her, though. “Weirdly, we were talking about you.” I swiveled on my stool. “Just out of curiosity, do your palms start sweating whenever you see someone in a white coat?”

“Oh, Daisy.” She hit my shoulder a little harder than could be considered friendly. “You’re so funny. I’ve always enjoyed your sense of humor.”

“Yes, I should be a stand-up comedian,” I agreed.

“You’re a little whorish,” she continued as if I hadn’t spoken. “The Lord wants us to hate the sin and not the sinner, though.”

“Did you really just call me a whore?” I demanded.

“Did you really just say I was going to end up in a mental hospital?” she replied sweetly.

Well, that answeredthatquestion. I was curious exactly how much of our conversation she’d heard. No matter what, it was obviously more than I was comfortable with. “What are you doing tonight?” I asked, changing the subject. “Are you going to take your new boyfriend out to the Essex Street party?”

Tammy blinked several times, as if she was trying to compute what I’d just said. “What party are you referring to?”

“The one on Essex Street. The one we have every year before the tourists start coming to town in droves.”

“Um… I’m going to need a bit more information than that.”

Was she being serious? It was so hard to tell with her. “Every year we have a big party to cut loose before the tourists take over.”

“I’ve never been invited to this party.” Tammy somehow managed to shove a soupçon of hurt in the single sniff she emitted.

“It’s not really an invite thing. Everybody just goes.”

“I don’t think that’s how a party works.”

“That’s how this party works.”

“Well, parties aren’t really my scene. I’m an adult.”

I glanced down at her close-toed shoes. They had a pink bow on the top. “Yes, that’s what I think whenever I see you. Tammy is such an adult.”

“That’s not what I think when I see her,” Levi interjected.

I knew exactly what Levi thought when he saw her and jabbed a finger in his direction to quiet him. “Everybody is invited to the party. If you don’t want to come, that’s certainly your business. Since you and Jax are hot and heavy now, though, I figured you would want him to think you hang out with the cool kids on the regular.”

I had no idea why I was baiting her. I certainly didn’t want her at the party. If there was a photo next to “killjoy” in the dictionary, it would certainly resemble Tammy. I couldn’t seem to stop myself though.

“I’ll bring it up to him,” she said. “I’m sure he’s too mature for that scene too.”

“Whatever.” I wasn’t going to let her bother me. No way. No how. Not ever. “I’m finished here,” I said to Levi, determined to put the conversation with Tammy behind me. “I’m going to head out and put my costume on.”

“It’s a costume party?” Tammy’s demeanor shifted in an instant. “Do you know what the Lord says about costumes?”

“No, and I don’t care.” I pinned her with a “don’t mess with me” look before turning back to Levi. “Do you want to meet me down there, or pick me up at my place?”

“I’ll pick you up,” Levi replied. “I should be there in about two hours if that works for you. I have to finish up here and then get showered and ready myself.”

“What’s your costume this year?”

“I’m not telling you. It’s a surprise.”

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