Page 30 of Shark Bait

Oh God. I freeze and, like a fish with my mouth gaping, say nothing.

Valerina pretends nothing’s wrong with me, even though I know she knows something isn’t right. You’d have to lack social astuteness not to know, and Valerina gives me the impression that she’s a socially well-rounded person.

She stops speaking while she puts away her groceries, and I feel like she’s giving me time to recover, even though she can’t have any idea what I’m recovering from.

Once done, she starts folding the paper bags. I grab a few and fold with her.

“I’ve been on a cruise for a while,” I say by way of explanation.

“Is that where you met Miro?”

Miro.A four-letter name like mine. “Yeah, but I call him Shark.”

She giggles. “What’s he say about that?”

I shrug. “I don’t think he has a choice anymore. It stuck.”

Valerina laughs. “For what it’s worth, I don’t like boats or sailing. Are you hungry?” She pulls out a tube of pink lip gloss from her pocket and applies it. I must stare longingly at it, because she offers it to me. “Have some. I don’t have any cooties, I promise.”

I bet she doesn’t. Even with the messy bun, she’s well put together, with manicured fingernails and expensive jewelry on nearly every finger. My lips are chapped. My hair is breaking at the ends after going so long without conditioner. It’s not as if Fis and Co. provided feminine products or five-star accommodations.

The gloss tastes like grapes and reminds me of a yearly grape harvest. I extend a hand to return it, but she waves it off and puts on a black apron decorated with a pink cupcake that has eyes and a smiling mouth.

“Keep it,” she says.

I read the luxury brand on the tube. “I couldn’t.”

“Sure you can.” She starts to clean the counter.

“Thank you.” I tuck the tube between my breasts. “This stupid dress they made me wear has no pockets.”

Valerina pauses with the wiping. “Then you need a new dress.” Valerina chews her lip. “Oh, but wait, to get to the shops, we have to go on a ferry, and since that’s a boat of sorts and we’ve sworn off boats, we will take my brother’s plane. What do you think?”

“I don’t want to go,” I say, immediately regretting it since it feels like I keep pouring a bucket of hot, muddy water over her shiny sunflower personality. She’s trying to lift me up, and I can’t seem to keep up. But I also can’t take it back.

“I truly can’t go,” I say, hoping she’ll understand and not press.

“There are other places where we can shop. I hear Paris is divine.” She winks.

I gather this is how rich women make their shopping plans. Just hop on a private jet and go wherever you need to go in Europe. Wait, why wouldn’t I shop in Paris? And with a new friend who seems kind and hasn’t once made me feel uncomfortable.

“I’ve never shopped with my own money in my pocket,” I say. “Now I can.”

Valerina stops what she’s doing. “Why would you spend your money?” She shakes her head. “We don’t spend our money. We spendtheirmoney.” She points outside and behind me, I’m pretty sure at the men.

I laugh. “That sounds even better. What do we do with our money?”

“We invest.”

“Well then, let’s hit Paris on Capital’s jet and drop a mil on clothes and makeup. But after I deliver and my body is back to where it was.” I’ll probably be home by then, but maybe Valerina and I will keep in touch. I don’t know what’ll happen in the future, but I loved making this plan with her.

“We’ll shake on that.” Valerina extends a hand, and we make a pact. “Who’s Capital?” she asks.

“Alessio.”

She throws back her head and laughs. “That’s so appropriate. What do you want to call me?”

“Cupcake.” I point at the cupcake on her apron.

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