Page 13 of Ink & Stardust

“She’s standing right here,” I remind them.

“So what are you going to wear?” Char stands from her desk chair.

“No idea, but I’ll figure it out.”

“I have this—”

“No,” I cut her off. “I’m not wearing your clothes. Owen liked me just fine in what I was wearing the other day.”

“Did he, now?” Char raises her brows up and down suggestively. “Is there something you’ve failed to tell us? Like did he also like removing said clothing?”

“Yeah, because he stripped me bare and fucked me right in the middle of the coffee shop.” I toss my hands up in the air.

“Did she just say fuck?” Maisie jumps down from her bed and lands in front of me in seconds. She reaches out and presses the back of her hand to my forehead. “Are you feeling okay?”

“Stop it.” I shove her hand away. “I do curse from time to time.”

“Since when? I don’t think I’ve heard you utter so much as the wordhellin the month that I’ve known you.”

“I’m not as innocent as everyone thinks I am.” I huff, growing increasingly frustrated by this perception, true or not.

“Of course you’re not.” Maisie gives me a sarcastic smile.

“No offense, Lyric,” Char injects. “But you’re the most innocent person I think I’ve ever met.”

“Why do people always say no offense and then say something that’s offensive?” I turn toward her.

“It’s not an insult,” she assures me. “If anything, it’s a compliment.”

“A compliment?”

“You’re comfortable being you. You don’t conform to peer pressure—trust me, I’ve tried. And you respect yourself enough not to sacrifice what so many others just give away.”

“Hey!” Maisie pouts from beside me.

“I’m not talking about you.” Char belts out a laugh. “I mean, your body count is higher than mine.”

“By one!” Maisie stomps her foot.

“I’m just saying, Lyric isn’t like us. And that’s not a bad thing. I wish I respected by body enough not to give in to every dirty little urge.” Her smile turns mischievous. “But then again, where’s the fun in that?”

“Speaking of dirty little urges...” Maisie crosses her arms in front of herself. “Don’t think I missed the little spit-swapping session you had with Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome yesterday afternoon. Care to fill us in?”

“Wait... Who’s Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome?” I ask, having not heard this before now.

“Oh, you know, the delicious piece of chocolate that Char’s been nibbling on.”

“I have not nibbled.” She drags her teeth across her bottom lip. “Yet.”

“Who is he?”

“His name is Erik, and he just happens to be someone I went to high school with. But that’s irrelevant because we’re not talking about me.” Her eyes swing to me. “Our beautiful little butterfly is about to spread her wings.” She smiles. “You know what that means.”

“Brazilians!” Maisie announces excitedly.

“Wait, what?” I look between the two of them.

“Please tell me you’ve heard of a Brazilian wax.”

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