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“Hurry up! I think my nipples are melting off.”

“Your nipples are fine.” I turned my backside toward the full-length mirror and did another inspection. There was no doubt the dress was definitely shorter than anything I’d worn in a long time. Maybe ever. The thought of wearing it out in public made my stomach flip.

Perry’s footsteps echoed down the hallway as she made her way closer to my bedroom. “Seriously, Jills, it’s like a hundred degrees in here.”

I lifted my hair off my shoulders, debating whether or not I should clip it up. It was a scorcher out there, the hottest day of the year. Maybe not in the triple digits, but close enough to lust after a shower every five minutes.

“I don’t understand why you don’t just get the damn air conditioner fixed once and for all. It’s not like you can’t afford it. Do you want that hot barista to sweat his balls off when you bring him back here after your date?”

“I don’t have to worry about that because I’m not going to date him. You know very well he’s too young for me.”

“God, you are so—”

Her sentence cut short when she rounded the doorway. “Up or down?” I asked, bunching a handful on top of my head.

“Down.” I dropped my hand. Yeah, that way did look better with the dress. It could sometimes be ten degrees cooler by the lake, and that’s what I’d have to bet on. “Holy fuck, you pull off that dress better than me. How am I ever supposed to wear it again now? You’ve ruined it.”

I glanced over at Perry, chuckling at her pouty expression. Exaggeration or not, it was sweet of her to say. “It’s my project for tomorrow.” I grabbed my purse off the bed and ruffled through it, making sure I had enough cash for the night. “There’s a little piece that Mike would tweak whenever it went out. It always seemed easy enough, so I’m sure I can learn to do it myself. I don’t need to hire anyone.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” She snatched one of my magazines from the dresser and turned it into a makeshift fan.

I got down on my knees and started rifling through the closet, looking for shoes. “The air conditioner, remember? The thing you were just complaining about a minute ago?” I tossed aside my cute sandals, which would have complemented my outfit perfectly, in favor of a well-worn pair of flip-flops. I knew better than to torture my poor feet in the name of fashion. I was so done with that.

“Forget the sweat box—that’s old news. What’s trending now is you in that dress. You look fucking hot, Jills. I wish I had your legs. I’m so jealous.”

Said the woman who looked flawless wearing nothing more than short shorts and a teeny camisole. In all the time I’d known her, I don’t think I’d ever seen her anything less than perky.

Me, on the other hand….

I stood and smoothed down the flimsy material, adjusting myself. “Yeah, are you jealous of these too?” I flattened my hands over my breasts, turning sideways toward the mirror. I swore they’d fallen since the night before. Hmm… maybe Perry was onto something with this melting thing. Once I had the cold air blasting again, they’d pop back up, and I could freeze them into place. It was a nice fantasy.

“You’re crazy. There’s nothing wrong with your tits.”

“My neighbor told me it happens overnight. You go to bed with them pointing north, and in the morning, you’re tripping over them. Same thing with your ass. I’m waiting for that to go next. She said one day, out of the blue, she put on her jeans, and it looked like she had flat metal bars in the back pockets. Her butt was sagging down to her thighs.”

“She probably shit in her pants. Isn’t she like eighty?”

“She’s forty-nine!”

“Huh. Well, she looks a lot older.” Perry grabbed my arm. “Come on. I don’t want to be late for the show. You look perfect. There’s nothing more to do here.”

My mile-long to-do list rolled through my head. “Do I have a second to—”

“No. Do not even think about it, Jills. All work and no play, and… you know the rest.”

“I play.” I slipped my feet into the shoes, thinking my polish could use a touch-up. Even with my sight focused downward, I could sense Perry’s eyes rolling.

“Whatever. Your computer’s off-limits. It can wait until tomorrow.”

I slung my purse over my shoulder. “I just need to turn off all the fans before we go.”

Perry headed toward the door adjoining my bedroom and home office. “Fine, but I’m checking this room.”

I sighed. She knew me so well. If I went in there, I wouldn’t be able to resist peeking at the screen. I exited through the opposite door and flip-flopped to the kitchen.

“Hey, what’s with all the boxes? You moving and didn’t tell me?”

I switched off a window fan, then flicked it back on. Maybe it was an electrical hazard, but I needed some kind of circulation in the house, or I’d stick to the floor when I came home.

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