Page 107 of Perfect Mess

“The dungeon dude.” Jack’s eyes drifted between us. Back and forth. Back and forth. “Are you two …”

“Friends,” I said. “Just friends.”

“Good for you.” Jack clapped Gary on his back, almost launching him into the lake.

“That’s a lot of funnel cake.”

I remembered I was still carrying an armful of funnel cake, the ice cream now completely melted.

“She didn’t eat breakfast,” Gary explained.

“Hey Janet,” Jack called. “Look who’s here!” Jack waved Janet over.

When Janet saw me standing there with Gary, she handed the rest of her pink papers to the whale woman and bolted our way.

“Mary! Gary!” Janet scooped me up in one of her signature hugs. Then it was Gary’s turn. She wrapped her arms around him and plowed her breasts into his chest. “What are you two doing here?” Janet purred, her eyes darting back-and-forth between Gary and me.

“Gary’s an artist,” I said. Somehow, my hand ended up on Gary’s arm, but I wasn’t sure how it got there. “He has his own tent and everything.”

“Ooh, an artist, that’s amazing,” said Janet.

Jack seemed less impressed. “Let me guess, dragon and wizard stuff?”

Gary pursed his lips. “I paint landscapes.”

“Oh, so like flowers. And trees,” Janet guessed.

“Sometimes mountains.” I saw Gary cast a sideways glance at Jack and brace himself, like he was expecting Jack to come over and give him a wedgie.

“Well, good for you,” said Janet. “Artistic expression is a great way to get in touch with your inner feelings.”

“Way to touch those feelings, dude.” Jack clapped Gary on the back again. I thought I heard his spine crack.

“You should see some of his stuff.” I pointed toward Gary’s tent. “He’s fantastic.”

“I’d love to,” said Janet, as she patted his arm in the same spot where my hand had just been.

“What’s with all the flyers?” Gary pointed to the stack of pink papers still in Jack’s hands.

“Jack’s helping me hand out flyers for the bookstore,” said Janet.

“Here.” Jack handed Gary a pink flyer, as if to show their technique. “This sounds like your kind of thing, Larry.” Even though surviving puberty may have transformed Gary from a small boy into a capable man, standing next to Jack, he seemed to shrink back inside himself.

“Yes Gary, you should come,” said Janet. “And bring Mary with you.” Janet gave me a wink. I gave Janet a bird.

Jack handed me a flyer, too. “You two should definitely come. Janet and I are going to be there.”

When I looked down at the pink paper, the first thing I saw was an illustration of a scaled dragon, wings aloft and breathing fire. Below it, an armored knight deflected the flames with his shield.

Dungeons & Dragons Night

The Book Belle

Thursday 8pm

Garyand I stared at the flyer. Then at each other. Back to the flyer. Then each other again. I could tell we were both trying to stifle a smile.

“Maybe there will be a chance for gladiatorial combat,” Gary said.

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