Page 26 of My Undead Heart
I throw up my hands with disbelief. “How could your parents not have known you were gay?”
“Right?” Rae’s eyes roll as she shakes her head. “The writing was on the wall.”
“And the makeup was all over my face.” He grins and finishes his beer with one last swig.
“Please tell me you have videos.”
Jared twists his empty glass between his hands. “Oh, for sure. But those are locked in the vault of payback’s a bitch, so they won’t be coming out anytime soon.”
I smile and nudge him with my shoulder. “Oh, come on. What happened to you only live once?”
“Once was enough. Believe me.”
“Oh, shit! I’ve got to go.” Rae grabs her wallet and digs out a twenty to lay on the check. “My friend Eli has a show tonight at DeMonte’s. Photography mixed media. He’s really talented and I promised I’d stop by. You wanna go?”
Jared nods and retrieves cash for his share. “Anything for my little sis. Plus, if I remember correctly, Eli has a really cute older brother.”
“Aw. You’re so selfless.” Rae stands, slips on her coat, and pulls out her cell.
“I do my part to make humanity a better place.” Jared shrugs before doing the same.
Standing from the table, I pull out my wallet and settle the rest of the bill.
“Mia, how about you?” Rae asks.
Jared links his arm with mine. “Of course she’s in.”
“Actually.” I wince because I’ve been dodging this very conversation all evening. Thought I got away with it, too. “I have plans tonight.”
“Wait. What plans do you have?” Jared steps back, his stare narrow and lips pursed.
My hands go to my hips and I purse my lips to meet his accusing glare. “Don’t act so surprised. I can have plans.”
“Not without dishing to me first! I’m hurt.” He presses his hand into the center of his chest.
Rae rolls her eyes and wraps her arm around her brother, squeezing him to her side. “He’ll get over it.”
Jared gives her the side eye. “She’s probably just trying to avoid another lame art exhibit. You have dragged us to some pretty bad ones over the years.”
“Remember the human body collection? They had that 3D vagina!” Rae giggles and I laugh along.
Jared’s pout gives way to a smile. “How could I forget? If I weren’t already gay, that sculpture would have done the trick.”
“I’m sorry, Rae. I really do have plans.” I give her a quick hug and then turn to Jared to do the same. “And I don’t know what your problem is; that va-jay-jay was a work of art! Uncanny how she molded that Laffy Taffy. Even I wanted to eat it.”
“I’ll take your word for it.” Jared smirks and then nods toward the exit. Rae and I follow him out through the crowded restaurant and I think he’ll let things slide, but when he holds open the outside door to let us pass, he pins me with one of his Sherlock stares. “So, you gonna tell us where you’re off to, or do we get to guess?”
“Ugh. I don’t want to say.” I shield my face as if somehow that will help hide the truth from his inquisitive stare. We walk the short distance to the bus stop and I check my phone, making sure I’m still on track to make it to the gym by ten.
“Well, it’s too late for the comic book store. I can’t think of much else more embarrassing than that,” Rae muses but I ignore her. She’ll never share my affinity for a well-crafted graphic novel.
Jared nods twice before giddiness washes over his face. “Oh, my God! You scandalous woman! You’re someone’s booty call!” He points and draws all kind of stares and chuckles from the strangers waiting along with us.
“No! Nothing like that.” I shake my head more to defend my innocence to the eavesdroppers now fully tuned in to our conversation.
“Just say whatever it is, because we won’t let you go until you do.” Jared blocks my view of the street. I step closer to the curb to look for my bus but he only shuffles in front of me.
“Fine.” I place one hand on his chest and peer around his body. I don’t see the approaching city wheels, but according to the monitor overhead and the scrolling schedule update, my bus is arriving so I need to be quick. I don’t put it past Jared to physically hold me back from catching my ride. When he wants gossip, he’s like a hound. Relentless until you give up or give in. “So, you remember the bouncer from the bar on Friday ...”
