Page 70 of Sharkbait
“Aw, my girl got me a celestial orgy?” Ralph croons as hegathers her close.
“She did.” They kiss.
“Ugh.”
Oops, did I “ugh” out loud?
“Lou, come on. Is this actually that big a deal?” Calliope huffs. “I mean, look around. People seem into it. The birthday boy certainly seems to have warmed up to the idea.” She snuggles into Ralph’s back while he watches.
“Is this legal, though?” I hiss. “Are orgies even legal?”
“Depends.” Suddenly, James is beside me, also on his phone. “I just texted my, um, my lawyer friend. And we should be okay.” He reads from his screen. “She says, ‘Orgies are legal as long as they are a private affair where no entrance fee is charged, and all parties are consenting adults over the age of eighteen.”
I can’t believe I’m even having this discussion.
I put my head in both of my hands.
The last thing I want is to get James’s business in trouble.
“Louise.” He gently pulls my hands away from my face and places a warm palm on my cheek. “Everything will be okay.”
I’m transported back in time to that first night with him. If I crane my neck to look past Venus and Mercury, who are currently stroking each other on barstools, I can see a direct path to the hall that leads to the walk-in refrigerator. I have to laugh at how funny it is that I want a redo of that truly bizarre night. I remember how warm and comforting his hands were, despite how cold it was. Something tells me, though, that I could be in subzero temperatures in the middle of Antarctica, and if James was standing next to me, I’d feel nothing but warmth.
Familiar voices arise from across the room.
Oh God. My parents have made it past their staring contest and are now full-on arguing.
“I’m gonna go,” I say to James.
He hesitates, then asks, “Want company?”
Why does that question feel like such a relief?
Hell yeah, I want his company.
I nod.
He smiles. “Gimme a minute. I’ll meet you up front.”
He hustles over to the bar and starts talking to one of his employees, who is currently pouring drinks and chatting up customers.
I tap Ralph and Calliope on the shoulders.
“Guys? I’m heading out.”
“What? Why?” Ralph says.
Call me crazy—but I don’t relish the opportunity to watch a planetary orgy in a food and drink establishment while my big brother and estranged parents are within arm’s distance of me.
I don’t say that, though. I just give him a look.
“But we haven’t done the birthday cake yet!” Calliope says. “I commissioned Bucks County Bakery to make me an Earth-shaped cake!”
“You did?” Ralph perks up.
“Yeah, baby. Don’t think I didn’t hear how horny you got talking about the teacher who threw you those geo parties! Tonight, I am going to make you forget Miss Thompson ever existed. We’re talking about a perfectly spherical cake meticulously decorated with ocean and continent icing. And the layers inside are scientifically accurate!”
“That sounds awesome, Callie,” I say. “But I’m still going to—”
