Page 1 of Pierced Pages
Chapter 1
Morgan
The metal bowl clanged on the linoleum, echoing through the kitchen and off the bare walls of the adjoining living room. Morgan cursed loud enough for Jen to hear across the apartment.
“You need help out there?”
“No, I’m good!”
Late. Clumsy. But good.
Basically, normal.
She bent down to retrieve the bowl, grateful it had been empty. Then she added a scoop of food. Reginald rubbed her leg, pressing his huge, fluffy body against it.
The dark gray beast had been with her since she had found him outside her apartment three years ago. He was a tiny thing back then, and she had no idea he’d turn into such a big, gorgeous cat.
When she didn’t put down the food fast enough, he nipped her calf.
Reginald was a biter, too. Part of his charm.
She put the food in the bowl, then hurried to the bedroom to see what her best friend had come up with.
Jen stood in front of the bed, still wearing her threadbare tank top and shredded jeans she’d worn straight from the tattoo and piercing shop where they both worked. Her curly blonde bob was pinned back at the sides, exposing a fresh cartilage piercing that Morgan had done for her a couple of weeks back.
She waved her arms in a flourish at the three dresses she’d laid out on the dark blue comforter.
Three dresses Morgan most definitely did not want to wear.
“Nope.” Morgan dove into her tiny closet and dug around frantically for anything she could tolerate. Finally, she found something that might work.
Jen laughed softly, the raspy tenor sound a contrast to her diminutive frame. “Remind me why I’m here?”
Morgan had begged Jen to come over to help her get ready. It was a rare occasion that they had an evening off together. Morgan had traded off with the other piercer so she could leave early, and Jen’s schedule just happened to be clear early that Saturday evening, so Morgan was taking full advantage of the opportunity to recruit help.
She wasn’t very good at this sort of thing, and to be honest, she could use the company and cheerleading. Otherwise, she might back out at the last minute.
Very last minute at this rate.
“You’re here because you’re my best friend, and I need your opinions.” Morgan nodded at the dresses on the bed. “And sometimes I need to see the wrong answers to find the right one.”
Jen rolled her eyes. “Just put that on before you’re even later than you already are.”
Morgan backed into the narrow bathroom with her potential outfit draped over one arm and aimed a finger at Jen. “See,that’swhy I need you. You keep me on track.”
A few minutes later, Morgan emerged from the bathroom, hoping she didn’t smell like the strong cleaners she’d used in there that morning. She held out her arms and spun around so Jen could get the full view from the edge of the bed.
“Do these go together? Am I missing something? Is there some gigantic wrinkle I can’t see?”
Jen’s eyes widened in what looked like earnest approval, but her expression morphed into concern. “Are you sure about that?”
Morgan looked down at her outfit and ran her fingers over the front of the silky blouse she’d picked. She wasn’t sure about anything when it came to fashion, but she was sure about one thing.
“I’m sure I’m not wearing one of those dresses,” she said, pointing to the pile of clothes on her bed. “Not unless I absolutely have to.”
She wasn’t even sure why she still kept so many things she had no plans to wear. They were all from the days of going to her mom’s political events, back when they had to play the role of the perfect little family. But since perfect didn’t allow for Morgan being queer, she long ago stopped going to those things. Or going around her mother at all.
Jen put a finger to her mouth as she assessed the situation. The bright colors on her forearm were on full display as her tattoo sleeve filled with anime characters sat front and center with the gesture.
