Page 4 of All I Desire

“Goth?” Kate offers.

“Dead?” Lauren says.

“Yes. Those things. See how fresh you look?” Ma is plucking at the dress and petting my hair. She scratches behind my ear.

I wrench my head away and mumble how I’m not Chunky. Ma ignores me and runs a hand over the skirt. "Such beautiful fabric."

"This is something like you'd wear, Ma." My mother, Ginger Hastings, is famous around the island for her hippie attire. Today, she’s wearing a long, cotton, bright tie-dye dress, like she’s about to hop in a VW van and follow The Dead from city to city.

“I’d love to wear something like this if your father and I renew our vows. I’m trying to talk him into it. You know how he is.”

I narrow my eyes at Lauren. "Is this a boho wedding dress?”

Lauren shrugs. “Possibly.”

I turn back to Ma and kiss her cheek. “Maybe Lauren will let you borrow it when I'm done."

"I don’t know if it’ll fit,” Ma burbles.

We all know that it won’t fit Ma because she's doll-sized, and Lauren and I have almost a foot and tens of pounds on her. I’ve never understood how Ma gave birth to the five of us — my brothers are huge, and I’m not tiny, either.

"Okay, chicas. I'm off. Wish me luck."

“Sell some jewelry,” Kate trills.

“Don’t forget to pimp the resort,” Lauren instructs. “And while you’re getting your photo taken, point in the direction of the property.”

I point to the horizon, while staring off into the distance like a mannequin. Leilani cracks up and Lauren groans.

“Not like that. Be natural about it. Loosen up. And don’t forget to suck in your belly and tilt your head. And smile, for God’s sake. You usually look sullen in photos, like a tragedy just occurred.”

I roll my eyes, and Leilani looks up at me from her pillow on the floor. “I hope you’re paired with a handsome man and you end up having a palpable attraction. And hot monkey sex.”

“Yeah, right.” It’s been a long while since I’ve had any kind of sex, monkey or otherwise.

“Call us if you need us to do a background check on him,” Isabella counters. “We’ll be standing by with The Googles.”

Grabbing my purse, I giggle and flit out of the room. This dress, with its layers of silk and uneven hem, makes for dramatic entrances and exits. Which fits my personality.

I decide that I'm going to flit, flounce, and flutter all fucking day long. Before I head out the front door, I pause. My boots are resting neatly on a doormat that says “WELCOME. WE HOPE YOU LIKE DOGS.”

“I’m putting on my Doc Martins with this dress,” I holler to anyone within earshot.

“What? Nooo,” Lauren cries.

Donning a pair of socks I’d left atop the boots, I shove my feet in, giggle, then slip out the door before Lauren can stop me.

As I walk to my dad’s wagon, I admire how the black leather boots look hella good with the pink, cloudlike dress.

Today’s going to be epic.

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