“I can’t just carry around all this hate for the rest of my life,” Cadence explained. “And anyway, forgiving her wouldn’t really be for her anyway. It’d be for me.”
Avery bit into her sandwich. “I think she needs to get run over by a truck,” she said with her mouth full.
“Avery, come on.”
“Well, something bad oughta happen to her. Seems fair to me,” Avery replied.
Cadence tensed then bit into her own sandwich. She wanted to change the conversation.
“Have you heard from Gavin?” she asked.
“Why would I?” Avery replied.
“I dunno. You guys dated all last year. He hasn’t even tried to get in touch with you?”
Avery shook her head.
“Why?”
“Because I’m too complicated.”
“He’s a jerk,” Cadence said.
“They usually are.” Avery wiped her mouth and eyed Cadence carefully. “You feel sorry for me, don’t you?”
“What?”
Avery’s lips curled into a grin. “You feel sorry for me because I don’t have a boyfriend.” She burst out laughing. “God, you’re one of those girls.”
“Shut up! I’m not one of those girls! And I could care less if you have a boyfriend,” Cadence snapped.
“I don’t know how I’ll go on, Cadence,” Avery said dramatically. “If I don’t have a boyfriend, there’s just no point to any of this.”
Cadence rolled her eyes.
“I mean, why even get up in the morning? Why shower? My life is so—” She paused for effect, then whispered, “—pathetic.”
Cadence stared at her friend. “Are you done?”
“Seriously, the only thing I miss is getting laid,” Avery said. “I think sex helps me function better.”
Cadence blushed and hung her head.
“And I guess sex helps you function better, too,” Avery observed.
Cadence shrugged.
“How many times a week do you guys do it?”
“Not your business.”
“Oh, come on. We’re best friends. It’s code. You have to tell me.”
“But it’ll just make you feel even more pathetic,” Cadence teased.
Avery giggled. “Oh, I don’t care. Just tell me. And give me some details.”
“What? So you can masturbate to them when you get home?”
Avery’s eyes went wide. And then she put her hand in the air. “Freaking. Awesome,” she said as Cadence slapped it.
“I learn from the best,” Cadence replied. “And we do it every night.”
“Bitch.”
“You asked.”
“What about when you’re on your period?”
“We don’t do it then,” Cadence said, crinkling her nose.
“So not every night.”
Cadence smiled patiently. “No, Avery. Not every night.”
“So what do you guys do?”
“I’m so not giving you details.”
“Oh, stop being such a tight ass prude and just tell me something. And if you say you only do it missionary style, I’m gonna barf all over this table.”
“There are other ways to do it?”
Avery grinned. “Clever cunt,” she said, and Cadence burst into a fit of giggles.
“We do it under the covers with the lights off.”
“Sounds like you,” Avery replied.
Cadence chuckled. “Actually he straps me down to the bed and pours hot wax all over my body.”
“Ha! I knew Mr. Connelly was a kinky motherfucker.”
Cadence laughed. “When are you gonna stop calling him ‘Mr. Connelly’?”
“Maybe never. I find it hilarious.”
Cadence shifted in her seat. Avery noticed.
“Not hilarious that you two are together,” she added. “Just hilarious because—” She paused. “—well, because I imagine it’d annoy the crap out of him.”
“You plan on testing this out the next time you see him?” Cadence asked.
“Most def.”
“Do you think it’s ridiculous that we’re together?” Cadence asked softly.
“Are you kidding me? I think you two couldn’t be more perfect for each other. You make each other happy. Tie-downs and wax and all.” Avery winked.
“Your parents don’t suspect that we see each other? I mean, they have to know I go to school here,” Cadence said. “Aren’t they worried?”
“Talk about a subject change. There wasn’t even like a segue or anything.”
“I’ve got a lot on my mind.” Cadence checked the time. “And only a few more minutes to spare.”
“They don’t know we’re friends,” Avery explained.
“How?”
“I told them I’d never speak to you again after what you did to me.”
Cadence stared at her.
“They believed me. They made sure to tell me I deserved it for lying to them, but they believed me.”
“I really don’t like your parents,” Cadence mumbled.
“Yours aren’t all that great either,” Avery pointed out.
“You find that ironic?”
“Why? Because they’re supposed to be these good-hearted Christians?” Avery asked.
Cadence nodded.
“No. Christians are no better than anybody else,” Avery said.
“But aren’t they supposed to try to be good people?”
“I think they’re just supposed to be forgiven.”
“So that pardons any judgment they pass or gossip they spread?”
“No.”
“Then I don’t get it.”
“Look it. I haven’t cracked open my Bible in two months. You’re gonna have to consult an expert on this one.” She thought for a moment. “No, wait. I did crack open my Bible last week to read Song of Solomon, and that’s only because I’m so damn horny right now.”