I had never suffered from poor self-esteem. I didn’t spend endless hours wondering why people didn’t like me or moaning about the way I looked. That had been Maysie’s hang-up for years. I’ll admit it used to drive me crazy. There was only so much backstroking a gal could stomach before you resorted to shaking the shit out of your friend and telling her to grow up.
I had performed varying degrees of tough love on my best friend in the past and wasn’t shy in telling people what I thought. But even I would never feel comfortable enough to let my body hang all out like that. I wasn’t sure if it was a niggling lack of confidence or a greater sense of pride. But whatever it was, Vivian didn’t give a crap and for that I could appreciate her.
“What’s up my bitches!” she yelled, dropping her coat on the floor and putting a grocery bag full of beer on the TV stand. Gracie came in behind her, looking much more subdued in a jean skirt and frilly top. But even she exuded a crazy energy. These girls were ready to get their party on whether I wanted to or not.
“Where are we going tonight? And please tell me you aren’t wearing that, Riley,” Vivian said, plopping down beside me on the couch. Her dress rode up and I could see way too much of her leopard print underwear.
“Well at least I’m not waving my vagina around like a flag,” I said, giving her a pointed look.
Vivian let out a pleased cackle and did nothing to pull her skirt down. “Damn straight! This flag is saying single and ready to mingle!” she shouted. Clearly Vivian had already been at the happy sauce.
Gracie rolled her eyes. “She and Cole had a fight. They broke up again,” Gracie explained, pulling a beer out of the bag and popping the top before sitting down on the loveseat.
“Don’t you have to be doing something more than banging in order to break up?” I asked.
Vivian leaned over and grabbed the beer out of Gracie’s hand. “I thought we had a meaningful relationship built on the appreciation of each other’s bodies. But it came to my attention that mine is not the only body Cole has an appreciation for. So he can go to hell. These legs will never spread for him again!” Vivian declared, waving her beer in a wide circle before drinking half its contents.
I looked over at Maysie who was shaking her head. “Oh, so this is going to be a guy hating, holding Vivian’s hair while she pukes kind of evening. Why didn’t you say so?” I asked sarcastically.
“Shut up, Riley,” Maysie volleyed back. “Vivian, Cole’s an idiot. Just remember where his cock has been the next time he wants to get up your skirt,” she advised, knowing as well as the rest of us that this was just the latest drama in the ongoing saga of Vivian and Cole.
“Damn straight! I need a guy who keeps his shit at home! Do you know who he’s screwing?” Vivian asked, looking at us as though we knew aleady.
Each of us shrugged. “Cira, that bitch. I always knew she was a slut,” Vivian muttered. Maysie and Gracie exchanged a look. Cira was their former sorority sister and anything Chi Delta related was a touchy subject where they were concerned.
I smacked my hands down on my knees and got to my feet. “Well as much as I’m enjoying this riveting discussion about the notches on Cole’s bedpost, I’m going to go get changed. Gotta put my party face on, right?” I asked, smirking at Maysie who stuck her tongue out.
A half an hour later, the four of us were piled in the back of a cab and headed for downtown Bakersville. We were dropped off in front of The Boogie Lounge, the town’s one and only dance club. It was a Tuesday night and the place was heaving.