“Wow,” I whispered.
“I know,” she said. Then she giggled then for some strange reason I giggled too.
About an hour before leaving work came cal number two, Jet. “Hey, what’re you doing for Thanksgiving?” Something felt funny in my bel y, not exactly the flutter, something else, a flutter mixed with a whoosh of happiness.
This was because I was hoping I’d be spending Thanksgiving with Nick and Vance and that would be cool.
“I don’t know,” I told her.
“Wel , Eddie and I are going to Eddie’s Mom, Blanca’s house and since Mom and Tex are together, he and Mom are coming and since Tex is Roxie’s uncle, she and Hank are coming and since Al y is Hank’s sister, Al y and Hank’s parents are coming. Blanca asked me to ask you if you, Vance and Nick want to come.”
“I’l have to ask Vance and Nick.”
“Okay, let me know. Eddie and I are going over there for dinner tonight so just give me a ring.”
“Cool,” I said then, “um… Jet?”
“Yeah?”
“Vance asked me to leave my lotion and stuff at his place this morning.”
“That is so cool!” she shouted.
I grinned at the phone. “Did you ever double up on toiletries with Eddie?” I asked. “One set for his place, one set for yours?”
“No. Didn’t have to do that. I moved in with Eddie after a few days and never moved out.”
Yikes.
What was it with these guys?
I was heading to the mal when cal number three came, Daisy. “Hey Sugar. What’s shakin’?”
“I’m on my way to the mal ,” I told her. “Vance said to leave my lotion and stuff at his house so I’m doubling up on toiletries.”
“That is so cool!” she shouted.
I started laughing.
I flipped the phone shut after listening to Daisy tel ing me about how her masseuse was coming that night. It was only after I hung up that I realized I’d just talked to a drug dealing, gun running, pimp’s wife and I had no problem with that.
None at al .
How weird was that?
Cal number four came about five minutes after Daisy. It was Tod.
“Girlie! You’re doubling up on toiletries?” Someone was obviously talking and that someone was either a redhead, a platinum blonde or a honey blonde. I was guessing platinum or Daisy.
“That cal s for champagne!” Tod screeched. “I’m getting on a flight as we speak and Stevie’s in Baltimore. We’re both back in a couple of days and then we’re having a Toiletries and Tiaras party.”
By the way, when Tod wasn’t a drag queen both Stevie and Tod were flight attendants.
“Toiletries and Tiaras?” I asked.
“Everything goes with tiaras, girlie.”
There you go.
Cal number five came when I was in Bath and Body Works at Cherry Creek Mal . It was Roxie.
“Daisy says you’re at the mal .” Her tone sounded accusatory.
“Um, yeah. Vance told me to leave my lotion –” I started to say.
“I know, I know. Why didn’t you cal and tel me you were going to the mal ?” she asked then didn’t give me time answer. “I’l meet you outside the MAC store in fifteen minutes. We’l shop, then get pizza at California Pizza Kitchen and we’l gab.” Again, she didn’t let me answer, she disconnected.
Roxie and I were browsing in the underwear section of Nordstrom’s when cal number six came, Al y. “Hey chickie.
What’s this I hear about leaving your lotion at Vance’s?” I gave her the lowdown.
“That is so cool!” she yel ed then, “listen, I’m working a shift at Brother’s.” Al y, I’d found out the other night, was a bartender at My Brother’s Bar when she wasn’t working at Fortnum’s, “come over, I’l buy you a drink to celebrate.”
“Can’t. Roxie and I are at the mal . We’re looking at undies then we’re getting a pizza. Anyway, Tod is going to undies then we’re getting a pizza. Anyway, Tod is going to have a Toiletries and Tiaras party in a couple of days,” I said.
“Works for me,” Al replied, clearly always up for any kind of party.
I was buying three new silky, lacy and satiny underwear sets when cal number seven came, Vance.
“Where are you?” he asked, not taking my instruction in common civility that you should identify yourself, he launched right in with macho-speak.
“Buying underwear at Nordstrom’s with Roxie.” Silence.
“Vance?”
“Give me a minute, Princess.”
“Why?”
“I’m enjoying a mental picture.”
I grinned at the phone. “Stil your mind, Crowe, and tel me why you cal ed.”
“Lee tel s me you’re goin’ out tonight.”
“How did he…?” I started.
This time, I figured it was the redhead who had the big mouth, Indy.
Jeez.
“Yeah, I’m thinking about it,” I said.
“I’m caught up in something. I can’t take your back.”
“That’s okay.”
More silence for a beat and then, “It’s not okay. I don’t want you on the streets without someone doin’ backup.”
“Crowe, I’ve been doing this alone for months.”
“You’re not doin’ it alone anymore.”