Page 20 of Dirty Like Brody
Holy hell, this was going to beawkward.
But I could fake my way through it, right? I was pretty much a professional faker. Act like these ugly-ass panties are the hottest undies ever designed? No problem, I’m your girl. Look happy and sexy while frolicking in the waves on an ice-cold beach? Do it allthetime.
Pretend it’s no biggie to share some girlie bonding time with the woman who’s sleeping with the man of your dreamstonight?
Easy-fucking-peasy,right?
Fuck.
“The guys are hopping into helicopters,” Devi was saying as I sipped my frothy strawberry daiquiri through a penis straw. “They’re taking off up the coast to some remote rescue service cabin. Some guy Brody knows is letting them use it.” She waved her hand in the air, like this was redundant. “You know, Brody knowseveryone.”
“They’re gonna chop fire wood or throw logs or some such shit,” Becca explained. “You know, bemanly.”
“We should’ve gone up there,” Roni said, shooting me a look over herdrink.
“You,” Devi said, pointing her finger at Katie’s niece, Sadie, “get one drink from the nice bartender man, and then you’re goingtobed.”
“Why?” Sadiewhined.
“Because,” Roni answered, “after that your mommy and aunt Katie and aunt Devi are gonna talk about penises, and they don’t want you tohearit.”
“Yucky!” Sadiecried.
“Roni,” Iwarnedher.
“What?” Roni shrugged. “She’s like ten. She knows what apenisis.”
“She’s seven,” Becca said, “and yes,shedoes.”
“Why are you talking about penises?” Sadie asked her mom,horrified.
“Because sometimes,” Becca said, handing her daughter a virgin cocktail, “that’s whatmommiesdo.”
* * *
“Haveany of you hooked up with a member of Dirty?” Becca asked, all giggly and flushed. “I mean, besidesKatie.”
I bit my lip and made a weird hiccuping-gagging noise before bringing my penis straw to my lips and sucking on mydaiquiri.
Everyone lookedatme.
We’d all been lushed up with a few drinks by now. Sadie had been carried off to bed by her mom a while ago, and Becca had quickly returned, jubilant to be kid-free for the night. Then all seven of us had changed into our bikinis, which Devi had instructed us to bring, and piled into the massive hot tub in front of the big, round window overlooking the cove, frosted cocktails in hand, and got todrinking.
Roni suggested we go in naked, but the rest of usvetoedthat.
Beck’s “Dreams” was getting us in the party mood as it pumped over the surround sound system, and spirits were high. The nice bartender man was keeping the open bar, courtesy of my brother, flowing. And even though he seemed to be keeping an eye on us—because really, seven bikini-clad girls drinking in a hot tub—as did the big dude Jude had assigned to stand inside the front door and look surly, we forgot about them, more or less, and got to thegirltalk.
It started on a casual note, chatting about how happy we were for Katie and her big day tomorrow, about our dresses and how we were going to wear our hair… which led to those who didn’t know the scoop asking for the details on how Katie and my brother hooked up… which led straighttosex.
“Yeah, I really don’t need to hear about my brother’s sex life,” I’d put in, which was probably a mistake. I would’ve much rather heard about my brother’s sex life than answered Becca’squestion.
In the wake of that question, everyone had gotten really, really quiet, and Katie’s eyeswentwide.
Devi lookedintrigued.
Maggie looked like she needed anotherdrink.
“Oh, this night just got interesting,”Ronisaid.
