Page 105 of Dirty Like Jude
“Yeah, you know, right before the flowers-in-the-teahouseincident.”
“Oh.”
“What flowers-in-the-teahouse incident?” Amberasked.
“Jude showed up at a teahouse where we were having a lady lunch, with flowers," Devi filled her in. “ForRoni.”
Amber looked at me and I could tell she was trying hard not to appear, well, stunned. “Jude?”
“Mmm,” I said noncommittally, and sipped mymicrobrew.
“Please tell me there’s more," Katie said, gazing at meimploringly.
“Not really,” I said carefully. I glanced at Jessa again. She knew every one of these girls better than I did, so I tried to tell her with my eyes,Jump in here anytime you want.“We’ve been working together on the New Year’s Eve event forDirty.”
“Oh, yeah,” Amber said. “How’s that going? Dylan’s excited aboutit.”
“It’s going great.” It really was going great. Here we were, only two-and-a-half weeks to New Year’s Eve, and the event was sold out. And pretty much everything was all set for the show. “I assume you’re allcoming?”
“I am,” Amber said, smiling. “It’ll be my first Dirtyshow.”
“Girrrl. Your man’s gonna be wearing a kilt,” Devi informed her, “so you might wanna bring extrapanties.”
“Devi,” Katiesaid.
“What?” Devi sipped her beer. “I’veseenDylan Cope in akilt.”
Amber just smiled, looking a littleembarrassed.
“Brody’s got a bunch of tickets set aside,” I told them, “and I have some too, so if you need a ticket,Devi—”
“I’ve got one for her,” Katie said. “From Brody. Already talked tohim.”
“Perfect.”
“Now,” Katie leaned on her palm and gazed at me again. “Tell me more aboutJude…”
“Katie, can’t you see she doesn’t want to talk about it?” Devi wore a hooked smile, and clearly she was daring me to talk aboutit.
“There really isn’t much to say,” Irepeated.
“Come on,” Devi prompted. “We’re all girls here. I’ve always been so curious about Jude. Like is he all bulldog on the outside and cuddly little puppy on theinside?”
Well. He’d definitely cuddled me on my couch while I had period cramps, and been a total gentleman about it. Even brought me a chocolate bar when he showed up at my door, unannounced and uninvited. Which was pretty much the only reason I’d let himin.
“Uh…Sometimes…”
Jessa kinda laughed into her beer. She’d ordered a Guinness because she said her part-time nanny had told her it was good for her breastmilk. That theory worked forme.
“So… Does this mean we can double-date now and stuff?” Katie asked me. She glanced conspiratorially at Jessa. “Or tripledate?”
“No,” Isaid.
“Oh.” Katie’s shoulders actually dropped, and I kinda felt bad disappointingher.
“I mean, it’s not thatserious.”
“Sure it’s not,” Devi said. “Maybe for you. We saw him at the teahouse. He is all overthat.”
