Free Death Takes a Holiday by Jennifer Harlow Page A

“She’s got two hot tamales fighting over her now.”
    “They are not fighting over me ,” I say. “They’re fighting between themselves. Not about me.”
    “Yeah, just keep telling yourself that,” April says.
    “Can we please stop talking about this already?” I ask. “I came home specifically so I wouldn’t have to think about this stuff.”
    “Right now you’re the interesting one,” Kenny says. “That’s never happened before.”
    “Gee, thanks,” I say.
    “You’re welcome.”
    “She was always interesting,” says April. “Just in a muted sort of way.”
    “So why did Steven and Allison break up?” I ask, seriously wanting to steer the conversation away from me.
    “He told Javi they ended things because she wanted to get married and he didn’t,” April says. “Looks like you ruined him for other girls.”
    “Did not!”
    “Well, I heard a different tale,” Kenny says. “I heard from Lola over at Misty Salon where Allison gets her hair done that she broke up with him.”
    “Really?” April asks.
    “Yeah. She thought he was cheating on her.”
    “Steven would never do that,” I say.
    “He’s a man,” Kenny says.
    “He doesn’t have the imagination or initiative to juggle two wo-men,” I say.
    “He’s. A. Man,” says Kenny. “No, Allison told Lola that he’d say he was going out with friends, but he wouldn’t invite her or tell her where. She even tried to follow him but lost him.”
    “Sounds like a wonderful, trusting girlfriend,” I mutter.
    “He wasn’t cheating on her,” April clarifies. “He just joined this bowling team and didn’t want her to tag along. That’s what he told Javi anyway.”
    “Told ya,” I say to Kenny. “That man loves his bowling.” I feel his eyes on my back and on instinct my head swivels around. Sure enough those brown eyes are on me. Caught, he shyly smiles and looks away. I do the same. My ears are burning. I sigh. “I’m gonna have to go over there, aren’t I?”
    “Eventually,” April says. “Let him stew a little bit more.”
    “Wiggle your ass,” suggests Kenny. “Drive him nuts.”
    “Shut up,” April says. “She’s not that mean.”
    Kenny and I look at each other, smirk, and I shake my booty in time to the music. Kenny does the same, but April rolls her eyes. I’ve gotten in touch with my evil side in the past months. Mind you, torturing my ex doesn’t come close to some of the other stuff I’ve done, but this gives me a sick little thrill those other times didn’t. Oliver would be so proud.
    “You’re going to hell,” April says, shaking her head.
    “Yes, but she’ll be the belle of the ball there,” Kenny says. “Lucifer himself will ask her to dance.”
    I stop dancing. “Enough playing.” I take another sip and sigh. “Time to get this over with.”
    “It won’t be that bad,” April says.
    “I have no idea what to say to him.”
    “ ‘Ha ha, look what you let get away’?” Kenny suggests.
    “Go get it over with, and I’ll reward you with a cherry margarita,” April says.
    “With a sugar rim?”
    “Of course. What are we? Heathens?”
    “I want two. And flan.”
    “Done. Now get over there. And be nice.”
    “But not too nice,” Kenny says.
    “Well, duh,” April says.
    I roll my tongue over my teeth for any residual lipstick and smooth my dress. “I look okay?”
    “Smashing,” Kenny says.
    I’ll take it. I spin on my heels, toss my hair back like I’m in a shampoo commercial, and sashay myself across the lawn. When I reach Nana and Steven, Heidi Klum has nothing on me. I watch him watching me as I approach. Steven’s fake surprised smile takes ten years off his already boyish face. With those chipmunk cheeks, they’ll still card him when he’s forty.
    “You looked like you were having fun,” Nana says.
    “You know me,” I chuckle. “When the music’s right, I gotta dance.” My smile widens like I’m at the orthodontist. “Hello, Steven.”
    “Bea,” he