“Filming is on hold while they fight about money and why some white dude was cast as the lead, so I figured I’d enjoy the party. The man of the hour dated my mom, so I love crashing these things and making him relive that and wonder why I keep showing up. It annoys the shit out of him, really. Someday, I’m gonna walk up and call himDadjust to see how hard he freaks out.”
“Dude, you’re insane.”
“Come on, it would be a blast watching that rich bastard sweat it out while he calls his lawyers. Anyway, I’m going to rescue you from Robo-Agent. There’s a bar in the back with this stunning blonde working the bottles. I also brought edibles, so that should help.” Robbie checks around our feet. “Where’s my main furry friend, Pongo?”
“Home. I gave him the night off.”
“Oh, that lucky dog. Literally!”
We duck to the back, and spend the rest of the night drinking, getting high, and avoiding the agency rep.
CHAPTER4
FEELING GOOD
MUSE
The alarm screamsat me until I slam my hand down on the phone, turning it off. I flop back onto the pillow, just wanting five more minutes—I was having the best dream! Hottie Cooper had a starring role in my bedroom for the second night in a row. His sweet little ass and those pretty eyes were on full display for me and me alone. He looked amazing on his knees, which I’m sure is true in real life, too. How could he not?
Begrudgingly, I rub my eyes and roll out of bed slowly. My body takes a few minutes before allowing me to start my routine, which means it must be medication day. I’ll have to worry about that later, and if I waste any more time thinking about Chase Cooper’s assets, Dani will usurp the bathroom and I’ll be late.
After I shower and towel dry my hair, I dig through the closet for something cute to wear. I don’t always get to wear jeans to work since the school deemed it unprofessional. However, we’re outside today, learning about rockets. No way am I wearing my expensive clothes for that.
After looking everywhere, I finally find the jeans shoved in the back of a drawer. As I open them, I understand why. Gigantic holes slashed through the legs at random intervals stare back at me. I don’t have to be a detective to know who did this. She’s too damn skinny to fit into my clothes, but that doesn’t stop her from playing fashionista in my closet since she could crawl.
“DANIELLA!”
“Sup?” She pops in, her hair already done up in a cute hat. Some days I hate her so much. She rarely goes beyond the smallest amount of effort in her look, and yet it always comes out perfect. Like this morning, she’s had shows two nights in a row, which means maybe four hours of sleep each of those nights. But she looks ready for a cover shoot for a magazine.
I managed almost seven hours last night and still look like the remains of a bridge troll after being hit by oncoming traffic.
“What the fuck did you do to my pants?”
“I turned them intodesignerjeans that will look way better on you now,” she says matter-of-factly. “What?! You got them for like five dollars at the swap meet and rarely wear them. Now, we can sell them for like twenty bucks and you can get new jeans that are cuter.”
“Those were my only pair of jeans I could wear to school, you scissor happy asshole!” I stare at her with my mouth open as she shrugs. “I need coffee before I can handle this bullshit.”
“Watch your mouth, young lady!” our mother calls out casually as she walks by to take her turn in the bathroom.
“Grrr, I don’t have time for this!” I push Dani out the door and slam it shut. At least she didn’t cut them up too high. I swear, she believes two short years in fashion school has turned her into an expert. This is how her world works. She dabbles, becomes bored, declares herself a master of whatever she’s dabbling in, and moves on. Fashion school, art, music, she takes nothing beyond the boundaries of her comfort zone. A shame, because she’s talented as hell.
I pull on a pair of plaid leggings before the pants and check the mirror. Fuck—theydolook stupid good.
I drop onto the edge of my bed in front of my makeshift vanity and stare at myself. Dark bags under my eyes tell me I need to take my meds soon. It’s probably also why I’m more frustrated with Dani than usual. I move the books and computer parts to the side before I fish out my expensive makeup and stare at it just like I did yesterday.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake, girl. It was a dream! He’s not coming back to the school and if he did, you’re…” I gaze up in the mirror and smirk. “Way too much fucking woman for his skinny white boy ass. Even if he isbeefyright now.” Still, I put the makeup on and check myself out at least four more times before I grab my things.
The delicious aroma of cinnamon and sugar fills the house and wraps around me as I head for the kitchen. Mama gets up every morning to prepare three to-go cups ofcafé de ollafor us so long as she doesn’t have the early shift. The scent brings back memories of myabuelaand the handful of trips we took to Mexico to see her before she passed. Mama’s coffee tastes better than anything I can get at the fancy places, saves me a few dollars on coffee, and it makes her happy. Wins all around.
“Mama, are you ready?” I call out when I don’t see her sitting at the kitchen table. “I have to be at school early on Wednesdays, remember?”
“It’s Thursday, don’tyouremember? I’m taking the bus today.” She’s getting old, but still feisty as hell. She glances up as she closes the fridge and whistles. “Mira! All fancy again today just for school, huh? Are you meeting someone special? A new teacher you’re trying to impress, maybe?”
She enjoys dancing right on the dangerous edge of pestering me about my love life. Which doesn’t exist. Not in a few years, anyhow. I’ve found better ways to spend my free time like the internet, robots, and naps. Also, the occasional trip to an exclusive club I’m part of. It’s not the fanciest place, but it’s good enough for what I can afford on a teacher’s salary. Mama doesn’t know about it and Dani pretends not to after she found a riding crop and a strap-on in my closet once.
“No, mama,” I answer as I give her a kiss on the cheek. “I can choose to be pretty for myself and not for a man!”
“You need to find someone and settle down. You’re getting too old.”
