Read Online Betsy Wickwire's Dirty Secret by Vicki Grant - Free Book Online Page B

along the contact information written across the front of her T-shirt.
    It was so blatantly flirtatious I had to turn away.
    Who would act like that?
    I saw a quick flash of myself hanging off Nick, whispering in his ear, kissing him, letting everyone see how crazy he was about me. My skin went prickly and I sucked in my breath.
    â€œOkay, okay! I’m coming.” Dolores gave Murdoch a face like can you believe this girl?
    She handed him the Vim, tapped a bunch of flyers into shape on the way past, grabbed the money off the counter, then hooked her arm through mine. “Happy?” She made me sound like a little kid with a boo-boo. She twiddledher fingers at Murdoch as she dragged me out the door.
    It was all so fast and irritating and unfair that I almost forgot about the state of my life. That was about as good as things got these days.

Chapter 10
    D olores waited until we were about a block away before she licked her finger and counted out the bills.
    â€œTwenty, forty—there you go. All yours.”
    I took the money and tried not to think about the billions of germs wriggling through her saliva.
    She lifted her shirt and stuffed her half into a shiny orange bra. “Forty bucks for two hours’ work — and I got a nude wrestling show for free too! Not a bad way to make a living, is it.”
    I could see where this was going. “Just forget it,” I said, and started walking.
    â€œForget what?”
    â€œYou know perfectly well what.”
    Dolores was doing her best to look confused. I wasn’t falling for it.
    Her phone rang. (Even her ring tone was irritating.Who, over the age of five, would choose “The Wheels on the Bus”?) She found it in the bottom of her grocery bag just before it stopped ringing.
    â€œLapins de Poussière Cleaning Service. How may I help you? … Yes … This Friday? Let me see … Hmm. Darn. We’re full up … Oh! Wait … I might have a cancellation after all. Can I put you on hold for a moment?”
    She put a hand over her phone and looked at me.
    â€œWell?”
    I shook my head.
    â€œIt’s a lady calling for her father. Some old guy. No kids. No pets. Just looking for a once-over. Her exact words. A once-over .”
    I stared at her. How do you get through to a person like Dolores? Where is the “off” button?
    She threw up her hand like an Italian character from some corny sitcom. “Forty bucks! Easy-peasy. And I’ll deal with the naked guys this time … Come on.” She went all baby-eyed and pouty on me.
    A voice in my head screamed, No! No! No!
    A calmer one said, Walk away. Don’t even respond. Ignore her .
    Another voice just sighed.
    I know it’s weird after everything I’d been through, but that was the voice that made the most sense to me. It understood the exhaustion I felt at the thought of arguing with Dolores any more, at the thought of coming upwith yet another excuse for my mother, at the thought of having to figure out how to fill the endless joyless time stretching out in front of me. I sighed too.
    â€œSo is that a yes?” Dolores said. I didn’t say no.
    Dolores told the lady we’d be there Friday at nine.

Chapter 11
    I managed to dump Dolores at the bus stop and headed up Chebucto Road alone. The sun was shining. It took me a while to realize that, and a while longer to realize that it was making me hot.
    My T-shirt stuck to my back and my hair felt like a fur hat. Sweat crept over my scalp like ants. I stopped and looked at the purple shade on the other side of the road. It would be a lot cooler over there. I’d have to cross the street. I’d have to wait for a break in traffic. Then I’d have to cross back again when I got to First Avenue.
    Just contemplating all that tired me out. I rolled my sleeves up over my shoulders and kept walking.
    The heat made me think of Williams Lake. I’d have loved to be there right now. I