Chasing Crazy - Kelly Siskind Page 0,81

her shoulders instead of in its usual braid. She’s wearing a tiny navy dress, her breasts popping out over the neckline, and her mascara’s so thick, it’s a wonder she can blink. She smiles sweetly at Leigh. “Who invited the dyke?”

I almost hit the deck.

Tick goes the wall clock. Tick. Tick. Tick. Or maybe that’s the time bomb in Leigh’s reddening face. Brianne slaps her hand over her mouth in shock, her eyes flitting between Leigh and Reese. Bruno shifts on his seat, frowning. Sam’s the one who speaks first, his voice like rolling thunder. “Use that word again, Reese, and you’ll be leaving New Zealand minus a tongue.”

Leigh holds up her palm to silence Sam, spins around, and gets to her feet with precision. Each movement is controlled. Each step is calculated. Her face has become a mask of pure tranquility. But I know the storm brewing below the surface and can’t understand why Leigh isn’t being Leigh. This can’t be good. Most definitely bad. The fallout will likely make the battle for Middle Earth look like a slow waltz. Paige leans back and crosses her arms, looking smug. Like she knows why the grenade has yet to explode.

“Reese,” Leigh says in a sugary voice. “Remember last year at Todd’s party? You know, the night you got wasted on strawberry daiquiris?”

Reese blanches. It’s a barely-there whitening below all the makeup, but noticeable. “What did you do?” she says through clenched teeth.

Leigh smiles a fifty-watt smile, the brightest she’s ever flashed. “Well, let’s just say I had my handy-dandy phone on me with its awesome camera, so when you passed out covered in your own puke in nothing but your underoos, I decided to memorialize the moment. Wouldn’t want you to forget how special that night was.”

She holds up her phone. Reese reaches for it, but misses. “Give it here, bitch.”

“Not on your life. Actually, I was thinking of plastering it all over Facebook. Everyone should see what a charmer you really are.”

Holy crap. I should intervene. I know firsthand how it feels to have the worst circulate the globe, but when it comes to Reese, I can’t muster the sympathy. She drove Leigh to a Britney-worthy meltdown. I guess when you have real friends, moral lines blur in their defense.

Leigh holds up her cell, her thumb on the send button, but in the blink of an eye, Reese whips her phone from her purse and snaps a photo of Leigh. Confused, Leigh blinks while Reese types quickly, then Reese mimics Leigh’s stance with her phone in the air. “You hit send, Leigh, and I hit send. Your picture will read: Carpet Muncher.”

We all draw a collective breath.

Leigh straightens her back. “You wouldn’t.”

“Try me.”

Brianne pushes to her feet. “Reese, you can’t. This isn’t a joke.”

Reese looks ready to spit. “Seriously, Brianne? You’re taking her side? Remind me the next time you ask if your ass looks big in those tacky jeans to tell you the truth. It should have its own zip code.”

Brianne sits with a thud, her mouth open in horror.

The phones are still held high, Leigh and Reese facing off in a modern-day duel. Something tells me the push of Reese’s button could do more damage to Leigh than a knight’s sword. That darn clock is once again the loudest thing in the room.

Tick. Reese cocks her head.

Tick. Leigh’s fingers flex.

Tick. Reese purses her lips.

Tick. Leigh shrugs. Shrugs? “Fuck it,” she says.

Her thumb presses down, Reese’s following shortly, and then…nothing. This is the distant warfare of generals in sterile rooms giving launch codes, never once laying eyes on the detonation. The blood and the guts. But, holy God, Leigh’s entire world has erupted. And she looks…unfazed. Reese, on the other hand, is shaking, a vein throbbing along her temple.

Leigh gives Paige a half smile. “Like you said, I can’t run forever.”

Paige bites her lip and shakes her head. “You kick ass. Get over here.”

Leigh rounds the table, Paige meeting her partway, and the two of them make out like it’s their last meal. Bruno hoots and hollers, drool practically dripping down his chin, while the rest of us clap and Sam shouts, “Get a room.” Leigh gives him the finger.

Brianne sashays over to Reese and crosses her arms. “That was so not cool. I can’t even look at you. Leave my earrings and shoes on my bunk, and don’t even think of stealing my orange bikini. You can travel on your own. I’m out.” She spins, the pink