Page 7

Vivian

There was a knock on my apartment door just as I finished toweling off my wet hair.

I pulled my threadbare, pink terrycloth robe tighter around me, then shuffled over in my matching pink, fuzzy slippers to look through the peephole. I saw Kit standing in the hallway, so I quickly opened the door to find her holding a takeout bag in one hand and an iced coffee in the other.

She greeted me with, “You looked like you were about to throw up last time I saw you. I figured you’d have a better shot at not doing that if you had something in your stomach,” then shoved the bag into my hands.

“Is this—?”

“Chicken shawarma plate. Rice, extra hummus. You’re welcome.” She breezed past me like she lived there. “And before you ask, yes, it’s from the good place. I wouldn’t cheap out on you at a time like this.”

I followed her inside and set the food on the counter.

“You didn’t have to—”

“I wanted to,” she cut in. “Also, if you vomit onstage, I’ll have to quit the club and change my name, so this is really for my benefit.”

I snorted and pulled the container from the bag, then grabbed a fork.

She leaned back against the kitchen counter and watched as I took the plastic lid off. “Nervous?”

I nodded as I took a bite.

“On a scale of one to projectile?”

I shrugged as I swallowed, then cheekily replied with a grin, “Guess we’ll find out soon enough.”

Her expression softened, and she grabbed my wrist. “You’ve got this, Viv. You’re the baddest bitch I know.”

Then her thumb pressed against my tattoo. “Seriously. You’re going full-on Pretty Woman to keep fucking loan sharks from chopping off your mom’s fingers. That’s so badass. And kind of heroic. In a slutty, high-end-escort kind of way.”

I laughed, even as the chicken shawarma felt stuck in my throat. “That’s me. Slutty and heroic.”

“You’re gonna blow them away.” She smirked. “Hopefully not literally, unless they pay for that.”

I rolled my eyes, but the laugh helped. Kit always knew how to pull me back from the edge.

She nudged my shoulder. “Finish eating. Then we’re picking out what you’re wearing tonight. You’re not getting auctioned off looking like a hot mess.”

I took another bite, still nervous as fuck, but steadier than before.

I could do this. I would do this.

It was my only option.