Page 130 of Pride High 2: Orange

“Exactly,” Silvia said. “They’re taking him to McDonald’s afterwards, so I have the place to myself.”

“And you’re getting lonely?”

“I wouldn’t mind some company,” Silvia replied.

That sure sounded like an invitation.

“If you aren’t busy,” Silvia added hurriedly.

“Not at all,” Keisha replied. “I’m literally just sitting on my bed in a towel.”

Silvia was quiet before asking. “Aren’t you cold?”

“Nope. I just blew through most of the hot water in the house. That’s why the towel is on my head.”

Silvia laughed. “You’re full of it. You don’t have any hair to dry!”

“Busted.” Keisha slid out of bed, letting the towel hit the floor. “I’m not wearing anything at all.”

“Then come right over,” Silvia said without missing a beat. “I can’t wait to see my neighbor’s face when you’re knocking on the door.”

“And I can’t wait to see yours,” Keisha replied. “How does an hour from now sound?”

“Good.”

“How about half an hour instead?”

“Even better,” Silvia said with a laugh. “I’ll see you soon.Allof you, apparently.”

“I might allow myself a hat and a pair of gloves, but yeah, see you soon.”

She said goodbye and hung up before returning to her closet, choosing a thick flannel shirt that was a hand-me-down from her oldest brother. She wanted to dress a little butch today, so Silvia couldn’t ignore the lesbian vibes. Although she would balance it out with make-up and jewelry, since she wasn’t sure which would catch her eye more. Either was fine. Keisha could do both.

Once ready, she left the house without looking at the clock. If she was already late, there was nothing she could do about it. If she was early, she’d get to see Silvia flustered and maybe even embarrassed if she wasn’t ready yet, which would be cute. The drive wasn’t long. Keisha must have been on time, because when she parked in front of the trailer, the front door opened before she had a chance to knock. Silvia wore a red blouse and matching lipstick, which was unusual. Her dark hair was tucked behind an ear on one side, an earring dangling from it with a golden horseshoe at the end. A gift from her boyfriend. And yet, Keisha was certain that Silvia was wearing them for her.

“You look prettier than a pig’s nipples,” Keisha said as she approached.

Silvia laughed, which is exactly what she’d wanted. “Is that supposed to be a compliment?”

“Sure is. Have you ever seen a litter of piglets dozing off while they drink from their mama?”

“No. But now I love being compared to pig nipples.”

“Good. That’ll be my pet name for you from now on.”

“It better not be!” Silvia said with another laugh. “Get inside. I think it might snow again.”

“It will.” Living on a farm meant being tuned into the weather, by necessity rather than fondness. “Just not enough for school to get canceled.”

The interior of the trailer was clean and quaint. A countertop separated the kitchen from the living room, with a short hallway to either side. Candles were lit on the coffee table in front of a couch, which was probably the source of the apple and cinnamon fragrance.

Silvia walked to the kitchen and paused in front of the fridge. “Would you like something to drink? The options are iced tea, Kool-Aid, and tap water. We like to keep things sophisticated around here.”

“It’s hard to go wrong with tea,” Keisha said while continuing to survey the surroundings. “This is nice.”

Silvia made a face. “Not compared to living on a farm.”

“Don’t be so sure. My parents have built so many additions onto our house that it’s become a maze. It takes forever to get anywhere, especially when you’re out on the property. And I know how much you love animals, but try smelling them day in and day out.”