Page 14 of When I Picture You

Renee’s stomach lurched. Lola hadn’t acted like someone with a boyfriend last night, not that Lola’s infidelity was Renee’s business. Maybe it was casual with this Nash Whoever, or they had one of those misogynistic rules where women didn’t count as cheating.

Though the way Lola had asked,Do you know how rarely I get to be with a woman?made Renee think that wasn’t the case.

“She didn’t have a boyfriend with her,” Renee said.

“What about Ava Andreesen?” Kadijah asked.

To Renee’s horror, Zane and Kadijah, with perfect coordination, flung their right hands in the air, the left over their hearts, and cried, “LavaTruther Till I Die!”

Renee’s nose scrunched in annoyance. “This is one of those moments when our age gap feels really significant.”

“Don’t tell me you’re not a LavaTruther!” Kadijah cried. “LavaTrutherism is the theory—backed by highly convincing evidence collected by a dedicated online community—that Lola Gray and Ava Andreesen weresecretly involved.”

“Like, romantically?” Renee hoped they didn’t catch the hitch in her voice. Not that her voice had any reason to hitch.

Kadijah rolled their eyes. “Yes, Renee. Romantically—andsexually.”

“Okay,” Renee said.

“As girlfriends.”

“Right.”

“Lesbian girlfriends.”

“I get it.”

Kadijah spun their braids into a work-ready bun. “Just spelling it out, since you’re the last queer woman on the planet who didn’t know about this.”

Ava Andreesen was a Swedish socialite who’d parlayed a stint on a short-lived reality show about Upper East Side rich kids into a career of hosting red carpets, playing herself in movies, occasionally modeling, occasionally DJing in Ibiza, and doing whatever else the nonworking wealthy did to fill their days. Normally such a person would not be on Renee’s radar, but Ava Andreesen was also famously bisexual. With her blonde bombshell looks and a stylish gap between her front teeth, she radiated a reckless girl’s girl energy. She was a divisive figure in the queer community. Some people loved that Ava seemed like the kind of chick who’d take you out for margaritas then talk you into a threesome. For the same reason, others felt Ava embodied a straight man’s fantasy of a bisexual woman. Renee didn’t know if the feeling in her gut was jealousy, or if she was kind of turned on. Shehadwondered where Lola had learned such an expert way around a woman. It was hot that Lola might have practiced on Ava what she’d used on Renee.

“No way Ava was there,” Zane said. “She and Lola don’t even talk anymore. Which is the best evidence ever that #Lava was real.”

Renee took a long pull of her red eye. “Thank you for this fascinating info, but neither of those people were there.”

“One more question,” Kadijah said. “Was Lola giving off queer vibes?”

“Seriously?” Renee tried not to blush. “I’m not going to gossip about her with you.”

“It should be illegal to be this un-fun,” Zane whined.

“Hold up, we’ve got to suspend judgment,” Kadijah said. “Did you actually get some last night?”

Renee made a face that hopefully approximated her regular scowl.

“You got me.” Renee’s voice was thick. “I connected with one of Claudia’s friends, and we totally fucked all night.”

Zane frowned. “Youcanjust say no.”

But Kadijah narrowed their eyes. “Renee’s sarcasm is the lie that helps us understand the truth. Youdidgo home with someone.”

Renee’s cheeks heated as she cursed herself for having friends who understood her.

“Ooh, who?” Zane cried. “Are you going to see her again?”

“Of course not.” Kadijah laughed. “Walk Away Renee doesn’t do relationships.”

“I hate it when you call me that,” Renee said, maneuvering past Kadijah to walk away. “I’m going to make the schedule for next week, so I hope you’re happy with this exchange.”