Page 35 of A Curvy Girl’s Hurricane Survival Guide

“Damn it, Crispi! What the Heck!”

Sonny is standing behind him, mouth tight, looking uncomfortable.

“Oh my god, I got you so good! You should’ve seen your face. Like El Diablo del Hurricane was coming for your soul.”

I roll my eyes and look around to see where my phone has landed. “I swear to God, if I cracked my phone screen because of you, I’ll…” I stop suddenly, spotting my phone, its screen intact but now black, lying in the bucket of water we are supposed to use to flush our waste.

SONNY

I don’t think scaring Cai was a good idea, but Crispi obviously thinks his plan to burst in on Cai was pure comedic genius. Who was I to tell him not to? The joke lands with the intended reaction, though I think he might be laughing a little harder than it deserves.

Now Cai is standing there, eyes fixed on a bucket next to the tub, with a look of horror spreading over her face. I scan the flashlight-lit room, trying to see what the problem is.

Cai manages to get a few words out. “Crispi, fuck! What the hell, man?! My phone!”

Crispi cranes his neck to watch as Cai pulls out her cellphone with two fingers.

“Oh dang,” Crispi says, realizing the results of his prank. “Whoops.”

Cai is futilely wiping it on her dress and touching the screen. “Why do you have to fuck with me?! Life’s not always a game!” Her voice is an octave higher than I’ve heard it.

“Calm down, it’s not a big deal. It’s not like we had a signal.”

“I did! I actually had a signal for a second! And now…” She looks at the black screen again and says, “Fuck!”

“Ok, so what? What did you have to do with the two seconds of signal you had that you couldn’t wait a few hours?”

I feel for Cai, but I am wondering why she’s freaking out so hard. She looks to be on the verge of tears.

“Some of us have people texting us,” She says, hands on her hips.

She does?

“Some of us have people we care about who aren’t under this roof, and now I’ve lost the only means to communicate with him.”

Ouch. That one stings. I thought we were on the “hate the BF bandwagon” together. Sounds like I am on there alone, and she is on “caring” terms with him. I thought he hadn’t texted. Has that changed?

I blurt out, “He texted you?”

Cai’s eyes dart from me to her brother and back. “Yeah, of course.”

I can feel the jealousy bubbling up. I push it back down.

She is not yours, I tell myself as I take a deep breath. I want to ask more, but I know I can’t in front of Crispi.

Crispi puts up his hands defensively. “Hey, I’m sorry, I didn’t think you’d flip out and throw your phone. Let me see if I have a signal, and you can use my phone.”

Cai puts up her hand, dismissing the idea.

“No, thanks, you’ve done enough.”

With that, she pushes past him and walks down the hall toward the main living area.

Crispi rolls his eyes, looking exasperated. “She’s so dramatic.”

I look after her.

Crispi adds, “I’d better go help her; she’s not going to double back to grab a flashlight, but without a flashlight she’s not going to be able to see a thing.”