Page 153 of The Stranger

The last time I worse it was in Paris.

Hmph. Maybe this lipstick’s speciality is poor decision-making.

Behind me, someone jeers. Probably someone staring at our bums. Zoe slides a sultry glance over her shoulder and winks.

“Why not? You and me, we look good enough to hurt someone’s feelings tonight. Someone say, like Al,” she adds in a low taunt.

I smile but don’t have it in me to answer. A night on the town isn’t what I want to do because what I want to do is smash things. But I couldn’t be in that house, with them. There’s very obviously something going on between them. Not necessarily a romantic thing. It’s probably just sex. That is his speciality.

“Hey, Zoe?” She turns her head my way. “What was that cosmetics woman like? You know—the one the boss man was seeing before?” And now I hate myself.

“Cosmetics?” Her brow creases.

“You said he had a woman over for dinner. Not a business dinner,” I add.

“Oh, her. Blond and well maintained, if you know what I mean. Why do you ask?”

“There was a woman at the house when I left.” I aim the words airily and hate how they seem to get stuck in my throat.

Her footsteps halt immediately. “Get out!”

I glance at my shoes, not wanting to risk her seeing my expression.

“So that’s why he let you go tonight.”

“Apparently.” Ack. “She wasn’t blonde, though.” But there is such a thing as hair dye.

“Was she German?”

I shake my head.

“Wasn’t her. She was a real Powerfrau.”

I square my shoulders, lift my chin as though I’m not picturing them together. Or poking that bruise-like sensation in my chest.

“Where are we going?” Alejandro appears to my left, his gaze slipping over me so quickly in that way men everywhere seem to have perfected. Not Luc. He takes his time. Until he wants to ditch a bitch, I suppose. Fucking coward.

“Social Club?” Zoe suggests.

“Too early,” he answers.

“The Marina, then?”

“You been to the beach yet, Rose?”

I shake my head.

“What about the cathedral?”

“No.”

“Let me take you sometime. Show you around.”

“S-mooth!” Zoe makes a gesture like the easy glide of something. “Take a gal to the cathedral. Bitches love a cathedral.”

“Knock it off,” I half laugh, half say before glancing Al’s way. “That would be nice. Sometime.” Sometime never. Seems I’m getting better at this lying business because, tomorrow, I’m out of here.

“You look gorgeous tonight,” he adds quietly, so as not to be overheard.