Tangled Up in You by Rachel Gibson Page B

spray.
    Dwayne is an idiot, but hes not violent, Adele said. Although seeing the Darth Vader did remind me of something horrible.
    What? If Dwayne had ever hit Adele, Maddie would hunt him down and zap him herself.
    He has my Princess Leia slave costume.
    Clare scooted to the edge of the couch. You have a slave costume?
    Maddie only had one question. Are you shitting me?
    Lucy had two. Whats that? And, Do you mean a metal bikini?
    As if a metal slave bikini were a normal part of a womans wardroom, Adele nodded. Yeah. And Id really like to have it back in one piece. She thought a moment, then added, Well, the two piecesand the armbands and collar. She must have noticed her friends expressions, ranging from appalled to worried, because she added, Hey, I spent a lot of money on that costume and I want it back. The seamstress stepped away to write down a measurement and Adele folded her arms under her breasts. Dont tell me you girls have never role-played.
    Lucy shook her head. No, but I used to pretend that an old boyfriend was Jude Law. He didnt know it, though, so I dont think that counts.
    Clare, who always tried to make everyone feel better, said, Well, I told Sebastian once that I had costumes and handcuffs. She sat back on the sofa. But I lied. Sorry.
    Maddie glanced at the three seamstresses to see their reactions. They looked as poker-faced as Sunday school teachers. Theyd probably heard worse. She turned her gaze to Adele, whod tilted her head to one side as if she were waiting for something.
    What? Maddie asked.
    I know youve done kinky stuff.
    Mostly Maddie was just talk. Ive never dressed up. She thought a moment and in an effort to sooth Adele she confessed, But if it makes you feel better, Ive been tied up.
    Me too.
    Of course.
    Big deal. Adele didnt look placated. Everyones been tied up.
    Thats true, Nan the seamstress added. She plucked a pin from the cushion on her wrist and glanced over at Adele. And if it makes you feel better, every now and again I dress up as Little Red Riding Hood.
    Thank you, Nan.
    Youre welcome. She made a spinning motion with her finger. Turn, please.
    After the bridesmaids were done with their fittings, the four friends drove to their favorite place to meet for lunch. Café Olé didnt have the best Mexican food in town, but it did have the best pitchers of margaritas. They were shown to one of their favorite booths, and over piped-in mariachi Muzak, they caught up. They talked about Clares wedding and Lucys plans to start a family with her hunk of a husband Quinn. And they wanted to hear all about Maddies life, one hundred miles north in Truly.
    Its actually not as bad as Id thought, she said as she raised her drink to her lips. Its very beautiful and quietwell, except on the Fourth. Half the women in town have really bad hair, and the other half look great. Im trying to figure out if its a native vs. snowbird thing, but so far I cant tell. She shrugged. I thought spending so much time cooped up in my house would drive me insane, but it hasnt.
    You know I love you, Lucy said, which was always followed by a but. But you are already totally insane.
    Probably that was true.
    Hows the book? Clare asked as a waitress brought their food.
    Slow. Shed ordered a chicken tostada salad and picked up her fork as soon as the waitress left. Shed only told her friends about her plans to write about her mothers death a few weeks ago, long after shed found the diaries and bought her house in Truly. She didnt know why shed waited. She usually wasnt shy about sharing the details of her personal life with her friends, sometimes to their shock and horror, but reading her mothers diaries had left her so raw, shed needed time to adjust and take it all in before she talked about it with anyone.
    Have you met the Hennessys? Adele asked as she dug into an enchilada oozing with cheese and topped with sour cream. Adele worked out every day, and as a result could eat whatever she wanted. Maddie, on the other hand,