Loud Pipes Save Lives by Jennifer Giacalone

Author:Jennifer Giacalone [Giacalone, Jennifer]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781948272285
Publisher: Carnation Books
Published: 2019-10-31T22:00:00+00:00

20

Lily Goes Right Side Up

Lily couldn’t stop thinking about Lamont’s mother and the weird conversation with Dooley at the Navy Yards. Follow the money, he’d said. My orders came from where my orders always came from, he’d said.

Even though it was absurdly late, she went back up to Miri’s that night after leaving Dooley because she was feeling too edgy to be alone. Lately, it seemed like Miri was the only thing that made her feel at ease.

“Whoever was captain at that time was probably dirty,” Miri reasoned after Lily told the whole story. “Was it Ramirez?”

Lily shook her head. “I don’t know. But I guess I’m going to have to find out tomorrow. I don’t know if we can assume that it went as high up as that, but—”

“But Franks got SIU. Lieutenants can’t hand that kind of thing out.”

Lily nodded. Miri was right. Lily pressed her palms to the side of her head and groaned, “This whole thing is unbelievable.”

Miri got up. “I know what you need.”

She warmed up some sake and put on some Billie Holliday, and they drank and danced in the living room to her woozy, swingy version of “All of Me.” They weren’t much good at actual dance steps, other than Miri occasionally managing to dip Lily backwards in a way that felt only a little clumsy. But it eventually just ended up with them leaning on each other with Lily’s head on Miri’s chest and Miri’s arms around her waist.

Not looking up, her eyes closed, Lily murmured, “Are we a thing?”

She felt Miri’s chest move a little as she chuckled. “A thing?”

“Yeah, you know. A thing.”

They shuffled and swayed together to the music, listening to Billie’s crooning for a moment. “I don’t know. Can we be a thing if we aren’t sleeping together?” Miri finally asked.

“We sleep together all the time,” Lily joked.

“You know what I mean.”

Lily sighed. “I don’t think anybody gets to decide that except us. All I know is, I feel right-side-up when I’m with you.” There was another long quiet, and they went still. They stood there with their arms around each other, listening to the music, Miri’s chin resting on top of Lily’s head.

The music finally stopped and it was silent except for the sounds of Felix scrabbling around on the kitchen tiles, battling a rubber mouse.

“I love you, Lil.”

Lily looked up. “Yeah?”

Miri nodded. “Yeah. I’m gonna tape your picture up in my locker.” She tugged on Lily’s hair affectionately, the way she often did, and added awkwardly, “I mean, I don’t want to have sex with you or anything, but… I don’t think I’ve ever wanted that from anyone. Um… Is that okay?”

Lily squeezed her tighter, listened to her heartbeat. “God, are you kidding? That’s better than okay. It’s perfect.” She stood on tiptoe and ruffled Miri’s short hair. “I’ve never wanted it either. Tried a couple of times, but…” She made a gagging face, and then shook her head. “Anyway.” They spent a moment grinning stupidly at each other.

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