Tiger, Tiger by Margaux Fragoso

Author:Margaux Fragoso [Fragoso, Margaux]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: BIO026000
ISBN: 9781553658566
Publisher: Douglas & McIntyre
Published: 2011-03-02T23:00:00+00:00

16

CATHY AND PAUL

In late August, Peter began to renovate the first-floor apartment, which had remained vacant for years. Richard had moved back in, claiming the living room again, though he also liked to take over the kitchen, resting his feet on the table while he read and smoked. Peter said being able to work on the downstairs apartment was a godsend: it meant he would see less of Richard.

Since it was summer, I was all about belly shirts, short shorts (my favorite set of jean shorts had a pair of dice on each butt cheek and white lace fringing the pockets), tank tops and halter tops. “You’re calling more attention to us with those outfits,” Peter lectured. “Plus, if I leave you alone for one second a guy instantly comes over to talk to you. It’s ridiculous. Back when I was a young man, we didn’t approach women like that. We were respectful. These guys just come right up to you like mosquitoes out for blood.”

Sometimes he talked to me like he thought twelve was young, but when we were doing sex stuff twelve was pretty grown-up to Peter. Even eight had been old. So why was he now treating me like I was a baby?

He went on, “I don’t like the way Richard looks at you. Whenever you pass by, he always puts down his book and stares at you. I’m sure it’s just to annoy me. But you seem to get a kick out of it. Come on, we’re always truthful with each other: do you actually like it when guys gawk at you like you’re a piece of meat?”

“I don’t know.” I shrugged. “You’re just jealous of Richard. What if I had sex with him one day? I bet I could if I wanted.”

“No, you couldn’t.”

“Why not?”

“He just wouldn’t go for it, that’s all. Richard likes to kid with you. Sometimes it’s not that funny. He has a knack for saying the wrong thing, always the exact wrong thing. Do you know what he said to me the other day? He was probably coked out of his mind, whatever mind he has left. As usual, he was bumming cigarettes. I was going through my drawers to get him a pack and he saw the leopard-print bathing suit you had worn all last summer, the one you outgrew. He actually asked me if he could have the suit!” Peter shook his head. “I said no, of course, but then he winked and said: ‘Why are you keeping it?’ ”

“He wanted my bathing suit? You should have given it to him. He could rub it all over his face while he lies on the living room couch, masturbating.”

“Gross! Margaux, come on! That’s the last thing I want to imagine!” He pretended to cringe. “Richard loves to aggravate people. He’s a real instigator. He needs to get a life. The other day I asked him to help me with this apartment, but God forbid. That actually involves work. Without me, this house would be in shambles.

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