My smile spreads over my cheeks. Grandma has the best sense of humor. She makes the cloudiest day feel bright. Not that there are many cloudy days here. "You promise you're okay?"
"Okay is relative, but I'm not dying anytime soon."
Soon is relative too. But I don't say that. I'd rather believe her. "I have to get ready. There's a party tonight. Emma's brother, you know—"
"Of course I know him. He's fine."
"Him and his friends are buying the tattoo shop."
"Ah."
"What?"
"The timing is interesting."
"Timing of what?"
"You needing guy advice. This guy gonna be at the party?"
I can admit that. "Yeah. But—"
"He have a name?"
"Bye, Grandma. I'll call you soon."
"A push up bra never hurts."
"I love you."
"I love you too."
I end the call.
Maybe she's right.
Maybe showing off my boobs is enough.
It can't hurt.
There. My cream dress, the one Emma made for me, it's perfect.
I slide it on and check my reflection. It hugs my curves. It scoops low enough to show off my chest. It only barely covers my ass.
It's perfect.
I'm not sure exactly what I'm trying to do.
But I'm sure I'm going to drive him out of his head.
I'm going to make it hard for him to pull that I don't want to talk about this, we're friends, we're nothing bullshit.
I take a shaky step into Inked Hearts.
The lights are dim.
The walls are adorned with purple, teal, and hot pink tinsel.
There's even a Welcome Kaylee banner hanging from the wall. It's in Emma's messy scrawl with a drawing—a tattoo mockup—in each of the four corners.