“Aw,” Sabrina coos. “I just know Blair would have loved that you’re taking such good care of her little girl.” Ironic since Blair had no idea how to take care of anyone except herself. I bet the little dog is relieved she’s gone. Billy is glad—that’s for darn sure.
My lips invert in an effort to keep from calling her out on her little meetup with Billy yesterday.
Camila heads toward her rose-strewn friend. “Speaking of Blair, who was this Dr. Feel Good she kept telling me about? I’m in the mood for a little comfort myself, but I don’t care too much for dolls or dogs, if you know what I mean. I’m looking for a body to keep me warm at night. And if I’m right, he’s ripe for the pickin’.”
She and Sabrina share a lively cackle.
“Boy”—Sabrina sweeps her eyes up and down Camila—“you haven’t changed one bit. Still on the hunt for something tall, dark, and delicious you could really sink your teeth into.” As if I’m going to send Camila in Billy’s wily direction. Nope, that’s one dog who needs to pay for what he’s done, and I’d hate to see Camila get caught up in that mess.
Pay for what he’s done? It sounds as if Sabrina is convinced he’s the killer. And to be honest, I’m right there with her.
Georgie leans toward Sabrina. “You’d better give this girl what she wants.” She hitches her thumb to Camila. “I’ve seen her go hungry when it comes to men, and it’s not pretty. If her appetite for male destruction isn’t satiated soon, she might just go after your man. She’s been after Bizzy’s man for a while and she’s married to the guy.”
Sabrina belts out a laugh that transcends the raucous music. “Still up to your old tricks, huh, Camila?” She looks to Georgie. “Don’t mind her. She’s already stolen six of my boyfriends and we’ve survived the fallout. But I’m single now, so I can tolerate her a bit better.” She gives a playful wink. “And I guess you’re right.” She shrugs to Camila. “Blair’s old boyfriend is single now, too. But he’s still licking his wounds. I can introduce you to the head bartender if you like. He’s not only dressed like a werewolf, but he’s been known to howl at the moon both in and out of costume. Trust me when I say, he’s a hot commodity.”
Georgie grunts, “Hold the kid, Bizzy.” She shoves Annabeth into my arms and Sprinkles yelps at the sight of her. “I’m suddenly thirsty for a man who knows how to howl.” She zips for the bar like a bolt of silver-haired lightning.
“That was subtle,” I say as I look to Sabrina. “Speaking of subtle”—I do my best to cringe—“I’m dying to know why Blair called her boyfriend Dr. Feel Good. I mean, I get the obvious implication, but I was wondering if there was a deeper meaning behind it. Like maybe he’s a physician?”
Sprinkles chirps, She never called him by his name, Bizzy. She once said his true name couldn’t be spoken in order to protect the identities of all parties involved.
All parties involved?
“He’s no doctor.” Sabrina scoffs as if it were far-fetched. “He’s a professor at Rose Glen Community College.”
“Oh? My sister went there,” I tell her. “What does he teach?”
“Psych classes.” She shrugs. “You know what they say, it takes a nut to know one. Although, I think we could all agree Blair was equally as insane.” She blinks my way. “If you knew Blair the way Camila and I did, you’d see that was almost a compliment.”
Sprinkles whimpers. Sounded like nothing but an insult to me.
Me too. But I guess I didn’t know Blair.
Camila nods. “But her legacy lives on. I spoke to Tabitha this morning, and she said her dinner party is set for six this Friday night.” She lifts her brows as she looks my way. “I suggested the Country Cottage Café.”
“Perfect,” I say. “I can have a private area set up out on the patio. I’ll have heat lamps so we won’t freeze to death.”
“Ooh.” Sabrina wiggles her shoulders. “That sounds like it’s going to be fun. You ladies are going to love it. I can’t wait until all the details are revealed.”
“Speaking of Friday,” I say. “I have a booth open for your makeup tutorial this Friday afternoon if you’re up for it. We’ve got every school in the area coming out to do a field trip, and there will be plenty of parents there, too. Just tell me what I owe you.”
“Friday is perfect. And I don’t charge for tutorials. I hand out business cards and make my real money doing parties. But if you can bring a few of those jack-o’-lantern hand pies my way, that would be payment enough. I had one that first night, and I’ve been craving them ever since.” She reaches over and gives Annabeth’s cheek a quick pinch. “I’d like to take a bite out of this creepy little cutie, too. She’d be a great prop at the booth.”
The lights go out for a moment, and the music cuts out, leaving us in pitch darkness with nothing but the sound of oohs and ahhs circling the room before the lights and music spring back to life.
“Shoot.” Sabrina cranes her neck past me. “I’d better check out the electrical panel—and make sure the generator is ready to go in the event that happens again. I’ll catch up with you two later.”
Camila shudders. “You don’t think that haunted doll had anything to do with that electrical outage, do you?”
“You bet your spooky kooky socks she did.”
Sprinkles barks. Quick, get me home before she hacks off my head and lands it in the nearest fire.
We gather up Georgie, Macy, and Juni—and our party grows by one colorful Mohawk. I say goodnight to Camila as the rest of us head back to the frightmare taking place at the Country
