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The introduction jolts me and I sit up aardly Barbie--I htest, cheeriest sht teeth cost a fortune

"Is that like Josie and the Pussycats?" she asks me with that airy voice

"Short for Josephine," I reply as I return her smile and suck my stomach in further

"Well, any friend of Reed's is a friend of mine," she chirps happily

I'ain to relax now that that is out of the way and so I can extricate myself from this conversation, but then Kiki squeals, "Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God I went to my psychic the other day--who's also my hairdresser--because I've not been very fulfilled in life lately, and was considering a pet He told me he wasn't sure if that was in my future, but that he did foresee a cat I wasn't sure about that because I have allergies, so I had to really think about it And let ht? But I did, and I thought and I thought about it, and it's just now hittingabout you You knowthe whole pussycat thing you got going on"

I just blink at her, unsure what to say Out of the corner of hten the towel, but I know he's doing that so she doesn't see hih

Before I can respond, Kiki smacks her palm to her forehead and says in awe as if she's received sohten the last few days at my apartment"

"Okay," Reed blurts out as he pops back up straight and digs into the back pocket of his board shorts He pulls a wallet out, opens it, and grabs a hundred-dollar bill to hand to Kiki "How about you go get us some drinks up at the cabana? I'll take a beer Josie, you want so?"

I shakeand a brilliant s toward the outdoor bar that's part of the amenities here at our complex She totters off with a sway to her ass and I realize she's wearing high heels

Who in the hell wears high heels to a pool?

Reed sits back down on the chair and his sigh causes aze to slide over to him

"Fine," he mutters "I have a type"

"That was Ditzy Barbie," I say with a solemn nod of my head "But hey, she's really nice"

Reed groans as he sits back against his chair and lareat, celebratory su but carefree fun, but honestlyit's been trying"

"The Barbies?" I ask to clarify

"I'm ashamed to admit it, but yes," he says with a sheepish smile

"What do you do anyway?" I ask suddenly, realizing I don't think I've ever seen hi at nor?"

Reed's soes from sheepish to amused "I take it you're not a hockey fan?"

"Oh, I like watching it," I tell him "I just don't know much about it"

"I play for the Cold Fury," he says

My eyes go round with understanding He's the first professional athlete I've ever met In fact, I've never met anyone famous before "Wow"

His grin gets bigger "So I' our Stanley Cup win"

"Oh," I say in understanding as I nod h's Barbies is a good goal"

"It's stupid," he ad to his smile "But it's had its perks"

I snort and lie back against ain "I just bet"

"Still," he drawls "It can be tedious"

"You're not big on the intelligence factor," I point out "That means you have to work overtime in conversation"

Reed laughs, and the sound is deep and rich It's a very nice laugh "You're probably right"

"Phew" I hear Kiki's voice andour way on her ridiculous heels, holding a beer in one hand and a clear plastic cup hat looks like a Bloody Mary in it "It's hot enough to lay an egg on the sidewalk, isn't it?"

I can't help it The laugh comes out and I feel instantly wretched about it

"What's so funny?" Kiki asks in that singsong, nothing-upstairs voice

"Nothing," I say as I shake my head "I just remembered a funny joke someone told me the other day"

"Oooh," Kiki squeals as she shoves the beer at Reed, then sits down at the end of his chair "I just love jokes"

Leaning forward, Kiki stares atsirl, and I feel even worse for laughing at her I also can hardly focus on her face, with her gigantic boobs practically spilling out of her bikini top, so I decide I've had enough pool time for the day

"Actually," I say as I swing s over the opposite side of the chair so rab et so to head in"

"Oh," Kiki says with disappointht it would be fun to hang"

I give her a senuine, because she seems really, really nice "Maybe another time, but it was really nice to meet you"

"Likewise," she chirps and then takes a sip of her Bloody Mary