The Bad Girls' Club (16 page)

‘
What’s that?’ I asked Imogen.

‘
I dunno. Jules asked me to put it in the kitchen for her. Maybe it’s full of cocaine. Maybe Jules is the front for some big deal going down.’

‘
Hardly.’

‘
You never know. It’s always the ones you least expect.’

‘
Yeah, but even the underworld wouldn’t be desperate enough to penetrate Poppy’s crappy parties.’

The kitchen was a smorgasbord of hot guys. Much more fun than that pack of witches in the lounge room. Imogen had opened a corner of Juliette
’s container and was checking it out. She stuck her finger in and tasted some.

‘
Tastes like regular cheesecake to me.’

‘
Hey, girls. After some bubbly?’ Daniel held up a bottle. We both held out our glasses. He leaned on the kitchen bench, looking dreamy in a pair of jeans that fitted just right. Even amongst that hunk buffet, he stood out. Beside him was Jodie’s ex-boyfriend, Satoshi. He was pretty cute too. I hadn’t seen him for a while but I think he used to have a bit of a crush on me.

‘
Thanks, Daniel,’ said Imogen leaning over to expose her cleavage. She suddenly didn’t seem to be worried about being too ‘booby’.

‘
You look sensational,’ Daniel said and rubbed her arm. ‘Sorry about Poppy and the albums and stuff. She’s been a bit obsessive, hasn’t she?’

‘
She sure has.’

‘
You look good too, Beth,’ Daniel suddenly added but he didn’t really look at me.

‘
Hey, Daniel, eyes above the chest,’ Imogen told him.

He laughed, crinkling his eyes in that cute way.

‘Damn. Sprung. But you are extremely…’ He looked her up and down. ‘…Eye catching, you know.’

‘
You dirty old man,’ Imogen said and laughed, play-slapping his face.

‘
What’s in the container?’ Satoshi asked.

‘
Cheesecake,’ Imogen said. She opened it up to show him and stuck her finger in to sample some more. She sucked on her finger until Daniel pulled it out of her mouth. He leaned over and whispered in her ear.

‘
Stop that. It’s a bit much for us dirty old men to deal with.’

Imogen just laughed. Couldn
’t she see what an idiot she was making of herself? I was embarrassed for her.

‘
So, how’s married life treating you?’ I asked Daniel. It seemed he needed a reminder.

He just grinned but he stepped back from Imogen and looked at the cake container.

‘Is that cheesecake? Who made it?’ he asked, looking from me to Imogen.

Imogen shook her head.
‘Not us. Jules. She just had some crazy phobia about bringing it into the kitchen. Who knows what’s going with that girl?’

‘
Yeah, can you believe that stuff about last Saturday?’

Imogen and I looked at each other and giggled.

‘What’s the joke?’ asked Daniel.

Imogen looked at him and winked.
‘Girl stuff. We can’t tell. Girl’s code of honour and all that.’ Imogen turned to me for confirmation but I was looking at Satoshi. He stared at the floor and had gone rather pale. Maybe he’d had too much to drink.

‘
Damn you,’ said Daniel. ‘If there is a scandal going on, I want to know. Now you mention it, she was acting weird before. I mean she’s so shy that I didn’t think anything of it. But she came into the kitchen and when I said hello to her, she ran off as though she’d seen a ghost. Did you notice, Satoshi?’

‘
Err… yeah,’ he mumbled, moving away. ‘Got to get another beer.’

I turned to Daniel.
‘I didn’t know you were that friendly with Satoshi.’

‘
Oh, I’ve just joined his footy team.’

‘
Footy team?’ I couldn’t imagine Daniel playing football although I’d kill to see him in a pair of skimpy shorts.

‘
Yeah, I need to keep in shape, you know. I’m getting a beer gut.’ He lifted his t-shirt to show us his abs. There was no beer gut in evidence that I could see. I’d never seen such perfect abs. Yum.

I poked his stomach.
‘Yeah, beer gut. Right,’ I said. Imogen gave me a funny look. As if she could say anything after her blatant flirting.

‘
So, does Poppy come down on a Saturday morning with oranges and pompoms and stuff?’ Imogen asked.

‘
What do you think?’

We laughed.

I was about to say something witty and fascinating when Poppy swooped on us.

‘
What are you two doing in here? You’re missing out on the albums.’

Daniel winked at me.

‘So?’

‘
Don’t be silly, Beth. I know you are just dying for a look. You think you’d be grateful that I moved this whole night for you. What the hell is going on with you three girls anyway? If I didn’t know better I’d think you had some kind of conspiracy going on.’

Poppy had changed her photo night for us? How weird. When she
’d told me earlier in the week, I’d not realised that it was just for us. Seems now she was going to make damn sure she got the maximum value out of us. She hooked her arms through ours and tried to herd us into the lounge. Imogen pulled her arm away.

‘
I’ve seen the albums. Remember. Work.’

Poppy couldn
’t argue with that.

‘
And I’ve seen them all. Go check. I’ve marked off my entire sheet.’

‘
Don’t be silly, Beth. Honestly, you are so childish sometimes. Now come along.’

As Poppy dragged me off, I looked back at Imogen. Daniel put his arm around her waist.

‘Don’t worry,’ he said. ‘I’ll look after her.’

Poppy was fuming as she steered me back to the lounge room. I could just tell. What was Imogen up to anyway? She was practically throwing herself at Daniel and he was just back from his honeymoon too. I
’d have thought she’d have had more class than that.

I sat next to Juliette who handed me the first album. Oh goodie. I didn
’t know what was up with Juliette either. She was all quiet. And she kept glancing at the kitchen door.

‘
Where’s Imogen?’ she asked.

‘
In the kitchen, flirting with Daniel,’ I told her.

‘
What? You’re kidding?’

‘
Nope. She’s all giving him looks and flashing her boobs and stuff. You know how she gets.’ I flicked through the pages of the album.

‘
No. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her flirt. She does look great in that top though. It was so nice of you to buy it for her.’

‘
Yeah,’ I said, slamming the album shut. ‘I wouldn’t have if I’d known she’d use it for evil, not good.’

Juliette handed me another album from the pile at her feet.

‘She’s lucky. I have boobs like fried eggs.’

This album was still Poppy-at-home-before-the-wedding. How many photos did Poppy need anyway? I took a large swig of champagne.

‘Do you ever think about boobs?’ I asked Juliette.

She handed me another album.

‘You mean my own boobs? They do look better since I got that push up bra but sometimes I wish they were bigger. I mean small has its advantages too. Like if I ever wanted to take up jogging or something.’

I took another sip of champagne and sat down album #3 without looking at it.

‘No, I mean like other people’s boobs. You know. Other girls. Like had weird dreams or anything?’

Juliette passed me another album.

‘You mean like giant boobs chasing you or something?’

Was she being stupid on purpose? And would she stop checking the kitchen door? Maybe she was bored with my company and wanted Imogen to come back. Bloody Imogen.

Juliette turned back to me.

‘
Oh, you mean like lesbian stuff?’ she suddenly asked, way too loud for my liking.

‘
Shh! No. Not at all. Nothing like that.’

Suddenly, Juliette shrunk back in her seat and began twirling her hair. She really should stop doing that. It causes split ends. I turned to see what was freaking her but it was just
Satoshi saying goodbye to Poppy. Juliette started to get up then sat back down again, going really red. As Satoshi walked past, he gave Juliette a very strange look.

‘
Goodnight, Juliette,’ he said, his voice like steel.

She cringed, going even redder.

How did she know Satoshi? What was going on there?

Then it clicked.

I might be thick sometimes but even I could add this up. Juliette’s reluctance to go into the kitchen, Satoshi’s weird reaction when we were laughing, her lack of detail about the guys in her threesome. How dare she not tell us?

Even though I liked the way Daniel kept his arm around me and the way he looked at me and the way he whispered in my ear, I wondered what the hell he was playing at. Poppy
’d chuck a mental if he didn’t watch out, but maybe that’s what he wanted – to prove that he wasn’t her lapdog.

That was all fine and dandy for him but it
’d do me no good. I pulled away, pouring another glass of wine and looking ever so nonchalant. I wouldn’t think about him or how he made my gut flip-flop or how nice it would be to nestle into his arms. Instead, I thought about my promotion and how it wasn’t sure thing yet.

This bloody halter top. I
’d told Jack it was too damn flashy for the party. He’d sprung me trying it on – well, to be honest – preening in front of the mirror. And he stood there for a full minute without saying a word. With Jack, that means a lot. Either totally hot or totally shit.

I frowned, waiting for the verdict. Finally, he spoke.

‘Sensational.’ He sat himself down on the end of my bed, pretending to fan himself.

‘
You sure?’

‘
Definitely. You are a babe. A hot babe. Just goes to show what a difference it make when you don’t shop at Ray’s Tent City. Show me again.’

He circled his hand to tell me to turn around.

‘Oh baby, I could almost turn for you in that top. So tell me, what’s the deal?’

I sat on the bed beside him.
‘There’s no deal.’

‘
Where did the top come from?’

‘
Beth bought it for me.’

‘
Beth, huh.’ Jack raised an eyebrow. ‘So, who’s Beth?’

‘
A girl. A friend.’

‘
A girlfriend? You have a girlfriend?’

‘
Not a girlfriend. A girl
friend
. Get your mind out of the gutter for a change.’ I thought about what he’d said. ‘You don’t think it’s weird, her buying me clothes?’

‘
I think it’s a miracle. I think she’s your guardian couture angel. So, you coming out for drinks?’

‘
Nope. It’s a night with the girls.’

Jack pouted.
‘Oh, I never see you any more.’

‘
Well, you’re the one who told me to go out and “mix with my own people”, remember.’

‘
True.’ Jack tucked a lock of hair behind my ear. ‘Seriously hon, it’s great. Well, you’ve been a lot chirpier lately, that’s for sure.’

Jack wouldn
’t let me change out of the top before I left, wouldn’t even let me wear a flesh-covering jacket, and maybe that was a good thing because it was time I cleared some of the cobwebs although I should have been focusing on having them cleared by one of the single, not-my-boss’s-husband men in the room.

Poppy came into the kitchen – it was video time – woohoo, as if photos weren
’t bad enough.

Beth and Juliette sat in the corner. I walked towards them but Daniel grabbed my arm. In his other hand, he had two stools from the kitchen. I glanced over at Beth and Juliette then back at Daniel. They wouldn
’t care if I didn’t sit with them.

Beth seemed to be harassing Juliette about something. Jules bit her lip and nodded her head in response. I
’d tell Beth to shut the fuck up, but Juliette would never do that. That girl had some weird hang ups. I mean, look at the way she’d freaked out about the whole threesome thing. Not me. If it’d been me, I’d have told everyone. I’d brag to the world and take out newspaper ads. I’d set up a web site – www.ihadathreesome.com.

Beth shook her head then walked over to me. I hope she wasn
’t going to expect me to take sides in their stupid fight.

‘
Imogen, I’ve got to talk to you.’ She smiled at Daniel. ‘In private.’

I shook my head. She was just being a drama queen.

Beth scowled. ‘Imogen…’

‘
Okay,’ I said and got up.

‘
Hello?’ Poppy called after us. ‘What are you doing? I’m about to put on the DVD.’

Beth swung around.
‘We have things to discuss.’

‘
Oh, I didn’t know you and Imogen were such good friends.’

‘
Don’t let us hold you up,’ said Beth, dragging me into the kitchen. ‘I know who Juliette had the threesome with,’ she hissed, with one eye on the door. ‘Satoshi.’

‘
Okay. That’s nice. But it wouldn’t have just been with Satoshi though or it wouldn’t be a threesome.’ Then it dawned on me. ‘Oh my God. Satoshi? Satoshi, who was just in the kitchen? Satoshi, that was standing next to us when we…’

She nodded.
‘That Satoshi.’

‘
Oh my God. What did we say? We said stuff, didn’t we? Stupid stuff.’

‘
I can’t believe her.’ Beth folded her arms and paced up and down the kitchen. ‘If she’d been honest with us, then we wouldn’t have made such big, stupid fools of ourselves. I really can’t believe it.’

‘
You’re blaming Juliette? It’s just a stupid mistake. She could hardly expect us to be partying with him a few weeks later. And why would she tell us? It’s not really our business.’

Beth stopped pacing for a moment and slammed her hand down on the kitchen bench.
‘We’re a club, aren’t we? Isn’t that what it’s about? Friends, sharing, honesty. If we don’t have that, we have nothing.’

‘
Shit, Beth. It’s not like she blatantly lied.’ Not like me.

‘
Yeah well, it’s not like she was fully honest either. I told all about my dares, you told us about yours.’

‘
She was embarrassed.’

‘
Go tell her. Tell her that we’re angry. I’ve tried.’ Beth grabbed my arm.

‘
No frigging way. I’m not angry. I don’t care. It’s bad enough that she had to run into him here without you making a huge drama out of it all. Have some sympathy. Poor Jules.’

‘
Girls, hurry up. You are missing the most important parts.’ Poppy stood in the doorway glowering at us. I shook Beth off and marched back into the lounge. She shot me a dirty look as I sat back down with Daniel then tossed her head, walked past Juliette and leaned on the door frame.

A scene of Poppy outside the church flashed onto the screen. Caitlin laughed like a choking donkey. I couldn
’t see anything funny about it. Did Poppy have her dress stuck in her knickers?

‘
Hey, Helena, stop the video. See there. In the background. Hannah Zim. She’s such a freak. Did I tell you I ran into her the other day? Guess where she went for her hen’s night?’

No one cared to guess. It was a room filled with glazed eyes.

‘You know that club, Bound? The freaky S&M club.’

Suddenly every head snapped around; all attention was on Caitlin.

‘She told me they have like a torture dungeon with chains and whippings and all kinds of weird shit. Some dude was getting candle wax poured over him. Like, everywhere.’ She raised her eyebrows. ‘And I mean, everywhere.’

‘
You’re kidding me,’ said Helena. ‘Did she get whipped and stuff?’

‘
Dunno. I wasn’t exactly going to ask her, was I? She’d have told me
all
about it. Gross.’

Juliette winked at me. What was she so amused about? Then she nodded her head toward Beth. I still didn
’t get it until I saw her mouth the word ‘dare’. I grinned. A spanking was just what Beth needed.