“But the preacher does. And the Bible does. My mother does. Everybody does.”
“Everybody says that fornication—”
“Don’t use that word for it. It’s such an ugly word.”
“What would you call it then?”
“Making love.”
Donna Dee shrugged. “Same difference. Anyway, everybody says that lovemaking outside of marriage is a sin, but does anybody really believe that?” Donna Dee shook her head of dark, straight hair. “I don’t think so. I think everybody except us is sinning like crazy and having a damn good time. If I had a chance, I would.”
“Would you?” Jade asked, wanting her friend’s endorsement.
“If Hutch asked me, you bet your sweet ass I would.”
Jade looked at Gary through the windshield and felt a warm rush of pleasure, coupled with anxiety. “Maybe it’s not a sin. Maybe it’s time Gary and I stopped listening to the preacher and followed our instincts. Oh, I just don’t know,” she moaned. “We’ve talked the subject to death and we only end up more frustrated than before.”
“Oh, for pity’s sake,” Donna Dee grumbled. “I’m going back inside. See ya.”
“Wait, Donna Dee,” Jade said, catching her sleeve. “Are you mad?”
“No.”
“You sound mad.”
“Well gee, Jade, I wish I had your problems. I wish I had your naturally wavy black hair and flawless skin. I wish I had big blue eyes and eyelashes a mile long. I wish I had a boyfriend who panted after my body but also respected me. I wish I had a computer brain and a full scholarship to college.”
“I haven’t got the scholarship yet,” Jade said, minimizing Donna Dee’s backhanded compliments.
“Oh, but you will. It’s only a matter of time. Everything always turns out right for you, Jade. That’s why it’s annoying as hell to listen to you whine. What have you got to complain about?
“You’re gorgeous without even trying. You’re smart. You’re popular. You’ll probably be valedictorian of our class, and if not you, then the boy who worships the ground you walk on and the air you breathe. If you want to screw yourselves into delirium, do it. If you don’t, don’t. But shut up about it, okay?”
After her outburst, Donna Dee swore beneath her breath. In a softer tone, she said, “You ought to pay me to be your best friend, Jade. It isn’t an easy job, you know.”
She snatched up her purse and stepped onto the pavement, closing the car door behind her.
* * *
“Hi, Gary.” Neal’s tone was deceptively friendly. Matching it, Lamar and Hutch repeated him.
“Hi, y’all.” Gary’s smile was open and guileless. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing much,” Neal replied. “You heard anything about your scholarship yet?”
“Not yet. Neither has Jade. Could be any day now, though.”
“Do you want nuts on those sundaes, Gary?” the waitress in the window asked.
“Sure.”
“Sure,” Neal drawled. He looked toward the car where Jade was sitting. “Jade loves nuts. Big ones.”
Hutch sputtered with laughter. Lamar snickered.
Gary’s smile vanished. “Cut it out, Neal,” he said crossly. He glanced over his shoulder toward the car.
Innocently, Neal raised his hands. “It was a joke. Can’t you take a joke?” Playfully, he punched Gary’s shoulder.