”“One picture is worth a thousand words,” Roxie murmured as she wiped down a table.“Well, everyone knows you got arrested with Junior last nig...t. He’s more your speed, dearie.”“Who’s to say what my speed is?” Roxie argued. “Besides, struttin’ my rear end was just my way of saying ‘thank you’ to Cal for givin’ me a ride in to work in his new Mustang. By the way, Junior and I weren’t arrested, thank you—just detained.”“So, did Cal say ‘you’re welcome’?” Millie asked.Roxie stepped to the next. Having lost the last hand, Iwas reduced to my underwear.“I’m sooo disappointed in those boxers,” teasedKaren. “They are, you understand, boring beyond anystandard.”“Sorry, ladies. I wasn’t expecting company and mySpiderman Underoos are still in the wash.” Karen’s moment of truth came first. I assumed this iswhere we’d come to our senses. Wrong again. Althoughshe mumbled an “Oh, shit!”, there was no hesitationat all. She. With the locals attacking any Enforcers of God who were moving around in small clusters, the enemy had taken to gathering in larger groups. The camp they had been studying was one of those of fewer than a hundred individuals. That was a perfect size for a quick raid by Jade Warriors. They would run past, or through, the camp killing as many as they could before disappearing. After a couple of raids like that, there would be no one left in the camp.Sword Flavia walked over to the open side. When I noticed how down she was I asked her, "You want to go along?"Her head snapped up, her eyes were bright. Then they faded, "No." Why not? Emily won't mind," I said."Nope," she said. "It's your first real date. You should go with Emily."I sat down on her bed. "Chelle..." I paused trying to look for the right thing to say.Chelle looked up at me and laughed softly. "It's okay. I cooked this up and now I have to lie in it." That's a great metaphor," I said."Shut up and go out with Emily..