Read Angel With a Bullet for Free Online Page B

Sam asks.
    â€œDiego Chino? He used to live upstairs.”
    â€œBefore our time. Not a friend of Dorothy, then?”
    â€œNo. He was straight.” I pause. “At least he was when I knew him.”
    â€œWe meet lots of artists at the charity events and gay fundraisers that Sam drags me to,” says Kristy.
    â€œI don’t drag you,” Sam protests. “You love an excuse to get dressed up.”
    Kristy giggles.
    â€œOf course she loves it.” I re-enter the room laden with muffins. “It’s just difficult to be the center of attention with all that competition.”
    Kristy opens her mouth in protest. “I don’t need to be the center of attention.”
    Sam and I exchange glances.
    â€œI don’t!” Kristy squeals. “It’s just depressing sometimes when the most glamorous women in the room all have Adam’s apples.”
    I chuckle as I hand out muffins and return to get the coffee.
    I pour each of us a large mug of No Sweat Peruvian brew with cream and no sugar and carry them into the living room.
    The women used to take their coffee different ways, but my mind was always too scattered in the morning to remember. Now, they drink it the same way I do. It makes life easier.
    â€œSo why the wake-up call?” I lift the mug to my lips and swallow a large, fully caffeinated mouthful. It tastes all the better for knowing I’m not exploiting Third World bean pickers.
    â€œTwo things,” Kristy says. “One good, one bad.”
    â€œGive me the good. I’m feeling delicate.”
    Kristy beams. “Sam and I have come to a very important decision about our future.”
    â€œLet me guess. You’re moving to Montana and becoming gay cowboys?”
    â€œNo!” Kristy’s eyes flash with irritation. “We’re going to have a baby.”
    Muffin-coffee goop sprays from my mouth, making Kristy shriek as she dodges the shrapnel.
    â€œDixie!”
    â€œSorry, sorry. It’s just … OK, which one of you has been hiding the penis?”
    Sam snorts and has to cover her mouth.
    â€œThere’s no penis.” Kristy blots her splattered blouse with a tissue.
    â€œAhh, immaculate conception. Good choice. All the best people do it.”
    â€œBe serious, Dix,” Kristy warns, her strawberry lips begin to swell into a pout.
    â€œOK, I’m sorry,” I say gently. “Who’s the father?”
    â€œWe don’t know.”
    I furrow my brow. “You didn’t catch his name?”
    â€œNo. We haven’t chosen anyone yet.”
    â€œAh.” The morning fog clears from my brain. “You’re not actually pregnant.”
    â€œWell, not yet,” admits Kristy. “But once we find the right man, we will be.”
    â€œSo congratulations here would be a touch premature.”
    Sam snickers but stops quickly under Kristy’s stormy glare.
    â€œThis is an important decision.” Kristy pouts and folds her arms across her pert bosom. Nothing wrong with her décolletage gene, and if I didn’t love her so much, I might even be jealous.
    I place my coffee mug and muffin plate on the carpet and cross to the couch.
    â€œYou’re absolutely right.” I wrap my arms around her neck to offer a hug. “It’s a very important decision, and I am thrilled for you guys.”
    â€œReally?” Kristy asks.
    â€œReally. I couldn’t be happier.”
    â€œThanks, Dix. I knew you’d understand.”
    I return to my chair and pick up my coffee.
    â€œSo who are the candidates?”
    â€œWe thought you could help us there,” Sam says.
    â€œSorry, I left my penis in my other pants.”
    â€œNo, I mean you have way more experience with men than we do. There’s always someone coming or go—”
    â€œLet me stop you there,” I interrupt, trying not to show my discomfort. “While I certainly know some horny bastards, I’ve yet