Gorilla Beach Read Free

office.
    Another woman had crawled onto the horny-pony ride, and the creature was bucking away again, the women howling and screaming. Each woman, Bella saw, was holding her own bottle of champagne.
    Gia was still blinking in shock at Maria’s shocking transformation.Maria frowned at her and said, “You look like you’ve got gas, honey.”
    â€œI’m fine,” said Gia, giving her old boss another hug. “It’s aweome to see you! Congrats on your wedding!” She reached into the Pleasure Chest shopping bag, grabbed a handful of condoms and foil packs of lube, and threw them in the air like confetti. A few of them bounced off the writhing mechanical pony and flew across the room. A couple hit femooks in the face.
    Maria said, “Come sit down, girls. I love the outfits.”
    The bride brought them to a booth in back. As they squeezed in, Bella whispered to Gia, “An hour late? You couldn’t make it two hours?”
    A few of the other ladies joined them, including the hard-ass with the Chinese-wig hair. She stared at the girls and weaved a little. Drunk and pissed off, thought Bella. Not a good combo.
    â€œWe have bachelorette-party gifts,” said Gia, breaking the tension. She gave Maria the Pleasure Chest shopping bag.
    Maria reached in and withdrew a cellophane-wrapped goody.
    Gia said helpfully, “It’s a penis pop.”
    â€œI can see that,” said Maria.
    â€œCherry. Your favorite.”
    The other women were silent. They seemed to be waiting for the China-wig brunette to react. She squinted at the pop for a few beats, then she barked. From the relieved smiles of the other women, Bella guessed she was laughing. The tension deflated, and the other women started laughing, too.
    â€œYou girls are too funny,” slurred the brunette. “You’re the cousins from Brooklyn. Gia and Bella, right? Maria told me all about you. You’re so young! How old are you?”
    â€œWe’re both twenty-two,” said Gia.
    â€œI like your style. You need champagne. Everyone needs champagne!” Banging on the table, the brunette bellowed, “We need more bottles out here!”
    Bella cringed at the volume. Gia cupped her ears again.
    â€œI’m Donna Lupo,” said the brunette, holding out her hand with the perma French manicure and a couple of doorknob diamond rings. “I’m married to Luigi Lupo, who is Stanley’s best friend from the neighborhood, like a brother. This is Antonia Diana Ravioli, Luigi’s cousin Bobby’s wife. Here’s Carmela Incantanta Fortunata, who’s married to Alonzo, Stanley’s second cousin. Over there on the bull is Adriana Tagliobulo, wife of Carmine, an associate of Luigi’s and Stanley’s …”
    While Donna introduced the group as if she were reading the Italian phone book, Bella took in their outfits. It was as if the spring collections from Neiman Marcus had fallen off the back of a truck and landed on these ladies’ backs. All wore fur jackets or vests. All had stick-straight hair in various shades of Paul Mitchell, with cropped bangs and subtle highlights. No skunk stripes or poufs for this crew. They each wore clanging gold crosses that nestled snugly into their cleavage. Their makeup consisted of mascara, gloss, and five spackled layers of nude foundation.
    Gia asked suddenly, “Isn’t it too hot to wear fur?”
    Donna wore a lynx jacket, the white fur tickling her jaw. “It’s never too hot to wear fur,” she said. “A toast! To air-conditioning!”
    The ladies lifted their bottles and guzzled until they’d drained the champagne inside. Then they threw the bottles and belched thunderously in unison. Then they started laughing like jackals. Such behavior wouldn’t shock Bella among her own friends. But to see middle-aged women like this? Yeah, it was like an episode of Mob Wives . They’d probably start tearing each