Lilah's List Read Free Page A

She also tried as hard as possible not to be bubbly.
    Angie, on the other hand, epitomized bubbly. Add that to her two-toned Macy Gray fro and funky homemade clothes, and people frequently underestimated her wickedly keen mind.
    Angie in her typical statement-making fashion, was wearing a skintight vinyl tube that passed as a dress. With this she wore black leggings and multicolored paint-splattered boots, under a long dark coat straight from The Matrix . With her orange curling Afro frosted at the tips, her hair radiated from her head like rays of sunshine.
    â€œOkay, are you ready to hear my strategy?” Angie asked later as they rode to the Flatiron District in a taxi. The late October night air had just enough bite for them to need overcoats, but it wasn’t cold enough for gloves and scarves yet.
    â€œI can’t wait,” Lilah answered, deflated. She wasn’t looking forward to this adventure. In fact, considering the way her trip had begun, she was convinced this entire outing would be a disaster.
    â€œListen up, I have a three-tiered plan to get us past the doorman. Phase one, and the least likely to work, we flash our brilliant smiles and sweetly ask to be let in.”
    â€œIf that’s unlikely to work, Angie, why is it even part of the plan?”
    â€œBecause we’re attractive women—we’re armed with mother nature’s tools. It never hurts to try them out.”
    Lilah rolled her eyes. “What’s phase two?”
    â€œWe drop the high school connection.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œWe tell the bouncer we went to high school with Reggie Martin.”
    That gave Lilah a start. She hadn’t seen Reggie since high school graduation. Would he even remember her?
    She took a deep breath. Of course he would. She’d spent countless hours in his house for their tutoring sessions. He usually turned up an hour or so after she did, which gave her plenty of time to take in personal details and talk to his family about him.
    And he’d been so nice to her. He always made sure she had a ride home with his brother whenever he couldn’t take her himself. He would even confide in her about his family problems.
    But what would she say to him after all these years? Suddenly The List sounded so juvenile. Hopefully, he wouldn’t laugh in her face.
    â€œPlease tell me phase three is a real winner. Otherwise I suggest we turn this cab around and go have a nice dinner. I haven’t eaten all day.”
    â€œPhase three is a sure thing.”
    â€œI’m listening.”
    â€œFilet mignon.”
    â€œYou agree we should go for dinner?”
    â€œNo, that’s the code word.”
    â€œWhat are you talking about?”
    â€œApparently all bouncers know this code word. It means let us in immediately, we’re very important people.”
    â€œAnd just where did you get this information?”
    She pointed out the window. “Look, we’re almost there.”
    â€œNo changing the subject. Where did you hear this?”
    Angie sighed. “The Internet.”
    Lilah’s spine snapped straight. “Driver!”
    Angie grabbed her arm and covered Lilah’s mouth. “Shh. This is going to work. You’ll see.”
    Lilah climbed out of the cab, her legs trembling ever so slightly. “This is going to be so humiliating.”
    Angie gripped her elbow and started marching her forward. “You know the drill. Say everything with confidence and authority, and you’ll have those bouncers eating out of your hand.”
    They approached a tall, dark-skinned man with dreadlocks and a black leather trench coat. “Hi, we’re here for the party,” Angie said brightly.
    The man frowned at her. “We don’t open to the public until after midnight tonight. We have a private party going on,” he answered with a thick Jamaican accent.
    â€œThat’s right,” Angie continued. “We’re here for the