“It’s entirely too early for this,” Evie said with a moan as she and Sunshine slid into Luke’s purple convertible, which they’d disguised with a vinyl car cover in a flame design.
Dora rolled her eyes and tried not to feel too jealous of her friend. “If you hadn’t stayed up half the night rolling around naked with Trace, I might feel sorry for you. But since you woke up with a satisfied smile on your face, I don’t have a lot of sympathy to spare.”
Evie giggled. “Yeah. Okay. You have a point. But even you have to admit that this hour shouldn’t really even exist. I mean, it’s five o’clock. I haven’t been up this early in the morning since my clubbing days. And that meant I hadn’t gone to sleep yet.”
“I know.” Dora put the car into drive and carefully maneuvered them out of the parking lot and onto the streets of New Orleans.
“Didn’t you follow Ricky on foot yesterday?” Evie asked with a yawn. “Why are we driving?”
“Yes, I did, but it was quite a hike, and this will give us cover.”
“Cover?” Evie snorted. “The car is covered in a faux-flame paint job.”
“So? Have you seen the vehicles people drive here? Besides, Ricky has no idea what kind of car we have. We just need to stay hidden.”
“Okay. Fine with me. I’m still too sleepy to do much of anything else,” Evie said.
Dora cast her a sly glance out of the corner of her eye. “Too sleepy to hear about how I made all that money yesterday?”
Evie sat straight up and turned her full attention to her friend. “Oh. Em. Gee. I’ve been dying to hear this. Spill.”
Dora felt her face flushing as she remembered how bold and powerful she’d felt back on that stage. It was something Evie would have done, not Dora. But she knew Evie would be proud of her, so she cleared her throat and blurted, “I needed to hide from Ricky and ended up in a club that was hosting a naked poetry reading. Long story short, I came to terms with what happened back in Pensacola while I stripped all my clothes off on stage.”
Evie blinked. “You did what?”
Smirking, Dora said, “You heard me.”
“You got naked? In front of strangers? Like birthday suit naked?”
“Well, mostly.” Dora shrugged. “I was wearing my bra and underwear, but I really felt like I was baring my soul for those strangers. It was oddly freeing.”
“Dora!” Evie shouted into the wind. “I can’t believe it.”
“Believe it,” she said, making the turn onto Ricky’s street. She glanced at the back door of the club and felt an odd sense of pride. She’d really done it, hadn’t she? It seemed kind of like a dream, only Dora had the cash to prove her performance really happened. “That’s the club. I bet if we circle the block, the flyer announcing a naughty poetry reading is still on the front window.”
“You’re…” Evie shook her head, her eyes lit with excitement. “You’re freakin’ amazing, Dor. I’m so proud of you.”
“Really?”
“Of course I am.” Evie reached over and gave her a fake punch on the shoulder. “First you slayed that lap dance back in Pensacola, and now you’ve upped the game by managing to perform in a semi-naked poetry reading. What poem did you read?”
“None. My silent performance was the piece.” Dora went on to explain that the audience seemed to understand her piece was more about baring her soul than her skin and that they’d loved it.
“So meta,” Evie said with a sigh. “I’m sorry I missed it. Though, I’ve seen you in your undies more times than I can count, so it’s not like I missed that much.” She winked at Dora and placed a light hand on Sunshine’s back, who was now looking at Dora with interest.
“I think Sunshine is jealous,” Dora teased. “I bet she’d love to attend a poetry reading.”
Evie glanced down at her dog. “You know, that’s probably true. I just need to find a chi-chi dog owner group who is totally into all of that stuff so Sunshine and I can both let it all hang out.”
Dora groaned while Evie snickered.
“I’m teasing,” Evie said. “Good for you, Dor. Really. I’m sorry I missed it.”
Dora gave her friend a shy smile. “It really was spectacular.”
“It sounds like it.”
There was a warmth in Dora’s chest as she pulled to a stop half a block down from Ricky’s door. Nothing ever actually felt real until she shared it with Evie. And now that Evie knew, it was as if Dora had lived it all over again. The experience made her feel powerful and more confident than ever. It wasn’t a bad place to be.
A half hour later, however, Dora was ready to tear her hair out. “Evie, if you complain about being bored one more time, I’m gonna—”
“You’re gonna what?” Evie asked, cutting her off. “Scream? Send me to my room? Make me go to bed without supper? Cut off my allowance? Go ahead, Mom. All of that would be worth it as long as I get to keep bitching about how freakin’ boring stake outs are. How long do we have to keep sitting here? My butt went numb fifteen minutes ago.”
“Honestly, so is mine,” Dora admitted. “We need a plan. There has to be a better way to do a stakeout than just sitting here until our feet go to sleep.”
“You’re right. What do they do in the movies and on TV?” Evie asked. “They get donuts, right? And coffee?”
“Yes. Yes, they do.” Dora grinned at her brilliant friend. She knew there was a reason she loved her so much. A donut was the perfect remedy to the complete boredom.
“Then let’s go. There are donut shops all over this town. You can pay with your stripper money.”
“Naked poetry money,” Dora corrected, knowing Evie was just messing with her. She started the car and pulled out, heading in the direction of Canal Street. She was sure they could find a donut shop along the major road.
“Whatever you want to call it, Dor. But rest assured that I’m going to forever think of it as that time you showed your unmentionables to a bunch of strangers.”
Dora laughed. How could she not? Evie was just the right amount of ridiculousness to keep her entertained. “Sorry, Evie. But I left my stash of cash back at Gertie’s. You’re gonna have to pay.”
“Pfft.” Evie waved a hand. “What makes you think I remembered to bring money?”
“Ugh. Are you saying we’re out here without any money? How are we going to survive? Now that I have donuts on the brain, I’m never going to be able to concentrate.” She wouldn’t either. Her mouth had started to water, and all she could think about was the creamy goodness of an éclair melting in her mouth.
“Don’t worry. I have a plan.” Evie pumped her eyebrows at Dora and then threw her head back and laughed. “Did I ever tell you about the time I worked at the Holey Donut?”
“Sounds vaguely familiar,” Dora said, eyeing the businesses as they whizzed by.
“Okay, when we closed up at night, we tossed the leftover donuts, because they had to be made fresh every day.”
“O-kaaay” Dora drawled out. She did know the chain claimed their donuts were baked fresh each day, and she wondered where Evie was going with this.
“So, that means there is bound to be at least a few garbage bags of perfectly good donuts in their Dumpster as long as the garbage collection truck hasn’t come yet. We only have to do a little Dumpster diving. It will be just like college.”
Dora pulled the car to a stop at a red light and gaped at Evie. “You want to Dumpster dive for donuts?”
Evie raised one eyebrow and gave her a half-shrug. “Have you got a better plan?”
Dammit. Dora didn’t. And to top it off, she really didn’t want to spend her hard-earned poetry reading money on donuts. She wanted to save that for gas and lodging for when they had to leave Gertie’s.
“Don’t be so squeamish, Dora,” Evie chastised. “You’re being a little uptight. Trust me. I’m sure the shop here does the same thing. It’s actually a huge waste. And this way, we’ll be doing our part in helping reduce the landfill.”
“Donuts are biodegradable, Evie,” Dora said, trying to imagine her friend traipsing around in a Dumpster. In reality, it wasn’t that big of a stretch. So when Dora spotted the Big Easy Holey Donut Shop, she pulled in around the back and put the car in park. “You’re up,” she said to Evie. “Show me what you’ve got.”
“I knew you’d make me do the diving,” Evie said, already jumping out of the car. “Fine. But I get first pick.”
“Go for it, babe.” Dora stepped out of the car and leaned against the side, her arms crossed over her chest as she watched Evie move tentatively toward the Dumpster.
“Hmm. This back lot could use a good pressure washing,” Evie said, grimacing.
Dora held back a laugh. What had Evie been expecting?
“It’s all right. I’ve got this.” Evie pressed up onto her tiptoes and peered over the edge of the Dumpster. “Ah-ha! I knew it. Dora get over here. I need some help.”
Dora groaned. “There is no way I’m climbing in there. There isn’t a donut in the world that could entice me.”
“Liar,” Evie said with a laugh. “I know how you feel about jelly donuts. Come on. I just need you to boost me up so I can reach the bags.”
“Bags? How many donuts are you going to eat?” Dora muttered as she made her way to Evie’s side, trying to ignore the rotten-orange smell coming from the Dumpster.
“We need options. Just… never mind.” She grabbed a broken down cardboard box that was leaning against the Dumpster and laid it in front of her. “Kneel down and let me step on your leg in order to boost myself up.”
Dora glanced at Evie’s shoes, wondering just how much garbage juice had already permeated the soles.
Evie clapped her hands in front of Dora’s face. “Move it before the donut shop people find us here.”
“Right.” Dora did as her friend asked but only because she knew Evie would never let it go. And she really was hoping there was a jelly donut in one of those bags. Now that Evie had mentioned it, Dora’s stomach had started to growl.
“Perfect.” Using Dora’s leg, Evie scrambled up and over the Dumpster edge. It took her no time at all to toss two garbage bags over the side. The next thing Dora knew, Evie had hauled herself back over the side and jumped down like she went Dumpster diving all the time. “Come on.” Evie pointed to the trash bag closest to Dora. “That bag is yours. Toss it in the backseat so we can get back to work.”
“If you say so.” Dora bent over to lift the bag and let out a grunt when her back popped, sending a bolt of pain straight to her toes. “Ouch. Son of a biscuit.”
“Hurry, Dora,” Evie said. “Someone’s coming out the back.”
Dora glanced up to see the back door was partially open, but the person dressed head to toe in a white uniform had paused to talk to someone. Ignoring the ache in her back, she grabbed the bag and pulled it the few feet to the car, and with what felt like superhuman strength, she lifted with her legs and somehow got the bag into the backseat.
“Go, go, go!” Evie stage whispered as she jumped into the passenger seat and gathered Sunshine in her lap.
Dora did as she was told, immediately slamming the car into gear and racing out of the parking lot, feeling as if they were fleeing the scene of a crime. Although, when she thought about it, she was certain the NOPD didn’t give one fig about Dumpster diving for day-old donuts. “Okay,” Dora said. “I’m ready for a donut.”
“I’m on it.” Evie put Sunshine down at her feet and spun around to dig in the bags. “Hmm. Looks like we’re just going to have to go with the taste and spit method.”
“Huh?” Dora glanced over at her just in time to see Evie take a bite out of a donut that was covered in powdered sugar.
Evie grimaced and leaned over the passenger door, spitting the bite out. “Gross! Peach filling. Ugh. No wonder that one was left over.”
“Peach?” Dora frowned, wondering if all the donuts were going to be the ones nobody liked. Give her a raspberry, chocolate, or vanilla, though, and she was all in. “Not my favorite.”
“Obviously not mine either.” Evie tossed the donut over her head. The donut flew, landing right on the windshield of the car behind them, leaving a smear of peach filling. A loud horn sounded, followed by a string of profanity from the driver as he pulled over to the side of the road. “Oops!” Evie cried. “Sorry!”
“I don’t think he cares about your apology,” Dora said in a mildly scolding tone. “Poor guy. If there’d been more traffic that could’ve caused an accident.”
“I know. I wasn’t thinking.” Evie turned around and grabbed two more donuts. They both look exactly like the one Evie had launched into the air. “Here.” She passed one to Dora. “You try that one while I see if this one is any better.”
Dora frowned. Not only was she having trouble getting over the fact the donuts had been in a Dumpster all night, but now there was a good chance she’d end up biting into something fruity that was bound to make her gag.
“Oh, my holy rollers. This one is good,” Evie said, closing her eyes and moaning as custard oozed out of the center of her donut.
“Now that’s what I’m talking about,” Dora said with renewed interest. She glanced at the donut in her hand and shrugged. What was the worst that could happen? She’d have to spit it out? She could do that. But if it was custard… Yep, her mouth was starting to water again. “What the hell.” Dora shoved the donut in her mouth and took a bite, only to have the sickening sweet peach flavor flood her mouth. “Oh, no. Another peach one!” She mimicked Evie and spit the bite out, wishing she had something to wash away the artificial peach flavor.
“Dora! Look out!” Evie cried, pointing straight ahead of them.
“Son of a—” The car in front of them had stopped suddenly for some reason, forcing Dora to make a quick decision. She needed both hands to maneuver through the streets, so without another thought, she tossed the donut behind her, just as Evie had a few moments before.
Another horn blared, but Dora didn’t have time to worry about it. She focused on the road in front of her, veering to the right just in time to avoid clipping the taillight of the stopped car.
“Awww. Look at how sweet that is, Sunshine,” Evie cooed to her pup. “That lady stopped to help a stray dog. There really are good people in this world still.”
“Really?” Dora glanced over her shoulder, but all she saw was the same silver sedan Evie had hit with her donut accelerating closer. The man in the driver’s seat didn’t looked pleased, judging by the middle finger he was holding out the window for her to see. That’s when Dora noticed there were now two peach splatters on his windshield. “Um, that’s not good.” But Dora knew how to lose him. She’d gotten experience pushing a mail truck to its limits when they were chasing a getaway van back in Pensacola, and she reacted with confidence. She quickly made a right turn, an immediate left, then right and left again, managing to lose the peach-donut-bombed car.
“Here, Dor. I found you a custard one,” Evie said as if flying around corners at breakneck speed was a normal travel pattern. “Now let’s get back to the stakeout before Ricky ditches us again.”
Dora took the custard donut from Evie and grinned, grateful for her crazy friend. Where would she be without her? Back at the stakeout with a numb butt, or worse, in jail, she suspected. Instead, she had two large bags of donuts and a new favorite memory. She felt like she was growing. Or at least shedding some of her uptight outer shell. Either way, she bit into the custard filled donut and let out a sigh of pleasure. After she swallowed, she smiled at Evie. “Thanks, friend. You have the best ideas.”
Evie’s face turned pink with pleasure. “Stick with me, babe. I know all the best-kept secrets.”