Evelyn looked her up and down, unimpressed. “Lots of girls would,” said Evelyn. “It’s a dream to be a Bunny. You can fill out an application, just like everyone else.”

“But I already am a Bunny. Or I was, in Lake Geneva.” She thought “Lake Geneva” sounded more sophisticated than “Wisconsin.” Sherri smiled brightly, remembering what Tina had said—smile until your mouth breaks—only this time her smile was different, because she could tell that Evelyn had no intention of hiring her. There would be no conversation about the East Troy Lioness cookbook or lop-eared rabbits, no conversation at all. “Listen, I need the money. I work hard. I’m fast. I know all the drinks.”

“I thank you for your interest. Now, if you’ll excuse me—”

“You know what? I don’t want to work here anyway.” Sherri felt more clearheaded than she’d felt in a long while. She’d wrestled with just about every emotion possible in the past year, but anger? This was something new. It welled up inside of her. “Let me tell you something: I don’t want to stand on a scale for you. I don’t want to call you ‘Bunny Mother.’” It had never occurred to her until that moment that even Gloria knew how ridiculous her title was. “I don’t want to walk around with ears on my head. Good Lord, I walked around with ears on my head!”

Evelyn pointed at the door. “Go.”

“I’m already gone.” Sherri pulled her tail from her pocket and set it on her palm, letting it linger for a few moments, white and light, before doing something practically sacrilegious: she threw it in the garbage. And then she left.

On her way out, she passed Tina on the stairs. Her hair was brassier than Sherri remembered, and her legs were longer. She was such a welcome sight.

“Sherri? Is that really you? I heard someone was looking for me and I—what on earth are you doing here?”

What on earth was she doing there? “I guess I thought I wanted to work here.”

“You don’t. Trust me. Back in Lake Geneva it was different. It’s like going from The Love Boat to Fantasy Island. As soon as I get my real estate license I’m out of here. So what happened? You met Evelyn?”

“She doesn’t want me. I guess I’m only ‘Wisconsin cute.’”

Tina paused and really looked at Sherri. “Not to be mean, but honey, you don’t look great at all. Are you, like, pregnant or something?”

As Tina’s question lingered in the air, time seemed to crystallize while Sherri did the math in her head. She blanched. “Oh, Tina, I kind of think I might be.”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

August 2019