“Beebo, be reasonable. Please. You can’t know how important it is to me.” It was suddenly important in a new way, too; it meant distance between her and Beebo. She was vaguely afraid that Beebo was strong enough to overwhelm her, to dominate her life. She needed something else to keep her perspective, her independence. “You don’t know how important _you_ are to _me_,” Beebo returned. “What the hell, you’re half a day late already. Call ’em and tell ’em you’re sick.” “I can’t.” “Why not?” “I can’t lie worth a damn, Beebo.” “You can say ‘I’m sick’ can’t you? It’s a cinch, I do it all the time. Come on, let me hear you say it.” “I can’t. I turn bright red when I lie.” Beebo released her and turned over on her stomach, laughing. “Jesus, Laur, you could turn bright green. Who’s going to see you over the phone? Do your damn radiologists have X-ray eyes?” Laura was on her feet and heading for the phone in Beebo’s kitchen. She dialed the office, while Beebo got up and followed her to listen. “Sarah?” Laura said. “Laura! Are you all right?” “Yes. I’m all right. I’ll be down as fast as I can get there. I’m terribly sorry. Is Dr. Hollingsworth mad?” “No. You know him. He’s awfully nice about these things. He did ask if you called in, though. He asked twice. Are you sick?” She looked at Beebo, who grinned at her. “Yes, I’m sick,” she said, setting her chin. “Well, gee, maybe you’d better not come in, then.” “No, I’ll be all right.” She glared at Beebo who was laughing at her red cheeks. “I’ll be in right away.” She hung up and brushed past Beebo haughtily without looking at her. “Laura,” said Beebo, coming after her, her arms crossed over her chest. “You’re not going to work.” Laura picked up her wrinkled clothes and said, “Do you have an iron?” “You won’t need it.” “I can’t go out like this.” Laura held up her rumpled dress, trying to shake it out. “Then you just can’t go out.” Beebo stretched out on the bed and made a clucking noise at her. “Poor baby,” she said. “Why is it you’re such an angel in bed and a bitch out of bed?” Laura snapped. For answer, Beebo only lay on her back and laughed at her. Laura looked at her lithe body and after a moment she had to turn away to keep from lying down beside her. “I don’t even like you, Beebo,” she said harshly, hoping it would hurt. “I don’t know why I can’t keep away from you.” “It’s because I’m such an angel in bed, Bo-peep,” Beebo said. “That’s all you care about. That’s all you want from me.” Laura whirled and threw one of her shoes at her. “Bitch!” she exploded. The hurt had backfired. Beebo spoke the truth. And then Laura turned away to hide the surprise she always felt when the passion in her burst to the surface. In silent embarrassment she slipped into her panty girdle, burningly aware of Beebo’s amused stare while she pulled it over her hips. “I wouldn’t bother, baby,” Beebo said lazily. “Why not?” Laura wouldn’t look at her.