Page 23 of Sly (Dragon Riders MC 5)
And as I approached my first searching point—a small, dilapidated warehouse in the middle of bumfuck nowhere— a chill ran down my spine.
This isn’t gonna be good at all.10TaraI held my wine glass in the air. “To the new girls in my life who I feel like have been there forever. Thanks for including me in tonight.”
Joanna raised her glass. “To new friendships and new adventures.”
Hannah wiggled her glass around. “And possibly new loves?”
Simone giggled. “But I will always cheer to good sex and even better memories.”
Hope smiled brightly. “Here, here!”
“Here, here!” we all exclaimed in unison.
We all threw back our second glass of wine together before collapsing on Joanna’s massive microfiber couch. I couldn't believe the house she had. And really, it wasn’t even a house. It was damn near a mansion, if I had any say on it.
“You say this is all Link’s?” I asked.
Joanna snickered. “Yep. He grew up on this estate. Just stayed in the family, you know?”
I nodded slowly. “It’s beautiful. How big is this place?”
Hope barked with laughter. “Hell if anyone knows. Not even Link knows the dimensions right off the top of his head.”
Joanna leaned back against the cushions. “All I know is that it’s more than enough room for us. And maybe a kid or two one day.”
Hope squealed. “Oh! My! God! Have you guys been finally talking about it? I know you’ve wanted kids your entire life.”
Hannah took Joanna’s hand. “Details. If you guys have talked, we need all. The. Details.”
Simone grinned from beyond the rim of her glass. “And maybe a story or two about how you guys are practicing for the main event?”
Joanna blushed deeply. “You know I don’t like to talk about that kind of stuff.”
Hope stood up. “Because my sister is a goodie-two-shoes!”
Hannah got up and shook her ass around. “Goodie-two-shoes! Goodie-two-shoes! Goodie-two-shoes!”
Joanna scoffed playfully. “Hey! At least I’ve got a productive sex life. What can you girls say about that?”
Simone shrugged. “Never been one for kids. So, it’s all fun and games for us.”
Hope couldn’t stop laughing. “My sex life is just fine, thank you very much.”
Hannah beamed with pride. “I’ve got one particular story you guys would love, if the conversation is headed that way.”
I patted the cushion next to me. “Oh, stories like that are always welcome. I can live through you guys for a while.”
Joanna furrowed her brow. “Live through us?”
Hope shook her head. “You mean, you and Sly haven’t…?”
I sighed. “Thanks to my brother? Definitely not. He’s practically breathing down my throat about how bad Sly would be for me and how I’m not allowed to call or text him and how I have to listen because I live under his roof.”
Hannah blinked. “What are you, a toddler?”
I snickered. “You’d think so.”
Hope sat next to me and took my hand. “Have you been on another date with Sly since the picnic you told us about?”
I peeked over at Joanna. “You mean, the picnic she told you about?”
She waved her hand on the air. “Semantics. But still. Have you seen him since the picnic?”
I licked my lips. “Well, I’m supposed to meet him at the bar at six to talk. That’s about it, though.”
Hope looked down at her phone. “Oh, shit! It’s already four in the afternoon! We gotta get you ready, girl.”
Joanna stood. “Yes. My room, right now. We’re going to find you a nice outfit and get your makeup done right.”
Someone pulled me off the couch. “I mean no offense, Joanna, but I’m not sure your clothes are going to fit me.”
She grinned. “What? You calling me fat?”
I felt my face pale. “H-h-hardly. I just—”
Hope linked her arm with mine. “She’s just kidding. And trust me, Joanna’s got the weirdest closet alive. I promise, there will be something in here to fit you.”
And they weren’t kidding.
Joanna had all sorts of beautiful clothes in every shape, color, and size. It made me wonder why, but I also didn’t question it. Did her weight fluctuate that much? Or did she just enjoy stocking clothes that didn’t always fit her? I didn’t know, it seemed a bit odd. But I didn’t question it.
Especially since everything in her closet was so soft and beautiful.
And sparkly.
“Oh, oh, oh, let’s try her in this,” Hope said.
Something covered my face as it got tossed at me before clothes piled at my feet.
I heard Joanna’s voice, though. “Let’s go easy on the clothes. We’ve only got a couple of hours to get her ready and get her to the bar. So, we need to be swift.”
And swift, they were.
After trying on at least a dozen different outfits, I settled for a leopard-printed sundress with a shawl wrapped around my bare shoulders and a pair of flats to help keep me steady. I’d never been one for heels ever since I turned my ankle in one and almost dislocated it. But that didn’t stop the girls from trying to convince me to wear a pair while Hannah did my hair.
